Oxford Bus Museum

About the museum

The museum began in 1967, when a group of bus enthusiasts formed the Oxford Bus Preservation Syndicate to save significant vehicles from the scrapyard. Its first purchase was a single 1949 AEC Regal III. Over the following decades the collection grew to around 40 buses and coaches, the oldest dating from 1913.

Since 1984 the collection has been based in the former goods yard beside Hanborough railway station at Long Hanborough. Lottery heritage funding later made it possible to house the vehicles under cover and open the site as a proper visitor attraction. The museum is run as a registered charity by volunteer members and received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2018.

The focus is on vehicles that worked in and around Oxford, many of them from the City of Oxford Motor Services fleet, including a large group of AEC buses. Visitors can also see a sectioned bus and bare chassis that explain how vehicles were built, and watch restoration work in the workshop through a viewing gallery.

The site also houses the Morris Motors Museum, which tells the story of William Morris and the Nuffield companies with cars and vans set in a reconstruction of part of the Cowley factory, and a historic cycle collection that traces the development of the bicycle.

Highlights

• About 40 historic buses and coaches, the earliest from 1913
• Three Daimler Y buses from 1915 to 1917
• Morris Motors Museum with cars from 1928 to 1977
• Historic cycle collection with around 50 machines
• Restoration workshop with a viewing gallery
• Heritage bus rides on selected dates

Permanent exhibitions

• Oxford Bus Museum collection – Around 40 historic buses and coaches that worked in Oxford and Oxfordshire, including a 1913 vehicle, together with a sectioned bus and a restoration workshop.
• Morris Motors Museum – Eleven cars and two vans from Morris and Nuffield companies, from a 1928 Bullnose Morris to a 1977 Mini, shown in a reconstruction of part of the Cowley factory.
• Historic Cycle Collection – About 50 bicycles, tricycles and tandems that show how the modern bicycle developed, starting with an 1821 hobby horse replica.

Founded

1967

Operated by

Oxford Bus Museum Trust Limited

Admission & discounts

The prices shown are the standard rates. Prices with Gift Aid are about £1 higher (adult £9, concession £8, junior £6, family £19). Tickets can be bought in the café. Heritage bus rides run on selected dates.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair access is available throughout the museum except the workshop viewing gallery, the workshop and the first floor of the Morris Motors Museum. Accessible toilets and one wide disabled parking bay are provided. Well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout, except in the café, where only assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's birthday parties can be held on site, and the café sells children's snack boxes.

Getting there & parking

Located on the A4095 in Long Hanborough; follow the brown tourist signs. Satnav postcode OX29 8LA. The train journey from Oxford takes about 10 minutes.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

On-site café and museum shop, serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes, snacks and children's snack boxes. The café closes at 3pm.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

A conference room is available for club meetings and annual general meetings, and a room can be used for children's birthday parties. The museum can also open outside normal hours for private parties (minimum charge £120).

Plan your visit