Visual Story

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

The Outside of the Museum

The outside of the Museum, as seen from Parks Road. There is a lawn between the road and the front of the Museum, which currently has barriers around it.

The Museum of Natural History is a large, old building with a tower in the middle of the roof. There is some building work going on outside the Museum so the Front Lawn currently has barriers around it.

 

The Main Museum Entrance

The Main entrance of the Museum, a large set of wooden doors with nature stone carvings around them

The main entrance is in the middle of the Museum and has big wooden doors. When the Museum is open, one of the doors will be open.

The set of stairs inside the porch with a handrail in the middle, leading up to an open door

Inside the wooden doors is the porch. The porch has stone steps inside which lead up to a second set of wooden doors. The second set of wooden doors may be open or shut. The Museum is inside the second set of doors.

 

 

The Accessible Museum Entrance

The pathway leading to the accessible entrance is on the right hand side of the lawn

The main entrance of the Museum can be difficult to get into if you use a wheelchair or walking aid. There is another entrance to the Museum which is accessible. To use the accessible entrance, walk down the path on the right hand side of the building.

A courtyard with two stone arches, through which is the accessible entrance to the Museum

At the end of the pathway you will reach a small courtyard. Walk under one of the arches.

The wooden door to the accessible entrance which can be opened with a push button on the left hand side.

On the left is a wooden door which is the accessible entrance to the Museum. Use the button to open the wooden door and enter the Museum.

A view of the inside of the accessible entrance with a short corridor leading to some stairs. There is also a passage to the lift on the right.

Once you are inside the accessible entrance, you will be on the Lower Ground Floor of the Museum. You will notice signs pointing you to the lift, which is nearby. You can take the lift to get to the Ground Floor and Upper Floor of the Museum.

 

INSIDE THE MUSEUM

Ground Floor

The Welcome desk of the Museum which is a wooden desk with a member of staff standing behind.

If you enter the Museum through the Main Entrance you will arrive at the Ground Floor of the Museum. In front of you will be a wooden desk called the Welcome Desk. There is always a member of staff standing behind the desk. The member of staff will usually be wearing a blue fleece. They are there to say hello and help you during your visit.

A wooden desk with a computer and a member of staff sitting behind it.

On the right as you enter the Museum is the Enquiries Desk. If you have any questions or problems, please ask the person at the Enquiries Desk. Different people work there at different times of day, and sometimes there doesn't seem to be anyone there at all -- don't worry!  Someone will be there soon.

Some A4 pieces of paper on the enquiries desk which have family trails on them

You can pick up family trails from the Enquiries desk and use them to find objects in the Museum. There are also pencils for you to borrow.

The Museum shop with gifts on counters and a till. There is also a cabinet of jewellery..

On the left as you enter the Museum is a shop where you can buy gifts like books and toys.

The Main Court of the Museum as seen from the main entrance including an Iguanodon skeleton and rows of cases

Behind the Welcome Desk is a big jawbone from a whale. Behind the whale jawbone is the main part of the Museum, called the Main Court. It is a large open space with dinosaur skeletons, rows of cases, and a high glass roof.

Brown bear

Most of the objects in the Museum are not models, they are the real thing! There are lots of skeletons and skins from animals that died as well as minerals and fossils. Many objects are in glass cases, some are on open display.

Touchable displays

In the Main Court, there is a table with objects that you can touch including furry animals and fossil skeletons. There are other objects in the Museum with signs saying that you can touch them. If there isn't a sign, please don't touch the object as it may break.

 
A blue chair in front of a pillar in the Main Court

There are chairs in the Main Court of the Museum in between lots of the cases. Feel free to sit down if you need a rest.

A view of one of the corridors around the outside of the Main Court. There are display cases of fossils on both sides.

There is a corridor that goes all the way around the Main Court of the Museum with more displays. It can sometimes be a bit dark and crowded but there are lots of interesting things to see.

The entrance to the Pitt Rivers Museum is two large wooden doors under an arch

At the back of the Museum of Natural History there is a doorway which is the entrance to the Pitt Rivers Museum. This is a separate Museum with objects made and used by people all around the world. Visit the Pitt Rivers website to find out about the Museum and when it is open.

 

First Floor

A stone staircase with handrails on both sides, seen from the Ground Floor of the Museum

You can get to the First Floor of the Museum using the lift or by walking up the stairs. There are stairs at the front of the Museum on both sides -- you can see them from the Welcome Desk if you look left or right. If you need help finding the lift or stairs, just ask at the Welcome Desk.

A view of a corridor on the First Floor of the Museum with display cases of insects on the left and right.

The First Floor of the Museum has displays about shells, insects, and birds. From the First Floor of the Museum, you can look down to see the Main Court.

The Ellen Hope Gallery, as seen from the lift. It is a room with blue walls and displays about insects.

The First Floor of the Museum has a room with displays about insects called the Ellen Hope Gallery. It is at the front of the Museum, near the staircase that connects to the shop. If you use the lift to get to the First Floor of the Museum, it will drop you off in the Ellen Hope Gallery. 

The entrance to the Exhibition Gallery. There is a banner hanging down with information about the exhibition.

At the back of the Museum on the First Floor there is an exhibition with displays that change every few months.

A case of live insects on the first floor of the museum

There are cases containing live insects on the First Floor of the Museum.

A view of the cafe where visitors are eating and drinking and someone is paying for food at the till

The Museum cafe is on the First Floor of the Museum. You will see it as soon as you walk up the stairs. It has lots of tables and chairs and some high chairs. The cafe serves hot meals, snacks, and drinks. It may smell strongly of food. There is also a fridge which makes a constant buzzing sound.

 

Lower Ground Floor

View down new toilet block

There are two sets of toilets in the Museum. Both of these are on the Lower Ground Floor. There are male toilets, female toilets, accessible toilets, and baby changing tables.

If you walk down either staircase, there will be toilets on your left. 

The toilets have hand driers which make a loud noise when you put your hands underneath.

 

LEAVING THE MUSEUM

Main Exit

You can leave the Museum through the Main Entrance, which is two large doors leading to some steps.

You can leave the Museum through the big doors at the front of the building.

Leaving the Museum through the front doors, you will see a paved area with a sculpture, and a lawn behind which is currently barriered off

 

 

Accessible Exit

After exiting the lift on the lower ground floor you will see signs pointing you to the accessible exit

You can also leave the Museum through the accessible exit. Take the lift to the Lower Ground Floor and you will see signs pointing to the accessible exit.