FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Advance booking is recommended to guarantee entry if you are travelling a long distance to the Museum or are only able to visit within a small window of time. But walk-up tickets for general Museum admission are available on the door – you may just need to wait when the Museum is busy.

Advance booking is essential for the Labyrinth exhibition which may sell out. To avoid disappointment, please arrive within your time slot.

Please visit our Plan Your Visit page to find our booking links, or, if you are not able to book online, please telephone the box office on 01865 278112. Please be aware we have limited resource to answer calls, so online booking is recommended.

Booking fees for general admission tickets have been waived at this present time if you book online. Please note a booking fee is added for booking our major exhibition tickets online. Telephone bookings may incur a booking fee to help support the Museum and cover the costs of staffing our Box Office.

There are multiple ticket options available:

• FREE Museum General Admission tickets – These free tickets permit entry to the Museum collections, free temporary displays, café and shop only. Plan your visit
   
• Ashmolean Adventure Family tickets – These tickets are for our families multimedia guide, which can be booked for families of up to 6 people. Tickets include general entry to the Museum, including the café and shop. Please be aware, if booking an afternoon ticket, that the Ashmolean closes at 5pm. Ashmolean Adventure – find out more
   
• Lunch or Afternoon Tea on the Rooftop tickets – Lunch and Afternoon tea bookings include general admission to the Museum after your visit to the restaurant. Please be aware, if booking an afternoon ticket, that the Ashmolean closes at 5pm. Rooftop Restaurant – find out more
   
• DAYTIME Exhibition + Museum General Admission tickets – These tickets (time slots to 4pm) permit entry to the Museum galleries after your exhibition visit. Please be aware, if booking an afternoon ticket, that the Ashmolean closes at 5pm. Upcoming exhibitions - find out more
   
• EVENING Exhibition + Museum General Admission tickets – These tickets (time slots from 4.15pm) permit entry to the exhibition and the exhibition shop only. These tickets do not include admission to the Museum or the café. Upcoming exhibitions - find out more

No, but we ask that Members and Patrons book exhibition tickets in advance where possible, to avoid disappointment.

To obtain free exhibition tickets, Members will need to enter their 13- or 14-digit membership number.

Expired memberships do not provide free access to our special exhibitions, but we would be delighted if you wished to renew your membership. If your membership is coming up for renewal, we will contact you in advance with instructions on how to renew and book your exhibition/Museum slot. More information about membership can be found on our membership FAQs page: Your Membership

If you are visiting the main Museum galleries only, we would recommend at least 90 minutes for your visit.

If you are visiting the Ashmolean's major exhibition when open, then we would recommend at least 1 hour to see the exhibition. If you have booked a daytime ticket for the exhibition you can also visit the rest of the Museum afterwards. (Evening tickets do not include Museum entry.) Please be aware that the Ashmolean closes at 5pm and this should be taken into consideration if you wish to see more of the Museum after your exhibition visit.

Yes the whole Museum should be open. You'll find any temporary gallery or cafe and Restaurant closures listed here

To find out which exhibitions and free displays will be open when you visit, please visit this link: Exhibitions and Displays

The Western Art Print Room is available for bookings.

No, you will be able to stay in the Museum for as long as you wish, until the Museum closes at 5pm.

Please arrive at the Museum to enter within the time slot on your ticket. To help manage the Museum’s reduced capacity we cannot guarantee early entry.

If you are visiting the special exhibition during the day (until 5pm) you will be asked to enter the exhibition within your entry time slot, before visiting the rest of the Museum, the café, and the shop(s).

Evening exhibition tickets (after 5pm) do not include admission to the rest of the Museum, the café, and the main Museum shop.

We will do our best to allow entry if you miss your booked time slot, but unfortunately this cannot always be guaranteed.

FREE TICKETS: Museum entry tickets are free, so if you are unable to make your time slot, we would be grateful if you could let us know as soon as possible so that we can make the slot available for others. Please contact onlinetickets@ashmus.ox.ac.uk with your name, date and time of your booking. Alternatively you can telephone the box office at 01865 278112.

PAID-FOR TICKETS: We do not offer refunds on paid-for tickets, as per our Terms & Conditions. We can, however, change the date and/or time of your paid-for tickets but this may be subject to a booking fee and is subject to availability. Please contact onlinetickets@ashmus.ox.ac.uk with your name, date and time of your booking. Alternatively you can telephone the box office at 01865 278112.

Visitors booking online will receive an e-ticket via confirmation email. We would recommend downloading the PDF ticket before you visit, to show on your phone or device for us to scan, or printing it.

No, you will receive your tickets attached to a confirmation email shortly after completing your online booking. Please print your tickets and present them at the exhibition entrance, or show them on a mobile phone. Entry cannot be guaranteed if tickets are not presented.

Please check your spam/junk folders. If you still cannot find your booking email, please email us before your visit so we can help resolve the issue. Our ticketing email address is: onlinetickets@ashmus.ox.ac.uk

To help us manage capacity, the maximum number of tickets which can be booked online is 6.

If your household or support bubble is larger than 6, please contact our Box Office.

For group bookings (schools, language schools, tour operators and other commercial groups) please see the relevant information below.

Yes, please book a combined Exhibition + General Museum Admission ticket.

All daytime (until 5pm) exhibition tickets permit entry to the Museum galleries after your exhibition visit. You will be asked to visit the exhibition at the entry time you booked for, and to visit the Museum galleries, café and shop(s) after your exhibition visit. Please be aware, if booking an afternoon ticket, that the Ashmolean closes at 5pm.

