New exhibitions: Oxford University museums are ready to reopen

The Ashmolean Museum, Pitt Rivers Museum, History of Science Museum, and the Museum of Natural History, which have been closed since December 2020, are now allowed to reopen to the public from Monday.

At the same time pubs and restaurants will be allowed to serve customers inside.

The Weston Library will also reopen to visitors as will the Old Bodleian Library where visitors will be able to enjoy a socially-distanced tour.

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One of the University’s main attractions, Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, has remained open since June

From next week visitors will be able to enjoy a range of exhibitions on display, including Mirror of the Stars, an introduction to the History of Science Museum’s famous astrolabes, Meat The Future, an exhibition at the Museum of Natural History, and the Ashmolean Museum will be re-displaying its popular 2020 exhibition Pre-Raphaelites Drawings & Watercolours from Tuesday until June 20.

Oxford University's Museum of Natural History

A second exhibition, Owning the Past: the Making of Iraq, ( until August 22) explores how the borders of the state of Iraq were established following the First World War when British control of the region included a fascination with its ancient past - one that led to a colonisation of Mesopotamian antiquity as much as the living communities.

The Ashmolean Museum's Pompeii exhibition in 2019

To allow for social distancing, entry to the four museums – the Museum of Natural History, Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers and History of Science Museums - is by pre-booked timed slots only, which can only be reserved online in advance.

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But visitors to the Weston Library do not need to pre-book in advance. Entry is free for all sites with the exception of tours of the Bodleian Library, and entry to the Botanic Garden which is ticketed.