IF you visit The Story Museum during the depths of winter there are times when if feels quite chilly – almost as cold as Narnia where, legend has it, winter never ends.

The dilapidated buildings at the attraction in Pembroke Street, Oxford, can be difficult to heat and it's sometimes hit and miss which radiator you will find switched on or off.

But staff are now working hard to ensure there will soon be a very warm welcome for all its visitors.

The museum charity acquired a 130-year lease at its Rochester House home in 2009, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous benefactor, and has since been working on the phased redevelopment of three linked buildings around a courtyard.

The masterplan envisages the full transformation of all 2,000sqm across five levels, with many rooms of varying shapes and sizes.

According to staff the completed museum will offer several unique creative spaces, each inviting visitors to explore all forms of story – oral, literary, visual and digital – through imaginative and interactive displays and installations.

The cafe and bookshop at the museum entrance already ensures that visitors don't leave with an empty stomach and the exhibitions throughout, featuring scenes from popular Oxford-inspired tales such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, already guarantee a warm glow.

Plans are now under way for a £6m transformation, which will put The Story Museum firmly on the map of top Oxford attractions.

Museum spokesman David Gibb said some parts of the attraction would be closed next year as refurbishment takes place.

He added: "Work is expected to take place in 2018 with the museum fully reopening in 2019 – it's a very big venture for us, a big step forward.

"Some spaces next year will be unavailable and from the beginning of 2018 significant work will take place.

"It's a big undertaking and we are in the process of raising funds."

Mr Gibb said visitors were now being asked what stories and exhibits they would like to see featured in the museum, once it has been renovated.

He added: "We have a section call Ever After, featuring old typewriters, where visitors are invited to tell us what they would like to see.

"Some people have said they don't want it to be tidied up too much – they like its rough edges.

"There will definitely be a section dedicated to stories created in Oxford – it's the home of children's literature."

Mr Gibb added that it was grateful for the backing of all its supporters, including patron Philip Pullman, the author of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

Mr Pullman has just announced that he has completed The Book of Dust, a tale to run alongside the best-selling trilogy and publication is expected later this year.

The revamp at Rochester House will include the creation of six new spaces, including a 140-seater performance space, a dedicated early years story-play space, a learning studio and resource room, a multi-media space, an 'enchanted library' and a climate-controlled treasure chamber for the display of heritage items.

To add to the entertainment outdoor walkways and a new lift in the courtyard will connect the three wings of the site and for the first time make the whole building wheelchair accessible.

Ted Dewan, who lives in North Oxford, and is the creator of the Bing Bunny children's books, said: "It's taken a lot of work for the museum to get to this point and it's remarkable that it has been running so successfully when it has only been partially developed.

"It's great to see kids at the museum enjoying the exhibits – once the redevelopment is complete the footfall should increase."

In January last year Arts Council England invited the museum to apply for £2m towards the project and in October last year the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a 'first-round' pass for an application of £1.2m.

Together with funding already confirmed, from a number of other individuals and trusts and foundations, this brings the capital campaign to £4m pledged, towards the goal of £6m, and a public appeal is expected later this year.