A museum volunteer holds out a metal Second World War helmet while a workshop leader gestures towards it, talking about its history.

History talks

The Museum of Oxford regularly hosts talks on different themes related to Oxford’s history. Our talks expand on the stories we tell in the museum and offer broader insights into the people and places that have made Oxford the city we live in today. Coming along to one of our lectures is a great way to learn more about the city’s vibrant heritage.

Our popular Lunchtime Talks series of themed monthly lectures runs from September to June. Past topics have included St Giles Fair, Oxford’s Jewish heritage and the city’s historic bathing places.

Discover what talks are taking place

Lunchtime Talk

Guided tours

We run a range of guided tours on Oxford’s history that offer the chance to learn about the city’s heritage from an expert guide. These include themed guided tours around the museum, guided tours inside the Grade II listed Oxford Town Hall and special walking tours around the city centre.

See what tours are on
A tour guide leads a group on a tour of the museum.
A tour guide shows maps of Oxford's development over time to a group of people in the Museum's main gallery.
A woman with a medium skin tone sits and listens to an audio device at a listening post. Behind her is a mural depicting people from Oxford's history.
A walking tour guide in a narrow alleyway animatedly presents his tour to a group who are off camera.
A walking tour guide gestures to a pub in the background.
A walking tour guide presents a medieval painting to a tour group stood outside a grand sandstone building.
A tour guide points out a photograph on the wall to a tour group in the Museum's exhibition space.
A woman wearing a headscarf delivers a tour to an audience in the Museum's gallery.

Courses

The museum is host to a range of local history and creative workshops for adults.

‘The City of Oxford 1850-1914’, a ten-week course run by local historian Liz Woolley, is taking place in autumn 2024 (fully booked).

Art, Creative Writing and Diggers research group are term-time workshops run by volunteer tutor Katherine Hughes. Art and Creative Writing take place 10.30am to 12.30pm on alternate Mondays. Diggers takes place 11am to 12pm on Fridays once a month. Anyone is welcome to come along. For more information about the groups, please contact Katherine Hughes, at katherineihughes@yahoo.co.uk.

Courses (c) Andy Gammon

Keeping Connected

Together with the University of Oxford Museums, we send out the Keeping Connected newsletter for older adults. Keeping Connected includes news, stories and events from the Museum of Oxford and University Museums, and is issued every two months. You can receive the Keeping Connected newsletter and updates about the Museum of Oxford’s older people’s programme by signing up to our ‘Moments and Memories’ mailing list. The newsletter can be sent via email or by post.

To sign up, send us an email or give us a call.

01865 252334museum@oxford.gov.uk
An older woman holds an audio cup up to her ear and looks at a museum display case.
Museum tours
A workshop leader holds up a replica metal helmet from the English Civil War.
What’s On
A black and white photograph of Morris Motor cars on an assembly line. Workers apply the finishing touches to the interiors of the shiny cars. A foreman writes in a small notepad.
Older people’s programme