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Find out what's in store when you visit The Story Museum by watching our trailer

Plan Your Visit

FAQs & Accessibility

What is The Story Museum?

Watch our trailer to find out more

Virtual Tour

Download a Visual Story of The Story Museum

  • Visual Story 2024 PDF (15.221 MB)
    Download

ACCESSIBILITY

The Story Museum is fully committed to ensuring that our spaces are accessible to all visitors

Read our access info

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need to book in advance?
    We recommend booking in advance via our website or via telephone through the Box Office. Booking in advance helps reduce queuing, as well as avoiding disappointment if an event or activity is sold out.
    Entry to the Galleries is now with an all day ticket. You can arrive at any time between 10:00 and one hour before closing time. (Our busiest times are generally mid-morning so if you want a quieter visit you might want to consider coming nearer the start or the end of the day)
    All other tickets (Small Worlds, City of Stories, Events in the Woodshed) are for a specified start time, so please arrive in good time as we cannot guarantee admission for late arrivals.
  • What are your opening times?
    Term Time

    Mondays: CLOSED
    Tuesdays - Sundays: 10:00-16:30
    School Holidays*
    Daily: 10:00-17:30
    *October half term opening 26 October - 3 November. Christmas holiday opening 21 December - 5 January. February half term opening 15 - 23 February. Easter holiday opening 5 - 21 April.
    Closed
    Christmas Eve 24 December, last admission 12:30
    Christmas Day 25 December, closed
    Boxing Day 26 December, closed
  • Last admission to the Galleries is one hour before closing time
  • Do you offer carer tickets?
    Any companion or carer to a disabled visitor will be granted free admission to the Galleries and events. If you are a carer accompanying a visitor to an event, please contact us to discuss your requirements by email or by calling the Box Office on 01865 790050.
  • How do I book a wheelchair space for an event?
    To book a wheelchair space for an event in our Woodshed Theatre, please email us or call the Box Office on 01865 790050.
  • What do you mean by an access-friendly event or a relaxed performance?
    Our access-friendly events and relaxed performances are suitable for anyone to attend, and are ideal for those who require sensory adjustments to enjoy a show or event. They are also great for children who may not have experienced live theatre before, or who may find it difficult to sit still all the way through a performance. Audiences will still have the same enjoyment of watching a story come to life, but just with a couple of changes. The lighting will be brought up, sound levels brought down, and visitors are free to come and go in the space - with a breakout room available for anyone who might need a moment of quiet. You can easily browse our list of Access-friendly events in the What's on section of our website - just tick the access-friendly box in the left-hand filter.
  • What happens when I arrive?
    We ask visitors to arrive through the large gates on Pembroke Street where a member of our Visitor Services Team will be on hand to give you a warm welcome. At quieter periods you may be asked to enter via the shop where your tickets will be checked. Visitors with access needs may want to scroll down to read more about accessibility or to download our visual story.
  • Do I need to print out my ticket?
    One of our Visitor Services Team will be greeting people in the courtyard and checking tickets when you arrive or you will have your ticket checked in the shop at quieter periods. You can either print out your ticket at home or show it on your phone or other handheld device when you arrive. When you have shown your ticket you will be given a Sticket (disposable wristband) to put on.
  • What happens if I am late?
    Entry to the Galleries is at any stage up to one hour before closing. We will try to accommodate late comers for our sessions in Small Worlds, City of Stories film experience and events in the Woodshed but this may not be possible. We do not offer refunds or rebookings for late arrivals. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for more information.
  • What happens if I'm unwell and can't visit or my plans change?
    If you have tickets for the Museum Galleries, Small Worlds or City of Stories and are unable to visit as you originally planned then as long as you give us a minimum of 48 hours notice before the start time of your ticket, we will try to rebook your tickets. We are unable to refund tickets for events, courses or workshops. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for more information.
  • Will the shop and café be open? Can I pay by cash?
    Our shop and café are both open. Please note that we are only accepting contactless payment in our shop and café.
  • Will I be able to bring my own food and drink?
    There is limited space outside in our courtyard for families to picnic.
  • How is the building ventilated?
    Our ground floor Galleries have an air circulation system that ventilates the spaces with fresh air every 10 minutes.
  • Where can I find out what's on when I visit?
    Full details of our events programme can be found in the What’s on Section of the website which is searchable by date or you can browse our current Season Guide
  • Are group visits allowed? Why can’t I book as many tickets as I want on your website?
    If you are a larger group please call our Box Office on 01865 807600 and we will be happy to take your booking over the phone and discuss the best way to accommodate your group.
  • Why are there no ticket discounts for families?
    We aim to keep our ticket prices as affordable as possible and we are confident that this represents good value for money as our Galleries and family events are designed for all ages to enjoy and we encourage adults to join in with their children during a visit. Under 1s do not need a ticket and we have now introduced an ages 1-4 ticket for the Galleries. We also offer bursary places and reduced price tickets for families taking part in our wider community project work.
  • Can schools visit the Museum?
    School visits to the Museum, teacher CPD and our popular outreach work in schools are all available to book through our Learning Team. Further information on our schools offer is available on the schools page on the website.
  • What happens if I have a Story Pass?
    Just call the Box Office on 01865 807600 to book your tickets or book online and your tickets will be discounted at the final checkout process. If you want to book additional Galleries or Small Worlds tickets please call the Box Office.
  • What if I can’t visit the Museum?
    We appreciate that not everyone can visit Oxford to see our most unusual Museum. You can find plenty of story content online via our 1001 Stories website which features stories from our collection. You may also like to subscribe to our YouTube channel which hosts a range of author interviews and activities.
  • Why am I having problems getting through to anyone on the phone?
    At busy periods and at weekends it is not always possible to have someone available to answer the phone. Please feel free to email the Box Office and leave a name and number so that we can call you back at a convenient time.
  • Where can I park in Oxford?
    Parking in Oxford can be tricky. We recommend if possible using the Park & Ride service.
    Details of City Centre car parks can be found in the ‘Getting here’ section of the website. Both the Redbridge and Seacourt Park and Ride car parks are within a 30 minute walk of the Museum.
    Disabled visitors showing both parts of the Blue Badge may park for free in any of the on-street parking spaces. There are 90 Disabled Parking Bays around Oxford and there is also allocated parking on level 4 of the Westgate car park and at the Park & Ride car parks. For information on where to park when displaying a Blue Badge click here.
  • Where can I leave my bicycle?
    Whilst there is bicycle parking available onsite, we ask that trailer units are removed and stored in our buggy park and that when the bicycle racks are full, visitors utilise other racks in the city centre. The nearest bicycle parking to the Museum is at the end of Pembroke Street nearest to the Westgate Centre.
  • Risk Assessment
    The Story Museum has followed the Government’s guidance on managing the risk of Covid-19 and carried our risk assessments for our employees and visitors. A copy of our Five Steps to Safer Working Together certificate is displayed on site.

We are here to help

If you have any particular needs or access issues you would like to discuss with us before your visit, please get in touch.

Get In Touch

Read our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

  • Equality Diversity Inclusion Statement PDF (129.188 KB)
    Download