We are a family friendly museum located in Banbury's town centre, next to the idyllic canal side, and opposite Tooley's historic boatyard. The Civil War, plush manufacturing, the Victorian market town, costume from the 17th century to the present day and the Oxford Canal: these are just some of the stories illustrated in the museum's galleries.
There are also regularly changing exhibitions and activities to ensure that there is always something new to see and do. Plan your visit, find out what's on, and search the Banbury Historical Society archive, which offers over 50 years of research online.
There are also regularly changing exhibitions and activities to ensure that there is always something new to see and do. Plan your visit, find out what's on, and search the Banbury Historical Society archive, which offers over 50 years of research online.
Services
Our Museum's origins stretch back to the 1940s when a collection of historic exhibits were displayed in the town's library in Marlborough Rd. In 1980, the collection moved to 8 Horsefair, overlooking Banbury Cross. This historic building, originally built for Banbury's Poor Law Guardians, provided a home for the Museum until 1999.
Banbury Historical Society was founded in 1958 by a group of local historians to encourage research into the local history of Banbury town and its hinterland. They have around 200 members, mostly local but some scattered far and wide. Their annual programme of activities runs from September to July, with lectures from September through to Easter and then a varied programme of outings and expeditions in the summer.
Banbury Museum & Gallery is located in an iconic modern building in the centre of Banbury next to the beautiful canal-side and offers a range of venue hire options. Banbury Museum & Gallery has a number of spaces available for venue hire, accommodating a range of layouts and also providing AV equipment.
As a trust we welcome donations and you will spot donation boxes inside the museum. These donations allow Banbury Museum to continue bringing the best exhibitions to North Oxfordshire. The role of Banbury Museum is to enhance the quality of life in the community by promoting understanding and appreciation of the locality and the wider human heritage.
This will help us provide a fantastic new welcome and shopping experience for our all our visitors. The Museum is open, including the Banbury Gallery and our temporary exhibition 'I Grew Up in the 80's, while we carry out this refurbishment work. However, the entrance from Castle Quay shopping centre is closed and there is no access to the Waterways Gallery.
Reviews (10)
Corinne Ratcliffe
Jan 10, 2022
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Loved the museum, very local, interesting displays, however we traveled backwards in time as it took us a couple of minutes to realise it is set up anticlockwise and we were going clockwise! Amazing that some of the items have been saved.
The exhibition in the Gallery was incredible, especially the photographs taken by the young entrants.
The exhibition in the Gallery was incredible, especially the photographs taken by the young entrants.
Punuka Okafor
Dec 27, 2021
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Paul Dunford
Nov 12, 2021
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Jean Sedgley
Oct 09, 2021
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Mini Me
Sep 29, 2021
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David Wright
Aug 23, 2021
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David Muir
Aug 20, 2021
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Carla Lewis
Aug 12, 2021
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Jonathan Lo
Aug 09, 2021
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Hannah Panye
Oct 25, 2019
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