Options for school group visits
There are two choices open to groups visiting the museum:
- Object handling workshops (£4 per student or group member, minimum charge of £75). See workshop topics below.
- Gallery-only visits (£2 per student or group member, free for schools and FE colleges in Oxfordshire if pre-booked)
Please read our MOX Group booking briefing pack for all the important details you will need for a group visit.
Some of the pots and pieces used in the school workshop
Romans in Oxford – Key Stage 2
Discover how the Romans left their mark on Oxford in this interactive KS2 workshop. Pupils will handle Roman pottery made in East Oxford, explore clothing to uncover Roman social roles, and investigate the life of Tamesibugus, a local potter. They’ll also examine how Roman roads connected Oxford’s pottery to the wider empire. With engaging tasks and real artefacts, this session supports the KS2 curriculum and brings local history to life. Book now to inspire your class.
Stories from the Grave: Anglo-Saxon Oxford – Key Stage 2
Step into Anglo-Saxon Oxford with our interactive workshop. Students explore artefacts, dress in replica costumes, and uncover Anglo-Saxon Oxford through engaging activities. From archaeological insights to gallery scavenger hunts, this session aligns with Key Stage 2 History, encouraging critical thinking and group discussion. This session uses hands-on experiences and guided exploration, ensuring a memorable and educational journey into the past. This session comes with a pre and post-session resource pack: please see the information pack below for more details.
Download the Anglo-Saxon Oxford Workshop information pack.
Download the free Stories from the Grave Anglo-Saxon Oxford Pre-Visit Resource Pack.
Download the Anglo-Saxon Oxford Worksheet. This work pack supports your pupils’ visit, please download and print copies should you wish to use them.
Anglo-Saxon Objects used in the workshop.
Pupil with black-out lamp.
Home Front Oxford – Key Stage 2
Discover the Home Front in Oxford during the Second World War with our immersive museum experience. Uncover the stories of ARP (Air Raid Precautions) wardens, war workers, and evacuees in Oxford through hands-on activities with authentic artefacts. Pupils will also have a chance to discover what Oxford did to help win the war. Held in the historic Town Hall, the nerve centre of wartime Oxford, this session offers a unique opportunity to explore the local context during this significant time in the history of Britain. Ignite curiosity and deepen understanding as your pupils journey through the past with the Museum of Oxford.
Made in Oxford – Key Stage 2
Which person from Oxford has made the greatest impact on History? ‘Made in Oxford’ is a Key Stage 2 workshop that explores 10 amazing people from Oxford who influenced the city, country, and the wider world. In small groups, pupils will use evidence, objects, and the Museum’s displays to research, prepare and pitch an argument for their chosen famous person as being the most important. This workshop develops pupils’ evidence-handling, persuasive language and teamwork skills. The session ends in a class-wide vote to decide who was Oxford’s finest.
Download the Made in Oxford teacher pack for more information.
An object used in one of our school workshops. This steering wheel came from an Oxford-made Morris Motor.
Local history using maps.
Moving Oxford – Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2
Why is Oxford the shape it is? Moving Oxford looks at how the city of Oxford grew around its transport, the people involved, and how this may change in the future. This session uses transport-related handling objects and maps to help the pupils answer these questions.
A remote version of this workshop is available. Please see our Moving Oxford teacher pack for more information.
The Dark Side of the Victorians: Children on Trial – Key Stage 2
Every student has a part to play in this re-enactment of a Victorian trial of four real-life children aged between 7 and 15. From defendant to witness, barrister to Jury, we will provide character outlines and a script for your class to follow, and a member of the museum’s team will support the session as the Court Clerk. You can even play the Judge! This workshop takes place in the original Court Room of the Town Hall. A visit to the Museum galleries can also be included upon request.
From Bikes to BMW – Key Stage 2
Explore the legacy of William Morris, his factory and BMW’s transformative impact on Oxford in our engaging museum workshop tailored for Key Stage 2 pupils. Through hands-on exploration of original artefacts, group tasks, and inquiry-based learning, students delve into local history and uncover how William Morris shaped Oxford’s evolution. Our session promotes critical thinking, participation, and the enjoyment of a local history study.
