This was a wonderful private collection started in 1978 by a man moving fro South Africa…read more He had a real eye for collecting. Cars, bikes, motorcycles, toys, pic nic sets , side cars and signs. Overwhelming. Great two hours. Nominal fee

One of the highlights of our trip. Went way above expectations and then some. So well organized…read more Spotless. An amazing collection of cars, camper vans, motorcycles, toys and even a "car parts shop" that looked like it could have been real. Very impressed and would go back many times again.

We had a great time exploring the Pitt Rivers Museum! There is SO much on display it's almost hard…read moreto take it all in. If you're an anthropology buff, this is your place. So many neat things to see and everything you can imagine, too many to list. From clothing to masks to weapons to toys all from different cultures and different times. We even saw a Totem Pole! Overall a fascinating place to visit, just wish we'd had more time to explore!

What you think of Oxford's Pitt Rivers Museum likely depends on how you like your museums. With…read moremore than 500,000 objects on display, Pitt Rivers is ripe for exploration. There's multi-level display cases everywhere, each seemingly containing more than the last. And don't get me started on the drawers; they're everywhere too, and when you pull them out you'll find hundreds more items in each. So if you like your museums with a few paintings on each wall this might not be your jam but you'll still probably be happy you went. You've likely never seen anything like this. A young woman in a shop mentioned, several days before my visit, that she particularly liked this museum and the way she described the entrance intrigued me. As it should: the entrance to this museum is found when you're already inside another museum (The Museum of Natural History; both are free of charge). Officially, the Pitt Rivers Museum displays both the archeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford. But unofficially, it's like entering someone's giant garage, very well organized but also packed to the rafters. One could spend months in here and only skim the surface.

Visited the museum while in Oxford for the day. Lots of history and neat exhibits to visit. We…read moresaw insects, fossils and tons of other things, almost too many to list. The day of our visit, there were a few schools visiting but everyone we encountered from the staff to the young preschool students were friendly and considerate. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Oxford.

A museum of natural history would generally be on my list of "museums I don't wish to visit" but…read morethe Oxford Museum of Natural History proved that I barely know myself. First, it's free of charge which automatically makes it attractive. But though free may get me in the door it won't guarantee I'll enjoy it. This museum isn't just free but it is also gorgeous and interesting, a real home run. And, in the event that Natural History isn't your jam even here, this place contains the portal to the almost indescribable Pitt Rivers Museum (also free). One of these is bound to be your happy place.

What an amazing place! We happened to see this museum as we…read morewere walking by and were intrigued by their moving signage. Inside there are plenty of machines that whir and perform small tasks or even make music. Lots of interactive things to see and do, buttons to push, pedals to press, even a magnetic marble track you can build yourself! It's a treat for young and old and definitely worth the small entry fee.

The opening hours are stated for October to March. Opening hours from April to September are a…read morelittle longer (10:30 to 18:30 daily). A friend recommended this place to me thinking that my boys would like it. My friend was right! We did all enjoy the interactive displays. The extent of the interactivity is mainly pressing a button though but it's still good. There is an interesting range of mechanical art and my boys and I were fascinated by the mechanisms. It is quite a small place. It cost £19 for the four of us (2 adults and 2 children) which isn't too bad but, considering we spent less than an hour in there and saw everything, it does seem a little expensive. There are two floors. One very small room on each floor displaying different pieces of art. It can get rather crowded due to the small size, especially downstairs where the entrance/exit is the same. In the same small area, there is a counter where there is a single member of staff who both admits people and serves the gift shop. The gift shop is basically a small portion of the wall within the ground floor of the museum. Many items are over-priced and the selection is very limited. We did enjoy ourselves there and would recommend it but it could get claustrophobic and the upstairs can be noisy (although it does state this on the signage).

