What's on

The Museum runs an exciting year round events programme for all ages. Come along to discover more about the history of science and be inspired by a world-class collection. 

portrait3
10 Dec

Women in Science: Display

A small display of rarely seen archive material highlighting the work of four women.
Family friendly. Display and drop-in activities, ages 7+.
Basement Gallery
nhm and mhs by john cairns 26 10 18 211
15 Dec

Stars and Planets

Follow your stars, make an amazing star dial or paper-plate planetarium.
Suitable for ages 7+.
Basement Gallery
From Cameras exhibition: a lantern slide of an outing of the Oxford Photographic Society, 1890
12 Jan

Magical Movies

What did the Victorians know about the moving image? Find out and make your own magical movie toy.
Suitable for ages 7+.
Basement Gallery
Muslim woman wearing pink hijab (Islamic headscarf) giving a tour of the Museum, she is pointing to an astrolabe in a case.
19 Jan

Multaka-Oxford ملتقى أكسفورد

Join our Multaka tour guides for tours in Arabic and English that explore instruments from the Islamic World.
Suitable for ages 8+.
All Galleries
ada lovelace portrait
24 Jan

Ada Lovelace: The Making of a Computer Scientist

Professor Ursula Martin discusses how Ada Lovelace in the 1800s acquired the expertise to become a pioneer of computer science.
Basement Gallery
Descriptive image showing illustration of old man riding a dragon
14 Feb

The Art of Old Age

Dr María del Pilar Blanco (University of Oxford) discusses the art of geriatrics and degeneration in Spanish America at the end of the 1800s, and how it entered the cultural imagination.
Basement Gallery
chinese dragon statue
22 Feb

Chinese Dragon Fire-Clocks

Make a working Chinese dragon fire-clock to celebrate Chinese New Year. Then try it out at home!
Suitable for ages 7+.
Basement Gallery
lovelaces labryinth family event
2 Mar

Women in Science

Get involved with some hands-on activities inspired by some of the fantastic women in our collection.
Suitable for all ages.
dementiadanceresize
7 Mar

A Million Memories

The raw but poignant story of a mother with young-onset dementia and her daughter told through dance, music and poetry.
Basement Gallery
lovelaces labryinth family event
16 Mar

Lovelace's Labyrinth

Join Ada and friends for a day of mathematical puzzles, activities and problem-solving, from geometry to code-breaking.
Suitable for all ages.
Top and Basement Galleries
easter eggs
6 Apr

Easter Trail

Challenge yourself to the Museum’s Easter Trail.
Suitable for ages 7+.
Starts in the Entrance Gallery
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17 Apr

Fabulous Fundials

Design and make your own decorative Easter sundial.
Suitable for ages 5-11.
Basement Gallery
The view through a camera obscura of buildings across the street from the Museum. The view is very fuzzy.
11 May

Drawing with Camera Obscuras

Discover the secrets of Renaissance art and how to use a camera obscura to draw in perfect perspective.
Suitable for ages 9+.
Basement Gallery
nhm and mhs by john cairns 26 10 18 253
18 May

House of Wisdom

Discover science and medicine in the early Islamic world with activities and games.
Suitable for ages 7+.
Top and Basement Galleries
nhm and mhs by john cairns 26 10 18 201
31 May

Ahoy There!

Discover early voyages of exploration with maps, globes, and hands-on navigational instruments.
Suitable for ages 7-13.
Top Gallery
astrolabe
15 Jun

What is this thing called an astrolabe?

Find out what an astrolabe is and make your own working model.
Suitable for ages 9+.
Basement Gallery
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