Ashmolean Museum

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is the university museum of the University of Oxford and was founded in the 17th century, making it one of the oldest public museums in the world. Its collections cover archaeology, antiquities, and fine art collected over several centuries.

Visitors can see extensive holdings in Egyptian and Near Eastern antiquities, classical art, and Western paintings and drawings, plus coins, ceramics, and archaeological material. The museum underwent a major redevelopment and extension in the 21st century to improve display and public facilities.

The Ashmolean serves both as a public museum and as a centre for teaching and research within the university, with rotating temporary exhibitions alongside permanent collections.

The museum is located on Beaumont Street in central Oxford, close to university colleges and other cultural institutions.

• Founding: Founded as a university museum in the 17th century, it was the first university museum in the world and the institution on Beaumont Street is its principal public home.

What to See #

• Main galleries and collections: Collections span archaeology, Eastern and Western art, and coins and medals with galleries arranged across multiple floors following a major expansion.
• Special displays: Special display rooms house notable objects such as medieval and Renaissance artworks and key archaeological pieces from Europe and the Near East.