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. 

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Until end Dec 2018

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
From Cameras exhibition: a lantern slide of an outing of the Oxford Photographic Society, 1890
Saturday 12 January, 2-4pm

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.
Saturday 19 January, 2.15pm and 3.15pm

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
Thursday 24 January, 6pm

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
Thursday 14 February, 6pm

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
Friday 22 February, 2-4pm

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
Saturday 2 March, 2–4pm

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
Thursday 7 March, 6pm

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
Saturday 16 March 2019, 1–4pm

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
Muslim woman wearing patterned hijab (Islamic headscarf) giving a tour of the Museum, she is holding up a paper astrolabe to the audience.
Saturday 23 March, 2.15pm and 3.15pm

Multaka-Oxford Nowruz ملتقى أكسفورد نوروز

Join our Multaka tour guides for tours in Arabic and English that explore instruments from the Islamic World.
Suitable for all ages.
All Galleries
easter eggs
Saturday 6 April - Sunday 21 April

Easter Trail

Challenge yourself to the Museum’s Easter Trail.
Suitable for ages 7+.
Starts in the Entrance Gallery
nhm and mhs by john cairns 26 10 18 228
Wednesday 17 April, 2-4pm

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.
Saturday 11 May, 2-4pm

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
Saturday 18 May, 1-4pm

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
Friday 31 May, 2-4pm

Ahoy There!

Discover early voyages of exploration with maps, globes, and hands-on navigational instruments.
Suitable for ages 7-13.
Top Gallery
astrolabe
Saturday 15 June, 2-4pm

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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