We decided to review the Oxfordshire Museum when we were visiting Blenheim Palace one day. It’s just around the corner and, given that we have annual passes, it made sense. I already knew that the Oxfordshire Museum is quite small, so it didn’t make sense to drive all the way to Woodstock to do a review just for that. It’s on the same site as the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum so you can do both on the same day if you want to.
The Oxfordshire Museum
The museum is one of those classic local museums dedicated to the history of their immediate area. There’s only a few galleries (rooms) here, based in Fletcher’s House, which has it’s own history. You’ll find information about Victorian Oxfordshire, the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, dinosaurs and the Oxfordshire countryside. But they’ve actually packed quite a lot into the small space.
There’s also another gallery out in the garden which we missed the first time that we visited, so don’t make the same mistake as us! In their marketing they make quite a lot of fuss about their “dinosaur ” garden. Honestly I’ve never been so disappointed in my life. Ok, I have, but I was expecting a LOT more dinosaurs from their description! Basically this is it.
The galleries
Most of the galleries at the Oxfordshire Museum are about the people who have lived here over the centuries, although there are some bit about the wildlife that’s here too. For those of us that actually want to learn something there’s a decent amount of information. At the same time, it’s all presented in a really child-friendly way, even for the smallest ones.
There’s also some hands-on elements for them, although there’s not loads and loads of those. TBH, I didn’t expect too many because it’s quite a small museum. We first took Smallest Child when she was three and there was enough to keep her entertained whilst the rest of us had a look around. I think when you’ve got a range of ages it’s usually quite hard to find places that will, but this place managed to.
Our The Oxfordshire Museum Review
I always love quirky little museums like the Oxfordshire Museum. Partially because they’re free and partially because you find stuff in here that you’ll never find anywhere else. You’re not going to spend ages in here, and it’s not worth driving miles to go and visit, but if you’re in the area then it’s worth popping in.
Admission cost
Free
Parking / How to get there
Parking – Use town centre car parks
Address – Fletcher’s House, Park Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire. OX20 1SN
Toilets
On-site, including baby change
Food
Small cafe on-site
What else is there to do nearby?
Based on the same site as the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (read my review here) and just a few minutes walk from Blenheim Palace. The soft play at Yarnton garden centre is good for smaller kids, or there’s Crocodiles of the World. There’s also lots of free family days out in Oxford itself or you could visit Science Oxford or the Story Museum.
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Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook
