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A boy gets close to a dinosaur at The Oxfordshire Museum
You are here: Things to Do > Attractions > Museums
Few places have as a wonderful a selection of museums as the Oxfordshire Cotswolds – most of the towns (Burford, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Witney & Woodstock) all have museums but more surprisingly so too do many of the villages, Churchill & Sarsden and Filkins.
There are also the more specialist museums of Combe Mill and the Oxford Bus Museum, as well as special collections like that of Kelmscott Manor and of Bampton.
One of the UK's top animal collections, the country's only crocodile zoo, the UK's only King Penguins...
Bampton Archive, originally Bampton Museum, is based in the Vesey Room of the Old Grammar School Building, which many people will recognise from TV – it served as the 'Hospital' in the popular TV series Downton Abbey.
As well as housing an extensive archive that includes an impressive…
Charlbury Museum
Charlbury Museum is an independent museum, run entirely by volunteers. Its five rooms are crammed with exhibits revealing the history of this ancient market town. There is plenty here to interest both adults and children.
The contents include: blacksmith's forge; glove-making tools;…
Guide Price from Free to £1.00 Per Ticket
Chipping Norton Museum of Local History
An independent museum located on the first floor of the 19th century Chipping Norton Co-op Society Meeting Hall and run by the local history society.
Among the many exhibits are the following: prehistoric and Roman artefacts; from Saxon Manor to Market Town in pictures; a display of farming…
Churchill & Sarsden Heritage Centre
Churchill, Chipping Norton
Housed in the remains of the old medieval church, the Heritage Centre is in a stunning setting overlooking the site of the 'lost' village of Churchill, destroyed by fire in 1684.
The building may be only 15' by 30' but its ancient walls contain state of the art technology, with touch screens…
Cogges Manor Farm is a beautifully preserved collection of Cotswold stone farm buildings set in its own grounds - a unique heritage site that has been farmed since before the Domesday Book and parts of the manor house date back to the 13th century.
Downton Abbey and other filming at Cogges…
Guide Price from £4.09 to £58.18 Per Ticket
Combe Mill
A Grade II* listed building, Combe Mill is the original 'power house' of the old Blenheim Palace Estate, a Victorian steam- and water-powered sawmill now operating as a working museum offering visitors a fascinating insight into the work that went on behind the scenes of the Blenheim Estate over…
Kelmscott Manor
Historic House / Palace
The summer home of William Morris, Kelmscott Manor is a Grade I listed farmhouse, built around 1600 adjacent to the River Thames.
William Morris chose it as his summer home, signing a joint lease with the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti in the summer of 1871. Morris loved the…
Long Hanborough
As well as over 30 buses on display, there are other numerous exhibits adding a period feel: exhibits include a historic preserved horse-drawn tram, motor buses, coaches and a wide selection of artefacts including bus stops, ticket machines, timetables, posters and staff uniforms, as well as lots…
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
SOFO offers its visitors engaging and immersive experiences through a changing exhibitions programme and permanent galleries including a recreated Great War trench, a mock up section of a Horsa Glider from D Day and Afghan Alley.
Our galleries take visitors through the life of a '21st Century…
Swinford Museum
Filkins
Housed in a 17th century cottage in the centre of the beautiful village of Filkins, the Swinford Museum has a fine collection of local domestic, agricultural, trade and craft tools providing a unique picture of a bygone rural community. There is also a photographic collection of The Buildings of…
The Oxfordshire Museum
A large 18th century house in the historic town of Woodstock provides a home for the County's collections
Touring exhibitions, a stunning garden, Museum shop and cafe complement the permanent displays.
The museum is bigger than you might think with eleven galleries displaying art,…
Tolsey Museum
Recently re-opened after refurbishment, the Tolsey Museum is housed in the early Tudor market building. The wide ranging collection illustrates Burford's social and working culture, including the town maces, seals and charters. Exhibits quaintly recall the trades that flourished here - quarrying,…
The large ground floor gallery houses a long term exhibition, showing the history of Witney and the surrounding area, and highlighting the changes that have taken place over the last 1,000 years. Local industries such as Witney Blankets, glove making and brewing are all featured.