Top Things To Do In Pitt Rivers Museum (Oxford) In 2026 - 2027

Museum

Top 10 things to do in Pitt Rivers Museum

1. Guided Tour of the Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford holds one of the world's finest collections of anthropology and archaeology, with objects gathered from all corners of the globe. Embark on a guided tour through the aisles of the museum, and be awed by the extraordinarily diverse artifacts, ranging from shrunken heads and totem poles to intricate jewelry and textiles. Throughout your exploration, knowledgeable guides provide insightful commentary on the cultural significance of the items, the stories behind their acquisition, and the historical contexts in which they were used. This educational journey also delves into the museum’s unique display methodology, which groups objects by function rather than geographic origin, providing a distinct viewpoint on the universality of human experience across cultures and time periods.
Duration: 1-2 hours · Price: Free
2. Family Activity Trails
The Pitt Rivers Museum is also a place for families to engage with history and cultures together. The museum offers several Family Activity Trails that are designed to spark the curiosity of young minds. These self-led trails take families on an adventure through the museum, encouraging children to discover and learn about the diverse objects on display. The trails often include activities such as object handling, puzzles, and crafts, which are both educational and fun. With themes changing periodically to reflect current exhibitions or particular areas of the collection, these trails are an ideal way for families to experience the museum in an interactive and memorable way.
Duration: 1 hour · Price: Free
3. After-Hours Events
Experience the enchanting ambiance of the Pitt Rivers Museum after normal opening hours during one of their special after-hours events. These events offer a unique opportunity to see the museum's vast array of artifacts in a new light—quite literally. The museum frequently hosts evening events that can range from torch-lit tours to cultural celebrations, workshops, and guest speakers. These activities provide a more intimate and immersive environment for visitors to learn about the collections and engage with special exhibitions or specific themes. Whether you're interested in live performances, photography nights, or handling rare objects, the after-hours events at Pitt Rivers Museum promise a memorable and magical experience.
Duration: Varies · Price: Price varies by event
4. Behind-the-Scenes Tours
For those with a keen interest in the inner workings of museums, the Pitt Rivers offers behind-the-scenes tours that reveal the intricacies of curating and preserving its vast collections. Accompanied by a museum expert, visitors are taken into areas normally closed to the public, where they can discover how the museum manages and cares for its vast array of artifacts. These tours provide insight into the cataloging, conservation, and storage processes, showing the meticulous efforts that go into maintaining the museum's status as a world-renowned institution. Participants often have a chance to see objects not currently on display and to learn about the museum's ongoing research and acquisition projects. This activity is a rare treat for anyone interested in museum studies or anthropology.
Duration: 1-1.5 hours · Price: Charges may apply, booking required
5. Photography Tours
Photography enthusiasts can revel in the Pitt Rivers Museum's Photography Tours, designed to allow visitors to capture the museum’s objects in a uniquely creative way. These tours are often scheduled during times when regular visitors are not in the museum, providing ample space and the perfect lighting conditions for photographing the intricate details of the collections. Alongside opportunities to shoot freely, expert photographers sometimes lead these tours, offering advice on technique and composition, all within the spellbinding environment of the galleries. Highlighting the vast diversity of the museum's collection, these tours are perfect for amateurs and professionals alike who wish to document their visit in a visually compelling manner.
Duration: Varies · Price: Charges may apply, booking required
6. Educational Workshops
The Pitt Rivers Museum is committed to providing educational resources and workshops for schools and educational groups. These workshops are tailored to complement curricula across various age groups and subjects, including history, social studies, art, and science. Educators can choose from a range of themes that align with their teaching goals, with interactive workshops offering hands-on experiences with unique museum objects. The workshops are designed to enhance critical thinking, cultural understanding, and respect for global heritage among students. In addition to bespoke workshops, the museum also runs regular sessions focused on specific aspects of the collection and special exhibitions, providing depth and context to the educational visit.
Duration: 1-2 hours · Price: Charges may apply for some workshops
7. Object Handling Sessions
One of the most distinctive features of the Pitt Rivers Museum is its object handling sessions, where visitors have a rare opportunity to touch and hold certain artifacts from the collection under the supervision of museum staff. These sessions are extremely popular as they offer a tactile dimension to the museum experience, allowing participants to connect with the materials, craftsmanship, and stories of the objects on a personal level. The sessions are carefully supervised to ensure the safety and preservation of the artifacts, and museum educators provide insight into the significance and context of each piece. It's an unmissable experience for anyone looking to engage with history beyond the traditional museum barrier.
Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour · Price: Free
8. Seasonal Exhibitions
Throughout the year, the Pitt Rivers Museum hosts a rotating series of seasonal exhibitions, which are often developed around relevant themes, significant dates, or recent research. These exhibitions offer a deeper dive into specific cultures, geographical regions, or historical periods and allow the museum to showcase items from its collections that are not normally on display. The seasonal exhibitions are accompanied by a program of related events, talks, and workshops, enabling visitors to engage with the themes in multiple ways. Previous exhibitions have covered topics as diverse as textile arts, indigenous cultures, and contemporary issues. These exhibitions make each visit to the Pitt Rivers Museum a unique experience, with new discoveries waiting around every corner.
Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour · Price: Free, though donations are welcome
9. Curator's Talks
Taking place occasionally throughout the year, the museum's curators share their expertise and insights during special curator's talks. These talks delve into the Pitt Rivers Museum’s collections, exploring the fascinating backstories of particular items, discussing current research, and addressing issues related to anthropology and archaeology. The talks are an exceptional opportunity to learn from the curators' vast knowledge and to ask questions about various aspects of the museum's operations, from exhibition planning to ethical considerations of displaying certain items. Visitors interested in the academic side of the museum's work will find these sessions particularly enlightening.
Duration: 1 hour · Price: Free, but some events may require registration
10. Artist Workshops and Residencies
The Pitt Rivers Museum often collaborates with artists to bring a contemporary perspective to its historical collections. Various workshops and residency programs allow artists to engage with the museum's artifacts, often resulting in the creation of new works inspired by the collections. These workshops and residencies can culminate in exhibitions, performances, or interactive sessions where visitors can meet the artists, observe their creative processes, and sometimes even participate in the art-making. These events provide an exciting bridge between past and present, demonstrating how historical objects can inspire modern artistic expression.
Duration: Varies · Price: Charges may apply, booking might be required

