What to do and see in Oxfordshire, England: The Best History Museums

February 25, 2022 Sachiko Swiger

Discover the best top things to do in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom including The MG Car Club, Rollright Stones, Sulgrave Manor, Pendon Museum, Tom Brown's School Museum, Wallingford Museum, Abingdon County Hall Museum, Dorchester Abbey, Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Weston Library.
Restaurants in Oxfordshire

1. The MG Car Club

Kimber House 12 Cemetery Road, Abingdon OX14 1AS England +44 1235 555552 [email protected] http://www.mgcc.co.uk
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5.0 based on 14 reviews

The MG Car Club

Kimber House is home to the MG Car Club - formed by the MG factory in 1930. We're the original club for MG owners, based in Abingdon and catering for all MG models. At the Club's home in Abingdon, we have various artefacts on show - from small MG models, and factory signs, to original 1930s documents and a fully restored engine. If you're in the area, come down and explore the world of MG!

Reviewed By Whoknowswhatcrazy - Drysdale, Australia

Wonderful to "call in" and immediately feel at home. Spent time enjoying memorabilia and the history we know well being MG buffs. Don't forget to sign the visitors book....

2. Rollright Stones

Rollright, Chipping Norton England +44 370 333 1181 http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rollright-stones/?utm_source=Trip%20Advisor&utm_campaign=Local%20Listings&utm_medium=Trip%20Advisor%20Profiles&utm_content=rollright%20stones
Excellent
48%
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37%
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4.5 based on 380 reviews

Rollright Stones

Believed to date from 3000BC, this is one of the most famous stone circles in the British Isles, which consists of a stone circle (The King's Men,) a standing stone (The King Stone,) and a burial chamber (The Whispering knights.)

Reviewed By 17AdyStone - Cambridge, United Kingdom

We went early morning before it gets crowded and parking becomes an issue. The stones themselves are very impressive and if you visit on a sunny day the views, especially from the King Stone across the road are breath taking. Highly recommend.

3. Sulgrave Manor

Sulgrave Manor Sulgrave, Banbury OX17 2SD England +44 1295 760205 [email protected] http://www.sulgravemanor.org.uk/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 172 reviews

Sulgrave Manor

Sulgrave Manor is a Tudor house with later additions, originally built by the ancestors of George Washington, the first President of the United States. The house and garden were purchased, restored and opened to the public in 1921 as a lasting memorial to peace between Britain and the United States.

Reviewed By colinc342 - Wallingford, United Kingdom

An excellent place to visit with plenty of detail about the previous owners including the ancestors of George Washington. It's a good size and can be visited in 2-3 hours or less if your pressed for time. There are interesting gardens with plants from the New World which the Pilgrim Fathers would have had to rely on

4. Pendon Museum

High Street, Long Wittenham, Abingdon OX14 4QD England +44 1865 407365 [email protected] http://Pendonmuseum.com
Excellent
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4.5 based on 234 reviews

Pendon Museum

Modelling the past for the future. The benchmark for modelling excellence. Pendon's centrepiece exhibition of the Vale of White Horse is a re-creation of the rural landscape of the 1920s and 30s in breathtaking detail. Pendon is also home to our famous Dartmoor and Teignmouth Sea Wall scene models and the ground breaking Madder Valley Railway. Our volunteer guides provide informative descriptions about the history, geography, society and transport of the times. A fun and educational experience for all. We also offer a small tea room, museum shop and free wi-fi. Disabled parking and access available.

Reviewed By Racross - Swansea, United Kingdom

Superb if you understand modelling. Worth a visit if you appreciate quality models. It takes you back in time and is explained by knowledgable volunteers. I suggest you go round twice as you miss a lot the first time. Have a tea in small cafe area and go round again. A must place to visit for all modellers.

5. Tom Brown's School Museum

Broad Street Village Centre, Uffington SN7 7RA England +44 1367 820978 [email protected] http://www.museum.uffington.net
Excellent
73%
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20%
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4.5 based on 15 reviews

Tom Brown's School Museum

Whilst the roadmap for reopening museums currently states the 17th May, this is unlikely due to the small size of the building. We hope to be fully operational mid June, however small group visits can be arranged privately by contacting the curator. Usual opening hours are Easter to the end of October at weekends and Bank Holiday from 2.00 - 5.00 pm.

6. Wallingford Museum

House 52 High Street, Wallingford OX10 0DB England +44 1491 835065 [email protected] http://www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk
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4.5 based on 37 reviews

Wallingford Museum

A stop at this charming English village will delight fans of mystery novelist Agatha Christie.

