Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Museum & collection

Source image

7.4

Wildland

1–2 hours

Time

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Cost

Atmospheric

Feel

Historic townUrban historicFamiliesYoung childrenHistory lovers

Why it's Wildland

7.4

Opened in 1860, this Victorian neo-Gothic museum brings Oxford’s natural-history collections into a building as striking as its specimens. Its highlights include the world-famous Oxford Dodo and Megalosaurus bucklandii, described by the museum as the world’s first scientifically described dinosaur.

The rare appeal here is the combination of a landmark Victorian neo-Gothic building and collection objects with genuinely unusual scientific stories: the Oxford Dodo’s soft-tissue remains and the first scientifically described dinosaur. It earns a place for its strong sense of character and discovery, rather than for a claim to wilderness.

Atmospheric · Grand · Quirky

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Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW

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The experience

Explore the museum’s natural-history collections and look closely at the Oxford Dodo and Megalosaurus bucklandii. The Victorian neo-Gothic building is part of the experience; the adjoining Pitt Rivers Museum offers a well-sourced extension to the visit.

Things to do

See the Oxford Dodo

Look for the world-famous Oxford Dodo, highlighted by the supplied source as the only soft-tissue remains of the extinct dodo.

Find Megalosaurus bucklandii

Look for the specimen identified by the supplied source as the world’s first scientifically described dinosaur.

Take in the neo-Gothic building

Notice the Victorian neo-Gothic architecture, which the supplied source says was strongly influenced by the ideas of art critic John Ruskin.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · About 1–2 hours

Quick escape: meet the Dodo and the dinosaur

01
Visit the natural-history museum and spend time with the Oxford Dodo and Megalosaurus bucklandii.
02
Look up from the displays to take in the museum’s Victorian neo-Gothic architecture.
03
Check the museum’s current visitor information before travelling.

Half day · Check before visiting

Pair the natural-history collections with Pitt Rivers

01
Explore the natural-history museum’s collections and building.
02
Continue to the adjoining Pitt Rivers Museum, which the supplied regional tourism source says can be enjoyed on the same trip.
03
Check current visitor information for both museums before setting out.

Verified history

The museum was established in 1860 to bring together scientific studies from across the University of Oxford. It remains a place of scientific research, collecting and fieldwork. The supplied source describes its building as Victorian neo-Gothic and says it was strongly influenced by the ideas of 19th-century art critic John Ruskin.

Hidden details

The Oxford Dodo’s rare remains — The supplied source identifies the Oxford Dodo as the only soft-tissue remains of the extinct dodo—a detail worth seeking out beyond the familiar image of the bird.

A landmark in dinosaur science — Megalosaurus bucklandii is highlighted as the world’s first scientifically described dinosaur.

When to go

· Check current visitor information; no preferred time of day is established by the supplied sources.

The principal experience is indoors, so the supplied evidence does not indicate a seasonal advantage.

Indoor destination; check travel conditions and current visitor information before setting out.

Worth pairing with

Pitt Rivers Museum

The supplied regional tourism source says the anthropology and archaeology museum adjoins the Natural History Museum building and that both can be enjoyed in one trip.

What to look for

01
The Oxford Dodo, described by the museum’s regional tourism listing as the only soft-tissue remains of the extinct dodo
02
Megalosaurus bucklandii, identified there as the world’s first scientifically described dinosaur
03
and the Victorian neo-Gothic architecture influenced by John Ruskin’s ideas.

The story

History of natural science; Victorian museum architecture

Best time to go

Suitable year-round; check current opening and visitor information before travelling.

An indoor visit works in any season. Check current opening information before setting out.

How long to spend

1–2 hours

Perfect for

Families · Young children · History lovers

Before you go

Website Google Maps

Address

Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PW

Phone

+44 1865 272950

Website

oumnh.ox.ac.uk

Listed hours

Monday: 10am-5pm
Tuesday: 10am-5pm
Wednesday: 10am-5pm
Thursday: 10am-5pm
Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm

Check before visiting.

Google rating

4.8 · 11,536 reviews

Practical information

Opening & access

A public-facing university museum with visitor information on its official website. Check current access arrangements before visiting.

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Parking

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Toilets

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Food & drink

The supplied source describes an on-site café; check current details before visiting.

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Dogs

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Accessibility

The source row reports wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating, toilet and car park. Check the museum’s current accessibility information before travel.

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Cost

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