💷 Free entry
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Free natural history museum in Oxford with dinosaurs, a T. rex skeleton and touchable specimens. Step-free throughout with sensory backpacks and SEND resources available.
✦ We visited
The dinosaurs stop every child in their tracks, and the touch tables with real specimens are a hidden gem. It is free and indoors, so it is our go-to when Oxford weather turns.
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a free and spectacular museum housed in a soaring Victorian glass-roofed hall on Parks Road. It is one of the best family museums in the region, with towering dinosaur skeletons, including a cast of a T. rex and a real local dinosaur, animal specimens from around the world, fossils, minerals and the famous dodo remains that inspired Alice in Wonderland.
It is genuinely hands-on for a museum, with touchable specimens, handling tables staffed by volunteers, family trails and activity backpacks that keep children of all ages engaged. The Pitt Rivers Museum opens off the back of the main hall, so you can easily combine the two in one visit. Being free and entirely indoors makes it a perfect rainy-day choice in Oxford.
The museum is step-free throughout the main hall and galleries, making it fully accessible for wheelchair users and buggies. It offers explorer backpacks with sensory and tactile resources specifically designed for children with additional needs, and the handling tables are ideal for sensory learners. The museum also runs autism-friendly morning sessions at certain times of year; check the website for upcoming dates and to download the visual guide and social story before a visit.
It suits all ages, from toddlers pointing at dinosaurs to older children poring over the fossils and minerals. Use the park and ride, as city-centre parking is difficult, and combine it with Pitt Rivers next door.
Good for: dinosaurs, history, rainy-day, sensory, send-friendly. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Is the Oxford Natural History Museum free?
Yes, entry is free, with donations welcome.
Are there dinosaurs at the Oxford Natural History Museum?
Yes, there are towering dinosaur skeletons including a T. rex cast and a real local dinosaur.
Can children touch anything at the museum?
Yes, there are touchable specimens and staffed handling tables, plus family trails and activity backpacks.
Is the Oxford Natural History Museum SEND-friendly?
Yes, the museum is step-free throughout and offers sensory explorer backpacks and tactile resources for children with additional needs. It also runs autism-friendly morning sessions at certain times of year; check the website for dates and to download the social story and visual guide before your visit.
