THEY offer an insight into the history of Oxfordshire, but now museum visitors can get a taste of the action through a new app.

This weekend sees the launch of the Museum Trails App, produced by Oxfordshire-based app designers Wild Knowledge, at The Museum of Oxford, Combe Mill and Thame Museum.

Families can follow trails, complete quizzes and check out displays from the museums on the app on their tablet devices.

The Ashmolean in Beaumont Street, the Pitt Rivers, the Museum of Natural History in Parks Road and the Museum of the History of Science in Broad Street started using apps last August to help visitors navigate the exhibits.

Museum development officer Emma Banks said: “It is a different way of doing things. Lots of children use tablets now and it is just a different way of people accessing the museums. Hopefully it will attract new people.”

David Juler, from the Museum of Oxford, has been working with seven volunteers since September to put forward designs for the app.

The museum development assistant said: “Children are more and more used to using tablets and hopefully this app will make them more interested. They can also share displays with other people.”

It will launch tomorrow with a series of events.

The Museum of Oxford in St Aldate’s has a mask-making event, while Combe Mill will be open from 10am until 1pm with hands-on challenges for families.

Thame Mayor Peter Lambert will be one of the first to try the app at the Thame Museum on the High Street at 10.30am.