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Museum Details

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

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Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3PW
Oxfordshire
England

Collection details
Archaeology
Natural Sciences

Facilities

Shop: yes
Baby changing facilities: yes
Library: yes
Study area: yes
Wheelchair access: yes
Visual disability facilities: yes
Hearing disability facilities: yes

Parking: There is no public parking available at the Museum, although coaches for visiting groups are usually able to drop off in Parks Road outside the Museum. There is a limited amount of pay-and-display parking in Keble Road and St Giles. Oxford has four park-and-ride car parks on the Ring Road, with regular bus services to the city centre.

Disabled access: The Museum has separate wheelchair access at the north-west door. Unfortunately the gallery is not accessible to wheelchair users.

Organised parties: The Museum welcomes organised school and other parties. Please see the Education Services page for more details.

Drawing and painting in the Museum: The floors and walls of the Museum are unsealed, porous stone. They can be easily damaged by the spillage of artists' materials. Therefore artists may draw in the Museum using graphite pencils only.

Photography: Visitors are welcome to take photographs for their personal use. Professional photography may be arranged, in advance, with the Museum Administrator.

Food: There are no restaurant facilities at the Museum; there are many cafes and restaurants within a few minutes walk of the Museum in the city centre. Picnic lunches can be eaten on the Museum lawn and in the nearby University Parks in fine weather.

Contact details
General information (Tel) : 01865 272950
General information (Fax) : 01865 272970
E-mail : info@oum.ox.ac.uk
Website : www.oum.ox.ac.uk

Open
Open daily 12.00-17.00
Open most Bank holidays

Closed
Closed Easter Sunday and Christmas

Admission charges
Admission free

Description
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History houses the University's scientific collections of zoological, entomological, geological, palaeontological and mineralogical specimens, accumulated in the course of the last three centuries. The exhibits occupy a large centre court with its elegant cast iron columns supporting the great glass roof, and surrounded on four sides by upper and lower arcades. They are devoted to the history and diversity of life on Earth and the rocks and minerals that form it. What is not on public display are huge reserve collections that are used for research and teaching. These are organised into five Collections: Entomological, Geological, Mineralogical, Palaeontological and Zoological, each one cared for by a Curator and Assistant Curator.

Key artists and exhibits
Zoological, entomological, palaeontological, petrological and mineral specimens ; The Dodo ; Dinosaurs ; Swifts

Articles
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Nominations Open For Guardian Family Friendly Museums Award
Pitt Rivers Museum Wins MGM 2007 Commendation Scheme
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News In Brief - Week Ending October 15 2006
Thames Valley Museums Pack 'Em In Over Christmas Period
V&A Celebrates 70th Anniversary Of Penguin Books

Trails
Hidden Treasure Trail For Oxford General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available Collections
General guide to collections available
Specialist publications on collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service Disability Access
Events/teaching/resources for people with disabilities
Induction loops in lecture theatres
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas Children and Families
Activities for pre-school children
Baby changing facilities
Events and resources for children and families General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
Loan service
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students Schools Education
Direct teaching services for schools
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools Facilities
Facilities for private functions and events
Library
Research facilities for academics
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Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

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