Reviewed By ollie_itfc4 - Shillingford, United Kingdom

A huge range of history here from dinosaurs to factory there is something for everyone. The staff all around the museum are incredibly friendly and seem to really enjoy answering any questions. As well as great exhibits and displays a lot of it is interactive so your kids can get stuck in too.

7. Abingdon County Hall Museum

County Hall Market Place, Abingdon OX14 3HG England +44 1235 523703 [email protected] http://www.abingdon.gov.uk/partners/abingdon-county-hall-museum
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4.5 based on 115 reviews

Abingdon County Hall Museum

Explore 6000 years of history in England’s oldest settlement. Abingdon Museum is in Abingdon’s historic centre, open 10am-4pm Tuesday to Sunday & bank holidays (closed 24 December to 2 January). The collection includes Neolithic finds through Ice Age, Roman, Saxon and Medieval artefacts to Abingdon’s industries such as Morland Brewery and MG works. They have the last MGB Roadster Special Edition off the production line in the gallery too! Set over four floors, the main exhibition is on the first floor with the Abingdon Ichthyosaur up on the second, alongside the famous Monks’ Map. If the weather’s good you can go up to the roof it’s only £2 for a million dollar view. Why not begin or end your visit to the County Hall with a trip to the Mouse Hole Cafe and Crossley Engine Pump exhibit in the Museum’s basement? The Mouse Hole was the first cafe in Abingdon to have an espresso machine back in 1959 and had a reputation as a ‘cool hangout’ for kids. (open 10-2pm, closed Sundays & Mondays)

Reviewed By FredChelters - Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

We were given a very warm welcome at the museum. The chap was very knowledgeable of the area and told us of some lovely walks to try, and some places to visit. The items in the museum were very well labelled and it was a very interesting visit. There was no charge and we did not feel obliged to donate. We did as it was so interesting.

8. Dorchester Abbey

High Street, Dorchester-on-Thames OX10 7HH England +44 1865 340007 [email protected] http://www.dorchester-abbey.org.uk
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4.5 based on 189 reviews

Dorchester Abbey

Dorchester Abbey is a significant historic building, having been a place of worship, witness and pilgrimage for more than a millennium. It has a unique C13th sculptural stained glass Jesse Window, an C11th lead font and C14th wall paintings. A Museum and Tea Room is open from April to September. Tours available (see website for more details).

Reviewed By BobBonHere - Lytham St Anne's, United Kingdom

We visited the Abbey early on a Saturday morning and were the only visitors. The first impression is the vastness of the building being two expected widths for much of its length, the right hand side part containing various burial artefacts, the left hand side being a ‘normal’ style Church of England. The most stunning part of the main Church is the lovely window behind the altar that was restored by American friends in memory of Sir Winston Churchill, why they did this wasn’t mentioned but it is certainly magnificent. Other noteworthy features are the carvings on the North Chancel window and the wooden roof structure. Strangely the (new looking) Choir stalls look as though they are made of oak making them out of character with the rest of the furniture in the Church.

9. Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

Fletchers House Park Street Fletchers House, Woodstock OX20 1SN England +44 1993 810210 [email protected] http://www.sofo.org.uk
Excellent
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4.5 based on 98 reviews

Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

Oxfordshire's only military museum, situated on the same site as The Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. Come along and see how conflict has affected the people and county of Oxfordshire through the ages, and how it continues to do so today. Open Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 11am-5pm and Sundays 2pm-5pm. Please visit our website for full admission times and prices.

Reviewed By D3142FRalexw

This is a brilliant museum, on the same site as the Oxfordshire museum and in the centre of Woodstock. The information was impeccably presented, with special sections on Afghanistan, Pegasus bridge on D-Day, the SOE spies (a particular interest), a section of WW1 trench, Churchill and the relief of Bergen-Belsen. The latter included eye witness accounts and was hard to bear. I spent an hour there, but could easily have spent three. The staff were all friendly and helpful, and the central garden had plenty of seating. I will definitely come back for another visit.

10. Weston Library

Bodleian Library Broad Street Bodleian Library, Oxford OX1 3BG England +44 1865 277094 [email protected] http://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Excellent
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4.5 based on 273 reviews

Weston Library

The Weston Library offers free, inspiring exhibitions featuring the libraries’ rich collections, a unique gift shop and a lovely café set against the backdrop of the floating book stacks in its atrium, Blackwell Hall. Formerly known as the New Bodleian, the recently refurbished building is the home of the Bodleian Libraries special collections, it is also a busy working library that houses several reading rooms, a research centre, a conservation studio and much more.

Reviewed By l0ve2travel93 - London, United Kingdom

This was a great discovery after walking round some of the beautiful buildings as it has free toilets, a cafe and some free exhibitions. It's also quite nice and spacious inside. I was surprisingly impressed and was a great find to get out of the cold.

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