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Top 10 things to do in Pitt Rivers Museum

1. Guided Tour of the Pitt Rivers Museum

The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford holds one of the world's finest collections of anthropology and archaeology, with objects gathered from all corners of the globe. Embark on a guided tour through the aisles of the museum, and be awed by the extraordinarily diverse artifacts, ranging from shrunken heads and totem poles to intricate jewelry and textiles. Throughout your exploration, knowledgeable guides provide insightful commentary on the cultural significance of the items, the stories behind their acquisition, and the historical contexts in which they were used. This educational journey also delves into the museum’s unique display methodology, which groups objects by function rather than geographic origin, providing a distinct viewpoint on the universality of human experience across cultures and time periods.

Duration: 1-2 hours · Price: Free

2. Family Activity Trails

The Pitt Rivers Museum is also a place for families to engage with history and cultures together. The museum offers several Family Activity Trails that are designed to spark the curiosity of young minds. These self-led trails take families on an adventure through the museum, encouraging children to discover and learn about the diverse objects on display. The trails often include activities such as object handling, puzzles, and crafts, which are both educational and fun. With themes changing periodically to reflect current exhibitions or particular areas of the collection, these trails are an ideal way for families to experience the museum in an interactive and memorable way.

Duration: 1 hour · Price: Free

3. After-Hours Events

Experience the enchanting ambiance of the Pitt Rivers Museum after normal opening hours during one of their special after-hours events. These events offer a unique opportunity to see the museum's vast array of artifacts in a new light—quite literally. The museum frequently hosts evening events that can range from torch-lit tours to cultural celebrations, workshops, and guest speakers. These activities provide a more intimate and immersive environment for visitors to learn about the collections and engage with special exhibitions or specific themes. Whether you're interested in live performances, photography nights, or handling rare objects, the after-hours events at Pitt Rivers Museum promise a memorable and magical experience.