Unearthed – Museum or Outreach Workshop
How do we know about the past? Our Unearthed Outreach Workshop explores what we can discover using archaeological finds. This outreach session is delivered by a museum staff member in the Museum or your school and uses original historical objects from a wide range of eras. In total, there are 90 handling objects, all typical things found in archaeological digs. They come in 10 separate boxes allowing a whole class to work in small groups on their own set of historical objects.
For more information download the Unearthed Outreach Workshop info pack.
Loan boxes
A Nice Cup of Tea
We also have loan boxes for schools to borrow. This box explores the connections between the simple cup of tea, the British Empire, the slave trade, and the Windrush Generation. The box contains original objects and suggested activities around citizenship, English, and history. For more information about hire costs and how to borrow a box, please contact the education team at museum@oxford.gov.uk
Gallery only visits
- We charge a £2 admin fee per person for self-led gallery-only group visits.
- School groups from Oxfordshire are exempt from this charge if pre-booked.
- We may not be able to accommodate a group visit if not booked in advance.
- We have an Oxford Through Time downloadable worksheet suitable for older children that you can print and bring with you. We can also arrange to print copies ready for your arrival; this costs £1 per copy and we will need 7 days’ notice to make the arrangements.
To arrange a visit please fill in our school visits enquiry form or email museum@oxford.gov.uk if you have a general enquiry.
School visits enquiry form
Exploring the old Capes shop counter.
Workshops coming soon
The following are workshops that could be developed, please get in touch for more information:
- Time Detectives: an investigation of the evidence from Oxford’s past
- Romans in Oxford
- Medieval Rubbish
- A City At War: Civil War Oxford
- Alice in Wonderland (various themes including geography & mapping, the story behind the story, and Victorian childhood)
- Victorian Wash Day Blues
We would also like to work with secondary school teachers to develop new content for group visits, out-of-school research topics, and English as a second language resources. We can also work with schools to help develop new workshop themes and ideas for group visits.
If you would like to work with our team to develop new ideas, please contact the education team at museum@oxford.gov.uk
FAQs
Yes, all groups, whether self-guided or facilitated, must book in advance. Our facilities are limited so we want to ensure we can offer the best experience for all.
Our workshops are aimed at Key Stage 2 and can be adjusted for Key Stage 1. Contact us to discuss specific needs.
Although we are a local social history museum, we cover the topics of history, citizenship, geography, English, drama, science, art, and design in our sessions.
Gallery-only visits (up to 1 hour): £2 per student; free for Oxfordshire schools if booked in advance. Object handling workshops (up to 2 hours): £4 per student, minimum charge £75. Private lunchroom: £10 for 30 minutes. Invoice fee: £5.
Yes, Museum and Oxford Town Hall risk assessments are provided in our group briefing pack. We also recommend a pre-visit to create your own assessment.
Yes, as a part of the Oxford City Council, we work under their Safeguarding policy and GDPR policy. They are available to view on the City Council website.
Yes, a pre-visit is recommended. Please contact us to arrange access to learning areas and to discuss the visit with relevant staff if needed.
The Museum of Oxford in Oxford Town Hall is easily accessible by local buses, with stops very nearby. Coaches can load and unload on single yellow lines outside the Museum from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. If possible, please consider walking; our staff can even highlight local sites of interest on your route.
Payment can be made in advance or on the day by cheque, cash, or credit card. Invoices have a £5 administration charge. Cheques should be payable to Oxford City Council, marked FAO of the Museum of Oxford.
Yes, groups will be charged an administration fee if the visit is cancelled.
Please ask when making your booking. Lunch areas can be booked for 30 minutes at £10. Tables and chairs are provided.
We ask for groups to be supervised to a ratio of 1 to 6.
If, for any reason, you are running late, please call the Museum on 01865 252334 to inform us of your delay. Timings for workshops and museum spaces are tightly controlled, we have other events and groups using spaces throughout the day. We will endeavour to run the workshop close to the agreed program; however, amendments may have to be made to ensure the session is completed on time.
Please arrive with enough time so the workshop can start at the agreed time. If the class wish to use the toilet, can they use the large set of Town Hall public toilets before the workshop starts, this will allow us to maximise the time learning. There is no waiting area for groups in the Town Hall or Museum.
Yes, the Museum is fully accessible, with level access via the north entrance and lifts to all areas. For more information, please see our comprehensive Accessibility page.
Wheeled storage bins are available for booked groups.
Eating is allowed only in booked areas. Drinking bottles are allowed but should be kept away from museum objects.
