Visitors and Oxford residents can now combine a hop-on, hop-off open-top bus tour with entry to the Museum of Oxford under a new reduced ticket partnership.
At a glance
| Combined ticket | City Sightseeing Oxford bus tour and Museum of Oxford admission |
| Adult, age 18+ | £21.50 |
| Student or senior, age 65+ | £18.50 |
| Child, age 5–17 | £13 |
| Under-fives | Free |
| Bus tour | Unlimited hop-on, hop-off travel during the ticket’s validity period, with 18 stops |
| Museum stop | Leave the bus at stop 7, Christ Church, for Oxford Town Hall |
| Museum voucher validity | Three months after the bus-tour element is redeemed |
| Buy | City Sightseeing Oxford combined ticket |
A new ticket has been launched allowing people to explore Oxford by open-top bus before visiting the museum dedicated to the history of the city and its residents.
The partnership brings together City Sightseeing Oxford’s 18-stop tour and general admission to the Museum of Oxford, which is based inside Oxford Town Hall on St Aldate’s.
Tickets can be bought in person on the day or purchased online as a voucher. Anyone buying online must present the voucher to a City Sightseeing colleague before using it, rather than going directly to the museum with an unactivated booking.
Once the bus portion has been redeemed, customers have three months in which to use the museum part. This means the two attractions do not have to be visited on the same day.
What is included in the combined ticket?
The bus tour follows one circular route through central Oxford, calling near many of the city’s principal colleges, museums, shopping areas and historic landmarks.
Passengers can leave and rejoin the bus as often as they wish during the validity period shown on their ticket.
The route has 18 stops, including locations close to Christ Church, the Radcliffe Camera, Queen’s College, Trinity College, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Recorded commentary is available through complimentary headphones in 14 options:
- English
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Cantonese
- Mandarin Chinese
- Russian
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Polish
- Arabic
- Hindi
- English children’s commentary
Selected buses also offer live English commentary.
The current combined-ticket page lists the 60-minute Oxford Uncovered Walking Tour among the bus-tour inclusions. Times and availability should be checked on the day, particularly during busy periods or when city-centre events affect the route.
A complete uninterrupted circuit is normally advertised as taking about one hour, but City Sightseeing warns that roadworks and heavy traffic can extend the journey to around 90 minutes.
How much could visitors save?
The value of the combined ticket depends on the traveller’s age and whether another discount or family product would be cheaper.
| Visitor | Combined ticket | Current separate prices | Indicative saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult, age 18+ | £21.50 | £19.50 bus ticket plus £4 museum entry: £23.50 | £2 |
| Child, age 5–15 | £13 | £13 bus ticket plus £2 museum entry: £15 | £2 |
| Student | £18.50 | £17.50 bus ticket plus £2 museum entry: £19.50 | £1 |
| Senior, age 65+ | £18.50 | £17.50 bus ticket plus £4 museum entry: £21.50 | £3 |
These comparisons use the current 24-hour bus prices and standard museum admission rates. Prices and promotional offers can change.
Families should compare before buying
No dedicated combined family ticket is currently listed.
City Sightseeing is separately advertising a £49 bus-only family ticket for up to two adults and three children. At the current prices, two adults and two children would pay £69 for four individual combined tickets.
The same group would currently pay £61 by buying the £49 bus family ticket and separate museum admission for two adults and two children.
For two adults and three children, the individual combined tickets total £82, compared with £63 for the current bus family ticket and separate museum entry.
Small groups and individual visitors may save through the combined product, but larger families should compare both options at the point of purchase.
The published age bands also differ between products. The combined ticket treats ages five to 17 as children, while the standard bus-only fare currently treats passengers aged 16 and over as adults. This could make the combined option particularly useful for 16 and 17-year-olds, but customers should check the live age rules and carry proof of eligibility where appropriate.
How to activate and use the ticket
Online customers receive a prepaid voucher, which can be shown on a phone or printed.
The voucher must first be presented to a City Sightseeing colleague for activation. Staff are available on the buses, at ticket-selling locations around the city and through the Visitor Information Point on the High Street.
After activation, passengers can join the tour at any of its stops and hop on and off during the ticket’s stated validity period.
For the Museum of Oxford, visitors should leave at stop 7, identified on the tour as Christ Church. Oxford Town Hall is a short walk north along St Aldate’s.
The museum portion can be used on the same day or on another eligible opening day within the following three months.
