Crowds
The Museum is at its busiest during the weekends and school holidays. During these periods, noise levels can be high and crowds can form. If you would like to visit the Museum when it is less busy, we recommend visiting on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays from 10:00-11:00 or 15:00-17:00.
Noise and Sound
The Museum is a large, open-plan space meaning it can be noisy when busy. If you would like to visit when the Museum is likely to be less busy, we would recommend visiting on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays from 10:00-11:00 or 15:00-17:00.
The Museum does not have many displays that produce loud or sudden noises. Please note that the hand-driers in the toilets on the Lower Ground Floor can be noisy.
Smells
The Museum does not have any scented exhibits, although there can be a noticeable smell of chemical preservatives on the First Floor near the North stairs/Ellen Hope Gallery.
The Museum is a large, open-plan space, meaning that food smells from the café can sometimes travel throughout the Museum.
Temperature
The Museum is proud to be registered as an Oxford Warm Space, meaning it is a free, heated venue in which to spend time during the winter months. Due to the building’s glass roof, the building can get very hot in summer. During warm weather, the Main Court can get very hot, whilst the outer corridors of the Ground Floor remain cooler.
Lighting
The Main Court of the Museum has a glass roof, meaning that lighting levels can be variable.
There are consistent levels of artificial lighting in the corridors surrounding the Main Court on the Ground Floor of the Museum, and on the First Floor, which are both well-lit.
