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First Animals exhibition

12 July 2019 - 24 February 2020

Animal life first evolved in the oceans over half a billion years ago. Exceptional fossils from across the globe help to tell the remarkable story of the origin of animals.

Free and unticketed.

The Museum is open every day from 10am to 5pm.
Entry is free, including to temporary exhibitions.
Groups of ten or larger must pre-book.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History was founded in 1860, and today it holds an internationally-significant collection of natural history specimens and archives. Housed in a stunning neo-Gothic building inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites, the Museum is home to a lively programme of research, teaching and public events.

Tuesday 13th July

From Worms to Stars

Dr Imran Rahman charts the evolution of echinoderms - starfish, sea urchins and their relatives - from worm-like animals to star shaped ones. Free, but must book.

Let's Talk About Climate

Aged 15 to 19? Join us; over six interactive workshops, you'll learn about the science of climate change, think about the how to solve the problem, and work out how to pass on their own message to influence decisions made at individual, local and national levels. You will get the chance to present your own message at the final Outreach Event.

Secondary schools young people at the Museum

Visiting with a group?

If you're visiting with a group of ten or more (including school groups and foreign language/summer school groups), please book in advance

Join Natural History Investigators

We're now open for this years' application for 'Natural History Investigators' (suitable for key stage 4 students). Investigators interested in the natural world have an opportunity to pursue an extended project of their choice. Investigators meet on Saturdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm for ten weeks. Investigators have access to special Museum objects and experts in the field. Investigators can submit their work for a British Science Association CREST award. For more information about the next course and an application form contact education@oum.ox.ac.uk

Early career opportunities

We welcome approaches from postdoctoral researchers carrying out collections-based research in these areas who are interested in holding externally funded fellowships in the Museum. For applications for Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships in 2020, we ask that potential applicants send us a one-page summary of their planned research, including details of how they will make use of collections and other facilities at the Museum, together with a CV with up to five best publications highlighted by 30th June 2019.

A side view of our hive, showing where the bees are fed from during the winter months

Bee hive

Hand-built especially for the Museum, this beehive reveals honey bees at work. Look closely and you can see eggs, larvae and even the queen bee.

Swifts in the tower

Watch our live feed of the swifts nesting in the Museum tower

New partnership brings exceptional Chinese fossils to Oxford

We are pleased to announce that the Museum is a partner in a new venture with Yunnan University in China - the International Joint Laboratory for Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment