Oxford Sights and Museums

Oxford sights and museums

Oxford’s main sights are close together, and the museums are free. This page lists what to see, how long it stays open and where the exceptions are. Prices are in pounds sterling.

Radcliffe Square

The Radcliffe Camera is a working Bodleian reading room, so from the square you see it from outside. The only public way in is the Radcliffe Camera and City of Oxford Walking Tour, which runs on Saturdays and Sundays and costs £30. Read more: attraction tours in Oxford for how to book it.

Free museums

  • Ashmolean: open every day 10:00 to 17:00 and free. The Alfred Jewel is among the highlights. Special exhibitions are ticketed, and Aphrodite runs from 8 October 2026 to 11 April 2027, so check the price.
  • Oxford University Museum of Natural History: daily 10:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:45. The Dodo and the Megalosaurus are the best known exhibits.
  • Pitt Rivers Museum: Monday 12:00 to 17:00 and Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00. You enter through the Natural History Museum.
  • History of Science Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00. The Einstein blackboard is on display, and the building has no level access.
  • Museum of Oxford: in the Town Hall, Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 and closed Sundays. It has charged a small admission fee since January 2026, so check the current figure on its plan your visit page .

Green spaces

Christ Church Meadow is open all year except 25 December. The Botanic Garden opens 10:00 to 16:00 from November to February and runs later in spring and summer. Check its opening hours page for the current price.

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs, formally Hertford Bridge, was built in 1913 and 1914 and links two parts of Hertford College. It is free to view from the street.

Towers and viewpoints

Carfax Tower has 99 steps and is £4 for adults, and it opens 10:00 to 15:00 from November to February. The University Church tower has 127 steps, costs £7 and takes last admission at 16:30. The Sheldonian Experience ticket (£8.25) includes the Cupola.

Martyrs’ Memorial and the Broad Street cross

The Martyrs’ Memorial on St Giles and the iron cross in Broad Street, which marks the burnings of 1555 and 1556, are solemn places. Keep voices low and photographs respectful.

Colleges

Most colleges charge, and each sets its own hours. Christ Church costs from £22.95 and Magdalen £10. Colleges can close without notice, especially for exams from late April to June, so check each closures page the week you visit.

Tickets and tours

For guided options that combine these stops, see GetYourGuide .