Duration: Varies · Price: Price varies by event

4. Behind-the-Scenes Tours

For those with a keen interest in the inner workings of museums, the Pitt Rivers offers behind-the-scenes tours that reveal the intricacies of curating and preserving its vast collections. Accompanied by a museum expert, visitors are taken into areas normally closed to the public, where they can discover how the museum manages and cares for its vast array of artifacts. These tours provide insight into the cataloging, conservation, and storage processes, showing the meticulous efforts that go into maintaining the museum's status as a world-renowned institution. Participants often have a chance to see objects not currently on display and to learn about the museum's ongoing research and acquisition projects. This activity is a rare treat for anyone interested in museum studies or anthropology.

Duration: 1-1.5 hours · Price: Charges may apply, booking required

5. Photography Tours

Photography enthusiasts can revel in the Pitt Rivers Museum's Photography Tours, designed to allow visitors to capture the museum’s objects in a uniquely creative way. These tours are often scheduled during times when regular visitors are not in the museum, providing ample space and the perfect lighting conditions for photographing the intricate details of the collections. Alongside opportunities to shoot freely, expert photographers sometimes lead these tours, offering advice on technique and composition, all within the spellbinding environment of the galleries. Highlighting the vast diversity of the museum's collection, these tours are perfect for amateurs and professionals alike who wish to document their visit in a visually compelling manner.

Duration: Varies · Price: Charges may apply, booking required

6. Educational Workshops

The Pitt Rivers Museum is committed to providing educational resources and workshops for schools and educational groups. These workshops are tailored to complement curricula across various age groups and subjects, including history, social studies, art, and science. Educators can choose from a range of themes that align with their teaching goals, with interactive workshops offering hands-on experiences with unique museum objects. The workshops are designed to enhance critical thinking, cultural understanding, and respect for global heritage among students. In addition to bespoke workshops, the museum also runs regular sessions focused on specific aspects of the collection and special exhibitions, providing depth and context to the educational visit.

Duration: 1-2 hours · Price: Charges may apply for some workshops

7. Object Handling Sessions

One of the most distinctive features of the Pitt Rivers Museum is its object handling sessions, where visitors have a rare opportunity to touch and hold certain artifacts from the collection under the supervision of museum staff. These sessions are extremely popular as they offer a tactile dimension to the museum experience, allowing participants to connect with the materials, craftsmanship, and stories of the objects on a personal level. The sessions are carefully supervised to ensure the safety and preservation of the artifacts, and museum educators provide insight into the significance and context of each piece. It's an unmissable experience for anyone looking to engage with history beyond the traditional museum barrier.

Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour · Price: Free

8. Seasonal Exhibitions

Throughout the year, the Pitt Rivers Museum hosts a rotating series of seasonal exhibitions, which are often developed around relevant themes, significant dates, or recent research. These exhibitions offer a deeper dive into specific cultures, geographical regions, or historical periods and allow the museum to showcase items from its collections that are not normally on display. The seasonal exhibitions are accompanied by a program of related events, talks, and workshops, enabling visitors to engage with the themes in multiple ways. Previous exhibitions have covered topics as diverse as textile arts, indigenous cultures, and contemporary issues. These exhibitions make each visit to the Pitt Rivers Museum a unique experience, with new discoveries waiting around every corner.

Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour · Price: Free, though donations are welcome

9. Curator's Talks

Taking place occasionally throughout the year, the museum's curators share their expertise and insights during special curator's talks. These talks delve into the Pitt Rivers Museum’s collections, exploring the fascinating backstories of particular items, discussing current research, and addressing issues related to anthropology and archaeology. The talks are an exceptional opportunity to learn from the curators' vast knowledge and to ask questions about various aspects of the museum's operations, from exhibition planning to ethical considerations of displaying certain items. Visitors interested in the academic side of the museum's work will find these sessions particularly enlightening.

Duration: 1 hour · Price: Free, but some events may require registration

10. Artist Workshops and Residencies

The Pitt Rivers Museum often collaborates with artists to bring a contemporary perspective to its historical collections. Various workshops and residency programs allow artists to engage with the museum's artifacts, often resulting in the creation of new works inspired by the collections. These workshops and residencies can culminate in exhibitions, performances, or interactive sessions where visitors can meet the artists, observe their creative processes, and sometimes even participate in the art-making. These events provide an exciting bridge between past and present, demonstrating how historical objects can inspire modern artistic expression.

Duration: Varies · Price: Charges may apply, booking might be required