Evening exhibition tickets (after 5pm) do not include admission to the rest of the Museum, the café, and the main Museum shop.

Please contact the Box Office by phone on 01865 278 112.

Yes, we ask that all visitors book in advance for their visit so we can manage the capacities under social distancing rules and adhere to safety measures.

Yes. You can visit our Special Exhibition for FREE under the NMDC (National Museum Directors' Council) reciprocal entry scheme. Bring proof of eligibility (Membership or Staff Card) with you on the day of your visit and present this with your ticket. Pre-booking is recommended.

Yes, we ask that all visitors pre-book for their visit so we can manage the capacities under social distancing rules. Your carer is entitled to free entry to the exhibition.

Disabled visitors should book a regular exhibition ticket at full or concession price, depending on eligibility. Accompanying carers also need a ticket but these are free. Carers can access the exhibition for free with a ticket-holding disabled visitor.

Concession exhibition tickets are available for University of Oxford staff and alumni, and those over 65.

Discounted exhibition tickets are available for all non-Oxford University students, children aged 12–17, persons under 25, those who are unemployed, Blue Light Card Holders, and Art Fund Members. Proof of eligibility must be presented with your ticket when you visit.

Ashmolean Membership only covers exhibition entry for yourself and any other named members if you hold a joint membership. You may bring guests with you into the exhibitions if you hold an 'Individual + Guest' or 'Joint + Guests' membership. If you hold an 'Individual' or 'Joint' membership then you will need to purchase a ticket for any guests who are not named members.

All visitors must have a pre-booked ticket to be granted exhibition entry.

For any media enquiries about our exhibitions, please refer to our Press information page

Yes, should the UK government instruct us to close the Museum again, your paid-for exhibition ticket will be refunded.

We offer a wide programme of both online and onsite teaching sessions for Primary, Secondary & FE Groups.

Booking is essential, even for self-guided groups. Without a booking we will not be able to allow entry.

To book a self-guided visit to the main exhibition, please contact the Box Office.

For more information, visit our schools pages:
 

PRIMARY 

SECONDARY & FE

Please check your booking confirmation letter carefully for information about where to come on arrival.

Most Primary and Secondary taught sessions are directed to come to the Group visits entrance at St Giles where you will be met by your Session Leader.

We may ask self-guided groups to come to the front door of the Museum on Beaumont Street.

Look for the group meeting point on the forecourt. Introduce yourself to the member of staff who is welcoming visitors and show them your confirmation letter.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need cancel so we can release your space to other groups and individuals.

To cancel, please contact the Learning Department at:

learning@ashmus.ox.ac.uk

Please take a look at our extensive free online learning resources:

LEARNING RESOURCES

Non-school groups should please book tickets through the Ashmolean Box Office.

Find out more on our ticketing page: Ashmolean Tickets

 
Yes, we have accessible toilets, and changing facilities in the Museum.

Our toilets are regularly cleaned throughout the day.

 
Yes, our lockers are available. A non-refundable £1 coin is required, or payment can be made by card in our shop.

If possible, we would recommend only bringing a small bag if necessary.

Visitors are asked to carry bags on their front, or hold them by their side when in the galleries for the protection of objects that are on open display.

Recyclable plastic bags will be available for small umbrellas. In line with our usual policy, large umbrellas are not allowed into the galleries. Limited storage for large umbrellas will be available near the doors but items are left at visitor’s own risk.
 

Please visit the access pages of our website: ashmolean.org/access

Although the Museum recommends everyone wears a face covering on their visit, we understand that for some people wearing a face covering is not possible. Additional needs may mean you can’t wear a face covering and/or you need to see the entire face of the person talking to you.

If you need a member of staff to remove their face covering to talk to you – for example, if you need to lip read – please ask. We will be happy to help.

There are several reasons in line with Access and Equality that would mean individuals cannot wear face coverings, including:

• Children under the age of 11
• If you have a physical, neurological, mental or emotional condition that means you cannot put on, wear, or remove a face covering
• If putting on, wearing, or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress
• If you are travelling with, or providing assistance to, someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
• If you need to eat, drink, or take medication you can remove your face covering
• If you are asked to remove your face covering by a security officer or other member of staff
• If you require First Aid assistance or need to signal for urgent assistance from staff

We will regularly review our guidance to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff.

For full guidance relating to face coverings in museums and galleries, please visit the gov.uk website:
Government guidance on face coverings, updated 27 January 2022

Yes, our accessible toilets, and changing facilities, are open.

Yes, a limited number of wheelchairs are available to borrow, and a cleaning regime will be in place to sanitise these after each use.

Yes, assistance dogs are still welcome in the Museum.

Yes, limited seating will be available in the galleries but less than usual to allow us to maintain social distancing. Some cushioned seating has been temporarily removed as it is more difficult to clean regularly. There is a regular cleaning regime in place.

Yes, folding stools will be available but we may need to restrict where people can stop and sit to maintain visitors flow and social distancing. Visitors are asked to follow the advice of Museum staff. A cleaning regime will be in place to sanitise these after each use.

Yes, lifts are available. Use is prioritised for people with mobility issues and we ask that people who do not need a lift please use the stairs when possible.

Yes, as always we welcome visitors with young children and buggies to come and enjoy the Museum.

Yes you can download the guide here

No, this programme has been suspended to maintain social distancing and safety for visitors and staff. Programmes will resume at some stage but we don’t yet have a date.