That flexibility may be useful when:
- the museum is closed on the chosen bus-tour day;
- traffic delays leave too little time to explore the galleries properly;
- a visitor wants to return for a museum event or exhibition later; or
- local residents want to spread the two activities across separate visits.
The Museum of Oxford is normally open from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays. Bank holiday and special-event hours should be checked before travelling.
What can visitors see at the Museum of Oxford?
The Museum of Oxford is the only museum devoted entirely to the history of Oxford and the people who have lived, worked, studied and campaigned in the city.
Its permanent galleries explore subjects including Morris Motors, Oxford’s football history, fairgrounds, pubs, religious traditions, local industries, waterways, housing and the experiences of different communities.
The displays combine objects, photographs, oral histories, film, audio and interactive exhibits.
General admission includes access to the museum’s current special exhibition, Sounds of the City, which runs until 13 March 2027.
The exhibition looks at Oxford’s multi-genre music history, particularly during the 1990s and beyond. It features objects, posters, memorabilia and stories connected with bands, venues, record labels, festivals and grassroots music organisations.
Artists and events represented include:
- Radiohead and their 2001 South Park homecoming concert;
- Ride and the development of shoegaze;
- Supergrass and I Should Coco;
- Foals, Stornoway and Glass Animals;
- Cowley Road Carnival; and
- the venues and promoters that supported Oxford musicians.
The museum’s self-guided audio tours are included in general admission. Its highlights tour is available in English, Spanish, French, Mandarin and British Sign Language.
Families can also use free gallery trails, explorer backpacks and dressing-up activities.
“The combined ticket offers great value and provides an opportunity for customers to learn more about Oxford’s rich culture and history.”
Kamini Patel, Retail and Tourism Manager at City Sightseeing Oxford
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council and Cabinet Member for Partnership Working, Inclusive Economic Growth and Culture, said the partnership would help more people discover the museum and the stories that have shaped Oxford.
Planning the visit
City Sightseeing Oxford
| Route | One circular route with 18 stops |
| Museum stop | Stop 7, Christ Church |
| Typical full circuit | About one hour, although traffic and roadworks can extend it to 90 minutes |
| Visitor Information Point | 44–45 High Street, Oxford |
| Telephone | 01865 790522 |
| info@citysightseeingoxford.com | |
| Timetable and prices | Check the live City Sightseeing timetable |
Museum of Oxford
| Address | Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX |
| Opening | Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Telephone | 01865 252334 |
| museum@oxford.gov.uk | |
| Visitor information | Plan a Museum of Oxford visit |
Accessibility
City Sightseeing says its buses can carry wheelchairs and that drivers can assist passengers when boarding.
The open top deck is reached by stairs, but commentary and views are also available from the lower deck.
Written commentary, over-ear headphones and hearing loops are available for people who need them. Well-behaved dogs, including assistance dogs, are permitted on the sightseeing buses.
Oxford Town Hall has a step-free entrance on St Aldate’s to the north of its main steps. The Museum of Oxford is wheelchair accessible and offers large-print guides, sensory resources and a visual story.
Anyone with a specific access requirement should contact both attractions before travelling, particularly where wheelchair spaces, group access or additional assistance will be required.
FAQs
How much is the combined Oxford bus and museum ticket?
It costs £21.50 for adults aged 18 and over, £18.50 for students and seniors aged 65 and over, and £13 for children aged five to 17. Under-fives are free.
Where do passengers leave the bus for the museum?
Leave at City Sightseeing stop 7, Christ Church. The Museum of Oxford is inside Oxford Town Hall on St Aldate’s.
Do the bus tour and museum have to be visited on the same day?
No. After the bus portion is redeemed, customers have three months to use the museum portion of the voucher.
Can the ticket be bought on the day?
Yes. Tickets can be bought from City Sightseeing staff on the day or ordered online in advance.
Does an online voucher need to be activated?
Yes. It must be presented to a City Sightseeing colleague before it can be used.
How many stops are on the bus tour?
The tour has 18 stops near many of Oxford’s main attractions.
What languages are available?
Recorded commentary is available in 14 options, including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, Hindi and children’s commentary.
Is Sounds of the City included?
Yes. Entry to the exhibition is included with Museum of Oxford general admission. It continues until 13 March 2027.
Is there a combined family ticket?
No dedicated combined family price is currently listed. Larger families should compare individual combined tickets with the separate £49 bus family fare and standard museum admission before buying.
Where can tickets be purchased?
Tickets and the latest conditions are available through the City Sightseeing Oxford and Museum of Oxford combined ticket page.