The Ashmolean was a wonderful surprise during our stay in Oxford. I had heard of the museum and did…read morea little research so I knew what to focus on, but it far surpassed my expectations. There's archeological artifacts, art, and so much more from so many varying parts of the world and times. Best of all, it's FREE! If you're planning a visit to Oxford, carve out some time and be sure to visit the museum. (Great rooftop restaurant to boot)

We were visiting Oxford as part of a tour and had several hours of free time to explore on our own…read more My wife convinced me to that we should visit the Ashmolesn Museum and she wasn't wrong. As with most of the museums we visited in Britain, this one was also FREE. The Ashmolean was fantastic. In some respects it reminded me of the British Museum but it was a much more manageable (enjoyable) size. The exhibits were superb yet not overwhelming. We enjoyed the 2 hours we had to spend here and were sorry we didn't have more time.

Oxford is amazing no matter where you go!! It's so steeped in history and this museum delivers!! We…read moresaw the chalkboard with Einstein's scribble of his theory of Relativity!! If that isn't a humbling experience, look at all the other artifacts that this museum houses!!! It's brilliant and incredible!! Too much to list and do, you just have to go and see for yourself!!! Highly recommend stopping in and just immersing yourself in history!!!

Quality/Quantity - Fortunate enough to come on a kids event…read moreday. A hosted event, not only inside the museum but they also set up tents outside for all the kids. Very small museum, so if it wasn't for the event today, this would not have been a 5 star review. Cut and pasted from their website as I can NOT say/write it better: "The Museum now holds an unrivaled collection of early astronomical and mathematical instruments from Europe and the Islamic world and an exceptionally rich set of microscopes. Complementing the wide range of objects are manuscripts and early printed works, early photographs, portraits of scientists and scientific prints." Atmosphere - Next to the photogenic Bodleian, Weston Library, see picture. Open 6 days a week from noon to 5pm; closed Mondays. Service - Good, they also gave us free local maps and suggestions of places to visit. Price - FREE!! Donations welcome, please donate. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1683 and in 1924 (1935 name change) as the Museum of History and Science.

A great tour of the Oxford Castle & Prison…read more The tour was a fantastic experience. Packed with history, storytelling with a fun tour guide that all ages could appreciate. Well worth the time and money. The demonstration of a real pillory was icing on the cake.

This is a must-see if you visit Oxford. The guided tour takes you through the vestiges of the…read morecastle to view its architecture and give you an idea of its original use as a fortress. The moderate climb to the tower is worthwhile as you get a nice panoramic view of the city. As the tour transitions to the use of the castle in more recent times as a prison, there is an interesting display concerning that era highlighting criminal justice practices over the past couple of centuries. The "mug shots" of prisoners held there were fascinating and often poignant. This was particularly true for those stories of the children incarcerated for things like petty theft, acts they committed just to survive. The instruments of "correction" such as stocks were also described in detail. Notorious prisoners held at the castle prison were highlighted and their tales were intriguing. The stories of Mary Blandy and the Black Panther were especially memorable. Our guide did a fabulous job of informing us about the history and significance of the structure in a very engaging manner. The Castle Mound at the front of the grounds is also worth climbing as the views are terrific. This is definitely worth the time and price of admission if you are in Oxford.

Amazing contemporary art, great atmosphere and a good time altogether. I had gone there for a…read moreprivate party and the basement was done up so well with the lights, music and everything.

The gist: Art gallery with a range of exhibitions, talks, events, workshops and films…read more Who's it for? Mainly the local community, although it's well worth visiting if you're a tourist as well. What's so great about it? Variety, and it's free (donation recommended)! If you don't like the art they're displaying, it changes every couple of months. Will the kids like it? They cater for children. 2-4pm at weekends with exhibitions, there's a 'modern art trolley' with activity sheets. They also have family guides, family days and artist-led workshops for children. See the website for more details. I'm just hungrycan I eat there? Yep, like all the best places there's a cafe. What's the catch? Well, modern art's not for everyone

Surprising little gem for £5! Absolutely loads of interactive stuff for the kids (and adults) to do…read morewhich kept us entertained for probably about an hour. You don't need to be into boats and barges to come here, there's enough here to keep anyone entertained ! There's a great interactive room downstairs where you can work your own lock and see how engines work etc. Great day out :)

On the newly refurbished docks this has been brought back to life.......its a good place to take…read morethe kids for a day out but can be a bit boring. We might remeber Rosie and Jim and the canal boats but not many kids today are interested. Shame because it has a place in some of our hearts. Go along anyway you may just enjoy it.