SAT–SUN · 10am–5pm
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
3–45–78–1112+
— minadd postcode
💷 Free entry
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Free natural history museum in Oxford with dinosaurs, a T. rex skeleton and touchable specimens.
✦ We visited
The dinosaurs stop every child in their tracks, and the touch tables with real specimens are a hidden gem. It is free and indoors, so it is our go-to when Oxford weather turns.
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a free and spectacular museum housed in a soaring Victorian glass-roofed hall on Parks Road. It is one of the best family museums in the region, with towering dinosaur skeletons, including a cast of a T. rex and a real local dinosaur, animal specimens from around the world, fossils, minerals and the famous dodo remains that inspired Alice in Wonderland.
It is genuinely hands-on for a museum, with touchable specimens, handling tables staffed by volunteers, family trails and activity backpacks that keep children of all ages engaged. The Pitt Rivers Museum opens off the back of the main hall, so you can easily combine the two in one visit. Being free and entirely indoors makes it a perfect rainy-day choice in Oxford.
It suits all ages, from toddlers pointing at dinosaurs to older children poring over the fossils and minerals. Use the park and ride, as city-centre parking is difficult, and combine it with Pitt Rivers next door.
Good for: dinosaurs, history, rainy-day, sensory. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Is the Oxford Natural History Museum free?
Yes, entry is free, with donations welcome.
Are there dinosaurs at the Oxford Natural History Museum?
Yes, there are towering dinosaur skeletons including a T. rex cast and a real local dinosaur.
Can children touch anything at the museum?
Yes, there are touchable specimens and staffed handling tables, plus family trails and activity backpacks.