The building was designed by Thomas Wood and opened in 1683, making it the oldest purpose-built museum building in the world.
It contains the blackboard used by Albert Einstein during a 1931 lecture at Oxford, still featuring his original chalked equations.
The collection holds the world's largest gathering of Islamic astrolabes.
The museum serves as the base for the University of Oxford's Museum of the History of Science research department.
It originally housed the collection of Elias Ashmole, which was later moved to the current Ashmolean Museum site.
The collection includes rare early surgical instruments and medical tools from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Many of the displayed instruments were originally used by Oxford scholars and researchers over the past several centuries.
The museum holds a significant collection of early scientific electrical apparatus, including one of the first batteries.
The interior retains its 17th-century architectural layout, including the original wooden staircase and structural proportions.
It possesses a collection of portable sundials from the Renaissance period.
The History of Science Museum houses the world's most comprehensive collection of early scientific instruments, located within the oldest surviving purpose-built museum building globally. Built in 1683 to house the Ashmolean collection, the structure, known as the Old Ashmolean, now preserves artifacts documenting the evolution of Western science. The collection includes significant historical apparatus ranging from the medieval to the modern era, with a particular focus on mathematical, astronomical, and medical devices. Visitors can examine the original chalkboard used by Albert Einstein during his 1931 Oxford lectures. The museum features prominent displays on early alchemy, clocks, and the development of chemistry. Its three floors hold thousands of items, including historical microscopes and rare astrolabes. The site functions as both a public museum and a research department of the University of Oxford.
The central staircase, which provides a classic view of the 17th-century architecture.
Start your visit on the top floor and work your way down to follow the chronological development of scientific thought.
Check the museum's digital archive website before visiting if you are looking for a specific item, as not all collection pieces are on display simultaneously.
The museum is relatively compact; plan for a focused visit rather than a full-day excursion.
Do not mistake this for the larger Ashmolean Museum, which is located nearby but houses art and archaeology rather than scientific instruments.
Closed on Mondays.
