Bookings and visit information

All school groups must book in advance. During busy times of the school year it is advisable to book three months in advance.

The Museum is open to the public Tuesday–Sunday, 12­–5pm. Educational visits can take place on weekdays between 9am­–5pm, including some Mondays. Facilitated visits are subject to the availability of a member of the learning team.

Once you have made an enquiry we will contact you to confirm availability and visit details. We will then send a booking form for you to complete and return. We will confirm your booking by sending a booking confirmation email.

The University of Oxford will send an invoice within 30 days of your visit. If you cancel more than 28 days before the date of your visit you will receive a full refund. If you cancel less than 28 days before the date of your visit you will be invoiced for the full amount.

Group types

Our primary school sessions:

  • are usually offered on Mondays and Wednesdays
  • last approximately one and a half hours (KS1 and KS2) or one hour (early years)
  • have flexible start and end times
  • can accommodate up to 30 pupils
  • can accommodate one school group at a time

We do not have a space for groups to eat and drink. Please see the lunch section below for suggestions of nearby venues you can hire. 

Make an enquiry

Discover the sessions 

 

Our secondary school sessions:

  • are usually offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
  • last between 60-90 minutes
  • have flexible start and end times
  • accommodate between 20-30 pupils depending on the session; for larger groups, back-to-back sessions involving other museums may be possible

With enough notice it may be possible to book sessions on other days.

We do not have a space for groups to eat and drink. Please see the lunch section below for suggestions of nearby venues you can hire.

Make an enquiry 

Discover the sessions

 

We welcome visits from SEN groups. We have considerable experience working with groups with diverse needs and can tailor our work to suit your requirements.

For help with access please see the Social Guides for School Visits in the Important information section below. 

To discuss further how we can support your visit please call us on +44 (0)1865 287 406 / 287 019.

Booking information for other groups can be found on the Visiting as a group page.

Important information

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Oxford University Museums charge for facilitated educational sessions. This income helps sustain our award-winning schools service. 

Session

Max numbers

Charge
Virtual (online) sessions - 60-90 minutes Flexible £100
Virtual (online) sessions - 30 minutes Flexible £50

Primary school workshop facilitated by a member of the learning team (KS1-2)

32

£125.00

Secondary school workshops facilitated by a member of the learning team (KS3-5)

20-30

£125.00

Bespoke sessions including school programmes (full day, workshops, extended projects)

Flexible

Contact us

Introduction to the Museum for secondary art groups (20 minutes)

30

£50.00

Introduction to the Museum for other secondary groups (20 minutes)

30

£50.00

VAT is not normally applicable.

Exemptions apply to:

  • state-funded special educational needs schools/units
  • groups from higher education courses that are supported by HEFCE funding

We recommend a staffing ratio of at least one adult to ten children.

The number of students that can visit will depend on the nature of the session. It can vary between 25 and 50 students. Please email the learning team for more information.

We have limited toilet facilities for school groups. Please consider this when planning your visit. 

There is no lockable storage for bags and coats. Personal belongings can be left in designated areas at owners' risk.

There is limited level access due to the age and configuration of the building.

Please email the learning team if anyone in your group requires level access.         

The Museum cannot provide parking facilities.  

Coaches can drop-off and pick-up groups opposite the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on Parks Road. The History of Science Museum is a 7 minute walk from the Museum of Natural History.

Parking for coaches and minibuses is available at the city’s Redbridge Park and Ride.

We have no regular lunch facilities at the Museum. It is occasionally possible to book the education room for up to 25 people for lunch.

Food and drink cannot be consumed in the Museum. 

In good weather you can eat lunch in the University Parks (10 minutes walk) or on the lawn outside the Museum of Natural History on Parks Road (7 minutes walk).

Alternatively, you may wish to enquire at one of the following possible lunch venues which are all nearby and available at very reasonable rates:

  • Wesley Memorial Hall, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford OX1 2DH
  • St. Michael at Northgate, Cornmarket Street, Oxford OX1 3EY
    • phone: 01865 240 940
    • can accommodate 50–60 pupils
  • New Road Baptist Hall, New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square, Oxford OX1 1LQ
    • phone: 01865 798235
    • can accommodate 50–60 pupils

You may wish to combine your visit with visits to one or more of the other Oxford University gardens, libraries and museums. In some cases we may be able to suggest curriculum-linked suggestions at other venues.