The Story Museum

“Chapter Two” of Oxford’s Story Museum renovation aims to be fully open to the public by October half-term 2020. Initially, the works were due to be unveiled in April, but Covid-19 saw the children’s museum close for longer than anticipated. In early August the museum began phased reopening. Visitors will have access to the new-look ground floor galleries including the shop and café. The £6 million refurbishment includes ‘The Whispering Wood’ (pictured), a mysterious indoor forest tracing the history of oral storytelling, and ‘The Enchanted Library’ where visitors can step inside iconic scenes inspired by much-loved children’s stories, from emerging through a wardrobe into The Chronicles of Narnia to cutting through into the parallel realms of His Dark Materials. Celebrated authors Malorie Blackman and Philip Pullman, who are patrons, will have their work featured in the Enchanted Library and there will also be storytelling performances in the outdoor courtyard and guided story walks around the city centre. (Updated 24 August 2020)