OXFORD’S newest museum, which sets out to tell the story of the city’s everyday people, will officially open tonight.

The new Museum of Oxford galleries will open to the public in the Town Hall, St Aldate’s, on Saturday.

More than £100,000 has been spent converting former offices into the Explore Oxford galleries, which tell the story of the city from Roman times to the present day.

The museum takes visitors on a trip through Oxford’s history and allows them to visit city engineer William White’s office in 1897 when the Town Hall officially opened.

They can also take a virtual high-speed bike tour around the city, featuring places not normally open to the public – such as Cowley’s Mini factory.

Project manager Sadie Paige said: “After six months of hard work, the Museum of Oxford will reopen in a new location within the Town Hall.

“We were given a tight deadline and the whole project team including our exhibition designers, interpretation specialists and volunteers stepped up to the plate to make this happen.

“I think that the result – Explore Oxford – has exceeded all our expectations, and is a very imaginative use of two former offices.”

Funding included £43,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £48,628 from Wren, the organisation which distributes landfill tax credits to good causes.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “Explore Oxford is a brilliant concept, showing visitors and residents how our city has developed and evolved over the centuries. It is the only museum exhibition, in a city of world-class museums and heritage sites, which tells the story of Oxford and its people.”

He added: “The transformation of these offices has been remarkable and the objects we have selected to go into the space are unique and tell a vivid story of the city.”

The museum, which is accessed through the main Town Hall entrance will be open Monday to Saturdays, 10am until 5pm, and Sundays from 11am until 3pm.

  • The museum is looking for volunteers to help staff the galleries – call Vanessa Lea on 01865 252086