Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford, Oxford

About

The world's finest collection of early scientific instruments, housed in the historic Old Ashmolean Building. From Einstein's blackboard to astrolabes, microscopes to early computing machines, the museum tells the story of how humanity explored and understood the natural world through the tools of science.

See instruments used by Oxford scholars including Lewis Carroll's photography equipment and Marconi's wireless.

Categories:

Science & TechnologyPhysical SciencesTechnologyMedical & Health

Annual Visitors (2024)

85,000

Plan Your Visit

⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration

Quick Visit1h

Recommended1h 30m

In-Depth2h

📅 Best Times to Visit

Quietest: Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday

Busiest: Saturday, Sunday

💡 Weekday afternoons for quietest experience

💡 Visitor Tips

Don't miss Einstein's blackboard in the basement
The building itself is historic - Britain's first purpose-built museum
Free guided tours available - check schedule at entrance
Compact museum - allow 60-90 minutes
Combine with nearby Bodleian Library tour

Highlights

🎨

Einstein's Blackboard

Blackboard used by Albert Einstein during his 1931 Oxford lectures, preserved with original equations

🎨

Lewis Carroll's Photography Equipment

Camera and equipment used by Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) for his pioneering photography

🎨

Astrolabe Collection

World-renowned collection of medieval and Renaissance astrolabes

🎨

Marconi's Wireless Equipment

Early wireless telegraphy apparatus from Guglielmo Marconi's experiments

Collections

Over 20,000 objects representing the history of science from antiquity to the early 20th century. World-class holdings in astrolabes, sundials, mathematical instruments, early microscopes, medical instruments, photography equipment, and early computing devices. Particular strength in Islamic scientific instruments and Oxford-related science.

Islamic Instruments

Astrolabes and astronomical instruments from the Islamic world

📍 Ground Floor

Medicine & Health

Medical instruments and the penicillin story

📍 Basement

Oxford Science

Instruments used by Oxford scientists and scholars

📍 First Floor

Themes

History of scienceScientific instrumentsIslamic astronomyPenicillin developmentEarly photographyMathematical instruments

Current Exhibitions

No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.

Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford