Family day out: Oxford museum of natural history
Where can you find dinosaurs, strokeable bears, 450 million-year-old trilobites and ancient rocks? Not to mention shrunken heads? The latter might have given it away – I kick-started the school holidays by heading to Oxford.
I was back in Oxford meeting up with friends from university: it’s rare to get us all together these days, so after catching up a bit over lunch, Minnie and I retraced our steps to two of our previous Oxford haunts – this time as part of a big group.
The Pitt Rivers Museum was one of my first days out with Minnie, then only months old, after I rather nervously drove along the M40 to meet a friend who still lives there.
Heading back a couple of years later to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, we were a lot more practised at this solo exploration lark.
And on a fiendishly foggy day, the two museums were one of the best places to be as most of those dreaming spires were entirely lost in atmospheric cloud.
I love the fact that you’re actively encouraged to touch a lot of the exhibits, from the unimaginably ancient rocks to a collection of stuffed animals – the small pony which had greeted us on our last visit had been replaced by a couple of bears, which went down extremely well.
As did the giant spider crab and not one but two puffer fish in the glass cases. The dodo barely got a look in, although the dinosaurs remain ever popular.
Perhaps most unexpected of all was the geology section: not just the strokeable rocks but the chance to go into a blackened mini tent and watch crystals glow in the dark. Or possibly just the chance to sneak into an exciting dark tent.
Either way, this proved hugely exciting for Minnie, especially as this time, she had two older friends to play with. The dinosaur trail and other activities are still there to help yourself, although there was so much to entertain we didn’t get chance, and the museum is free (donations welcome).
And in case you make the mistake I did, the Pitt Rivers museum (attached at the back) closes about half an hour before the main museum so I only got the quickest look at the fascinatingly eclectic collection housed in there.
Then the sun set, the crowds thinned and intricate glass and metal roof cast shadows across the skeletons. It wasn’t hard to imagine A Night at the Museum scenario, with everything coming alive. And on that enjoyably spooky note, we ventured out into the dark and fog once more.
If you’re planning a day out at the Oxford Natural History Museum, check out my other review for more of what we got up to on our last visit, including the mouse spotting trail, as well as my review of The Story Museum in Oxford
PIN FOR LATER: OXFORD MUSEUM DINOSAURS
Images and video copyright MummyTravels
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very interesting museum! I did visit Oxford but we didn’t go to this place
Next time maybe!
Honestly, I would have been as excited as all the kids there, looks so much fun!
It’s a lot of fun – I was definitely getting as involved.
I love natural museums!! It’s so much fun checking out dinosaur bones – definitely my favourite part 🙂
My daughter too! Although the bear was a hit as well.
Oxford University Museum and the Pitt Rivers museum are some of my favourite museums ever. I actually didn’t realise they were different! They’re places you could definitely lose yourself for a few days at a time! For some reason it feels like it’s the perfect time of year to visit, when it’s all cold and dark outside, it adds to their intrigue!
They are fab aren’t they – and not sure why they class themselves as separate as they are effectively one museum. Maybe a request from General Pitt Rivers! But yes, you could easily lose days exploring the variety there.
Don’t know how I managed to live in Oxford for two years and never actually make it here! One for a revisit definitely.
Definitely- I lived there for over three years and didn’t make it here until about 15 years after I left 🙂
Oxford i think is a perfect uk city break with kids with all the green spaces and museums. Pitt Rivers is also interesting from a museum development perspective! #culturedkids
It is such a lovely city, and I agree the green space is great with kids too – the Pitt Rivers is such a wonderful fascinating oddity of a place, I think.
this looks like great fun and less chaotic than London! If we are in Oxofrd I’ll look it up! #culturedkids
Love how interactive it is, and definitely quieter than London (normally). Worth a visit!
It looks beautiful as well as fascinating – something about the warm, bright colours in your photos are very appealing.
I’ve been to Oxford and few times but not visited the museums: will have to put that right next time!
#culturedkids
I love the fact that the inside of the building really adds to the atmosphere of the place. Especially at dusk. It looks like a great place to visit at any time of year, but there’s something peculiarly festive about this collection of stuffed animals and ancient artefacts. I love the idea of stepping inside, out of a Dickensian pea-souper! Thanks for linking up with #CulturedKids
Definitely, the soaring roof is an attraction in its own right, I think – and yes, the perfect quirky place to escape from the fogs.
I didn’t know Oxford had a museum like this. It looks stunning and it reminded me a lot of the natural history in London. Will definitely have to go one day!
Very similar but smaller and usually quieter. Definitely worth a visit.
Excellent. I do love a good hands-on museum (and, more importantly, so do the kids). Those miniature heads are freaky… and the architecture is glorious. Now, how can I squeeze Oxford into our travel plans?…
#culturedkids
Exactly – so boring to look at things in glass cases when you’re little. And sometimes when you’re grown up. I hope you do get to Oxford before too long: it’s doable as a day trip from London but worth more time.
I had absolutely no idea that there was a natural history museum in Oxford – very handy to know. I have pinned this for later.
Thanks! It does seem to be a bit under the radar, but a lovely place with kids.
What an amazing building, worth visiting for that alone!
Stunning, isn’t it – that roof is fabulous as the sun sets, I discovered.
I love that kids (and adults) are encouraged to touch! That is so unusual for most natural history museums. I’d love to visit with my little one!
Absolutely – I can understand why it’s normally kept safe behind glass but this is so much more interesting for kids especially.
What a brill place to visit! Oxford has so much going for it and this just adds to it. Wilbur #citytripping
It’s one of those places I never seemed to manage to visit while I lived there, but some amazing exhibits to see – and free!
It honestly looked fantastic. We visited Oxford a few years ago and I wasn’t impressed so I wish I’d known about this place as it would have definitely improved our trip. My three are obsessed with dinosaurs at the moment (thanks Jurassic Park) so would love to see the Dino models.
Oh that’s such a shame you didn’t enjoy your trip – there’s probably a bit more that’s family friendly now (the Harry Potter tour and Alice in Wonderland) and I do love punting in summer, though I doubt my 5yo would appeciate that quite so much yet. But the museum is a bit of a hidden gem
We recently took our kids to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, which seems like our closest version of your museum. I love dinosaurs as well, and natural history museums are definitely a fun adventure. #citytripping
I think they always go down well with kids
I like the ceiling and the pillars!! #citytripping
Impressive aren’t they – and plenty just as impressive inside
Is this the most beautiful museum for animals you’ve ever seen?? I’m just looking up at those beautiful archways and thinking that this surely should be an art museum or cathedral! Just stunning. I can think of a friend whose daughter would enjoy this – they are constantly searching for dinosaurs on their adventures. I’ll have to share it with her as well. #Citytripping
Isn’t it fabulous – it is like being inside a cathedral (but with dinosaurs) Definitely one for your friend’s daughter I think too.
I’ve never been here but looks quite interesting! The building looks beautiful, not sure all about the stuffed animals though… :s #citytripping
The building really is stunning and lots of intriguing things to see – too many stuffed animals is a bit freaky but my daughter did rather love getting hands on (and all dating from some time ago)
We love visiting natural history museums and Oxford is on our list, so I’m sure we’ll be finding our way here at some point. I love the late evening photos, looks magical! #citytripping
It was so atmospheric as the sun set – and while this one isn’t as big as London, it is a lovely place to explore
We’re off to Oxford in a couple of weeks to tour the city and look at the Uni with my son who is currently doing the rounds. I’ll drag him along and make him join in the fun! #citytripping
Hope you enjoy the strokeable rocks and shrunken heads!