Cherwell District Council - Banbury Museum

Banbury Museum

Banbury Museum is situated in an attractive canal-side location in the centre of Banbury.

Image depicting Banbury Museum and Tourist Information Centre entrance
Banbury MuseumExciting modern displays illustrate Banbury's history. These include the Civil War, the Victorian market town and the Oxford Canal and Tooley's Boatyard.

The boatyard adjoins the museum and is a scheduled ancient monument that can be visited as part of a guided tour (for more information about guided tours and charges, please use the contact details top right).

Significant collections on display include costume from the 17th Century.

There is a regularly changing programme of temporary exhibitions and events, as well as a cafe, shop, resource room and conference facilities.

Find out what happened when ...

Roundheads besieged the town
plush cloth was made and exported around the world
World War II came to Banbury

Watch from the Waterways Gallery ...

the Oxford Canal pass beneath your feet
boats being repaired in the historic Tooley's Boatyard

Discover treasures never before displayed:

costume, spanning four centuries, from baldrics to corsets
a cannon from Banbury Castle
the hangman's gibbet
Victorian toys
a carrier's cart
mementos from the Home Guard.

Admission is free

How to find us

Banbury Museum's main entrance is in the Castle Quay Shopping Centre. Follow signs to Castle Quay.

By car - from junction 11 off the M40. Public car parks near the museum.

By public transport - Banbury Bus Station is adjacent to Castle Quay and Banbury Railway Station is a short walk away.

By boat - Banbury Museum is on the Oxford Canal. It is 12 cruising hours north of Oxford and 23 hours south of Coventry.

Banbury Museum events|

Read more about Banbury Museum events|

Banbury Museum exhibitions|

Banbury Museum education service for schools|

Banbury Museum offers a wide range of learning opportunities for all ages. The education service provides a framework for learning through a series of specialist programmes and activities.

Banbury Museum education service for the under 5s|

Small Talk - activity backpacks for children aged 3 - 5 years.

Banbury Historical Society|

The society was founded in 1957 to encourage interest in the history of the town of Banbury and neighbouring parts of Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

image depicting View of Tooley's Boatyard, footbridge across the canal and Banbury Museum

Banbury Museum Tooley's Boatyard|

Tooley's Boatyard is an historic working boatyard and Scheduled Ancient Monument that adjoins the museum.

Banbury Museum reception and tourist information|

Our shop includes a wide range of local souvenirs, quality gifts, toys, games, and local history publications.

Banbury Museum Cafe Quay|

Café Quay is brought to you by Flying Aubergine.

Banbury Museum news|

Museum News