About
Britain's first public museum, the Ashmolean is one of the world's leading museums of art and archaeology. From Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, Michelangelo drawings to the Alfred Jewel, Pre-Raphaelite paintings to Japanese ceramics, the collections span human history and creativity across continents and millennia. The stunning modern building houses over one million objects.
Categories:
Annual Visitors (2024)
950,000
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday, Bank holidays
💡 Weekday mornings for quietest experience
💡 Visitor Tips
- Allow at least 2-3 hours to see the highlights
- Start on the top floor and work your way down to follow chronological order
- Don't miss the Cast Gallery in the basement with plaster casts of classical sculptures
- The rooftop restaurant offers stunning views over Oxford - book ahead
- Free gallery tours run daily - check schedule at information desk
- Download the free app for audio guides and interactive content
Highlights
The Alfred Jewel
Anglo-Saxon masterpiece from 9th century, one of Britain's most iconic treasures inscribed 'AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN' (Alfred ordered me to be made)
Guy Fawkes' Lantern
The actual lantern carried by Guy Fawkes during the Gunpowder Plot of 1605
Michelangelo Drawings
Important collection of drawings by Michelangelo, including studies for the Sistine Chapel
Pre-Raphaelite Collection
Outstanding paintings by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood including works by Rossetti, Millais, and Hunt
Collections
Over one million objects spanning 5,000 years of human creativity. World-class collections include ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, European and Eastern art, archaeology from across continents, coins and medals, and contemporary works. Particular strengths in Anglo-Saxon treasures, Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and Asian art.
Ancient Egypt and Nubia
Comprehensive displays of Egyptian civilization from prehistory to the Islamic period
📍 Lower Ground Floor
Europe 1500-1900
Fine and decorative arts from Renaissance to Victorian era
📍 First Floor
Crossing Cultures, Crossing Time
Global archaeology and art from ancient to modern times
📍 Ground Floor
Eastern Art
Art and archaeology from China, Japan, Korea, India, and the Islamic world
📍 Second Floor
Themes
Current Exhibitions
Silk Roads
Exploring cultural exchange along ancient trade routes
Nearby Museums (5 within 6 miles)
Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford
Science & Technology
Oxford — ~5 min walk (0.3 mi)