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Plan Your Visit

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Home to Earth, science, and nature

5 July – 20 November 2022

A special exhibition of aerial photography by J Henry Fair. Witness the environmental damage caused by the industries we rely on every day.

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OPENING HOURS

Monday–Sunday

10:00–17:00

FREE ENTRY

Bookings are required for groups only

NEW DISPLAYS NOW OPEN

Focusing on the interactions between our planet’s evolutionary and geological histories, our new exhibits trace the story of life on Earth and celebrate our planet’s incredible biodiversity.

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Events

There's always something going on at Oxford Museum of Natural History. Browse our wide range of online and in-person events.

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Museum Highlights

Discover highlights from our collections and exhibits.

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Education

The Museum offers a range of learning experiences for school kids, families and adults. Browse our range of online activities, in-museum sessions and self-guided visits.

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Research

Oxford University Museum of Natural History has been a centre of world-leading research and scientific debate since it opened in 1860.

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Collections

The Museum has over seven million historical and modern specimens encompassing the natural world.

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British Insects

HOPE for the Future is an ambitious project to protect and share the Museum of Natural History's unique and irreplaceable British insect collection.

HOPE Appeal

Entry to the Museum is FREE

We rely on the generous support of the public to fund our events and exhibitions.

Donate £5

Behind-the-scenes

Brasier Collection

The Brasier Collection housed in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History represents the lifelong work of the late Professor Martin Brasier, who was a pioneer in the study of early life. The collection comprises priceless specimens, including a variety of microfossils several billion years old.

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The Great Oxygenation Event

While all of earth’s creatures today rely on oxygen in the atmosphere, there was a point in our planet’s history when oxygen was scarce. The Great Oxygenation Event took place a bit less than 2.5 billion years ago when Cyanobacteria evolved the ability to convert energy from the sun into chemicals and release oxygen as a byproduct. Over millions of years, more and more complete plants began to appear...

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Conservation in the Genomic Era

By Sotiria Boutsi, Intern

Ambitious projects, like the Earth BioGenome Project, aim to sequence the genomes of even more species, eventually building the complete genomic library of life. But do these advancements help us with conservation efforts? Or are the benefits of biotechnology limited to industrial and biomedical settings?

Online Exhibition

MARY ANNING

Mary Anning was a fossil expert, anatomist, and dealer. Learn more about her incredible contributions to the field of geology, and her legacy in the OUMNH archives.

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ABOUT US

Oxford University Museum of Natural History holds an internationally-significant collection of natural history specimens and archives in a stunning example of neo-Gothic architecture. It is home to a lively programme of research, teaching and events focused on the sciences of the natural environment.

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