Ashmolean Museum, Art museum at Beaumont Street, Oxford, United Kingdom
The Ashmolean Museum is an art museum on Beaumont Street in Oxford, United Kingdom, displaying more than two hundred thousand objects across several floors. Collections range from ancient civilizations to contemporary art and are housed in themed galleries presenting sculptures, paintings, archaeological finds, and decorative arts from different periods.
The museum opened in 1683 as Britain's first public museum, beginning with the cabinet of curiosities that Elias Ashmole donated to Oxford University. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, numerous donations and acquisitions expanded the holdings significantly, requiring several renovations and extensions to the building.
The building'sname comes from Elias Ashmole, who donated his collection of curiosities to Oxford in the late seventeenth century. Visitors today walk through rooms arranged by theme and period, from Egyptian mummies to Renaissance paintings, reflecting how generations of scholars and collectors shaped what people can see now.
The museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday between ten and five, with late hours until eight on the last Friday of each month. All floors are accessible by lift, and toilets and seating areas are available on every level.
Conservators work in open studios within the building, and visitors can watch through large windows as ancient objects are cleaned and repaired. These studios also prepare works for international loans, offering a glimpse into the technical work behind exhibitions.
Location: Oxford
Inception: 1683
Founders: Elias Ashmole
Architects: Charles Robert Cockerell, Rick Mather
Official opening: 1685
Part of: University of Oxford, The Taylor Institute, The Ashmolean Museum, and 41 Beaumont Street, Gardens, Libraries and Museums of the University of Oxford
Address: Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00; Friday[-1] 10:00-20:00
Phone: +441865278000
Website: https://ashmolean.org
GPS coordinates: 51.75556,-1.26056
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:41
Balliol College
213 m
St John's College
148 m
The Eagle and Child
183 m
Oxford Playhouse
98 m
Martyrs' Memorial
118 m
New Theatre Oxford
195 m
St Giles' Fair
149 m
Pusey House
94 m
Taylor Institution
43 m
St Mary Magdalen's Church, Oxford
160 m
The Randolph Hotel
90 m
Burton Taylor Studio
113 m
Upplands runinskrifter 104
19 m
The Taylor Institute, The Ashmolean Museum, and 41 Beaumont Street
36 m
St Johns College, North Range Including Chapel And Hall
149 m
Balliol College, Salvin Buildings, Garden Quadrangle
144 m
St Johns College, Canterbury Quadrangle
208 m
53 And 54, St Giles Street
161 m
Balliol College, Fisher Buildings, Garden Quarangle
214 m
St John's College, West Range
121 m
St Johns College, East Range
161 m
50 And 51, St Giles Street
178 m
52, St Giles Street
173 m
55, St Giles Street
157 m
Balliol College, Hall Range On North Side
168 m
St Johns College, Senior Common Room
171 m
St Johns College, South Range
138 m
Entrance Screen And Steps Fronting Beaumont Street
54 mReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes