Museum of Natural History

The Oxford University Museum of Natural History opened in 1860 in a Gothic Revival building on Parks Road, and the main court remains one of the most striking museum interiors in Britain. A glass roof is supported by slender cast-iron columns decorated with leaves and branches, and the stone pillars around the edge are carved from different British rocks. Beneath the roof stand dinosaur skeletons, including an Iguanodon and fossils of Megalosaurus, the first dinosaur ever scientifically described, in nearby Oxfordshire in the 1820s. Among the oldest items is the dodo, the best preserved remains of the species in the world, associated with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Entry is free, and the building is among the most family friendly in the city.

The museum is also a landmark in the history of science. In 1860, shortly after it opened, the British Association for the Advancement of Science met here and a famous debate on Darwin's theory of evolution took place between Bishop Samuel Wilberforce and Thomas Huxley. Today the building houses research collections of insects, minerals and fossils as well as the public displays, and the Museum offers regular family activities and handling tables in the main court.

The tower holds a surprise in summer. A colony of swifts nests in the tower, and visitors can watch a live camera feed or look up at the birds screaming around the building in the evening. The skeletons of whales and the huge collection of skulls in the side galleries give the museum a satisfying old-fashioned character, and the insect displays and gemstones add detail for older children. Rainy day visitors often find it is the best free activity in the city.

An internal door leads to the Pitt Rivers Museum, so many people see both in one visit. If you want only the dinosaurs, you can finish in about an hour. If you want to combine the two, plan on a half day. A cafe and shop sit near the entrance, and the building has lifts and step-free access to the main court. Weekends and school holidays are busy, so arrive near opening time for a calm look at the skeletons.

A short trail through the museum gives structure to the visit. Begin in the main court beneath the glass roof, find the dinosaurs and the carved columns, then walk to the side galleries to see the insects, minerals and the skulls collection. Look for the display of the Oxford dodo, the stone staircase that leads to the first floor and the balcony from which you can look down over the whole court. The museum often runs hands-on sessions at weekends and in school holidays, where children can touch real fossils and meet scientists.

If you are interested in the evolution debate of 1860, ask the staff where the plaque or display commemorating it can be found. A cafe sits near the entrance for a warm drink, and a shop sells books, toys and fossils at modest prices. Because both museums are free, a flexible approach works well: stay for twenty minutes or two hours, depending on the weather and your energy.