Things To Do

Bate Collection

University of Oxford, Saint Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DB, GB

Rating: 4.7 ★ (87 ratings)

Details

Over a thousand historically significant musical instruments, from the Renaissance to modern times, are waiting to be discovered at the Bate Collection. Housed within the University of Oxford's Faculty of Music, this remarkable treasury showcases the evolution of Western classical music through its woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Marvel at instruments crafted by important English, French, and German makers, and explore how their designs have shaped the sounds we hear. The collection includes notable items such as the unique Bressan Recorder and the historic Beale Trumpet. Many of the instruments are maintained in playing condition, offering a living link to the music of the past.

Located on St Aldate's, near the iconic Christ Church, the Bate Collection offers a fascinating journey for music enthusiasts and curious visitors alike. Delve into the intricate craftsmanship of harpsichords, a cornerstone of Baroque music, or examine early examples of saxophones and horns. The collection also features the Reginald Morley-Pegge collection of horns and other important bequests. Entry is free, and you might even have the chance to see students from the Music Faculty interacting with these historic treasures, bringing centuries of musical heritage to life. Consider downloading the 'resOUnd' app to enhance your visit, allowing you to virtually play some of the collection's highlights.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: Closed; Tuesday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Friday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Saturday: Closed; Sunday: Closed

Contact

+44 1865 276139

Comments

Kate Wexell
27 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
This museum is sort of tucked away, but I loved it. Oxford has a massive collection of unique musical instruments. You can do an audio tour that shows you examples of each instrument being played. So some variations of normal instruments will be played in the context of opera music especially. If you talk to the worker or schedule a time in advance, you can even play the instruments. They have some instruments that belong to famous musicians, and so that made my heart happy when I got that opportunity. I ended up chatting with the woman working at the front desk for over an hour, and it was interesting to hear about her experiences living in London and Oxford, and it really just opened my eyes to the world of England.
Petra Hollós
24 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
It's an amazing, very special exhibition with many instruments, I absolutely recommend to visit it in Oxford!
Josh Brown
6 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
Really fascinating museum in downtown Oxford. Was smaller than what I thought it would be but there’s more than enough to keep you interested there for an hour or so. Guy at the front desk was really friendly. We had to leave our bags there but everything was safe enough. Would highly recommend for a great museum trip!
Margareta Schultz
25 Jan 2026
5.0 ★
Very interesting display. I don't know much about Musical Instruments so it was very helpful that you could listen to samples of the Instruments.
Chin-Hsuan Cheng
17 Jan 2026
5.0 ★
Free admission. Large and impressive collection of historical instruments, and the staff is nice and informative. There's a Haydn's Broadwood piano on the second floor.

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