Transport history

Guide to the Oxford Bus Museum

Your guide to regional transport history and exhibits in Long Hanborough

HistoryLocal heritageDesign

Explore over 130 years of regional transport history with an extensive collection of historic buses, classic Morris cars, and vintage bicycles. Visitors can view ongoing vehicle restorations from a workshop viewing platform and enjoy heritage bus rides on select event dates.

A regional transport museum featuring historic buses, vintage Morris cars, a bicycle collection, and an active vehicle restoration workshop.

About the Oxford Bus Museum

The Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough preserves over 130 years of local transport heritage. The volunteer-run museum houses historic regional buses alongside classic Morris Motors cars and vintage bicycles. Visitors can view an active restoration workshop from an observation platform. On designated dates, the venue operates heritage bus rides, offering a unique window into regional transit history.

Vintage red double-decker bus number 34 to Burford with Cadbury's Dualite advertising, parked on a street lined with ivy-covered stone buildings

Oxford Bus Museum opening hours in Oxford

Check today’s opening status, weekly schedule, and special date changes for Oxford Bus Museum. Use these opening hours to plan your arrival and avoid closed times in Oxford.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

10:00-16:00

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Oxford Bus Museum Ticket Prices and Admission Options

Visiting the Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough requires a paid ticket, with standard adult admission priced at £7.00 and concession rates for seniors aged 65 and over at £6.00. Tickets for juniors aged 5 to 15 are £4.00, while children under 5 and accompanying carers enter for free. A family option is available for £17.00, and visitors can optionally choose rates that include a Gift Aid donation.

Adult (Normal Admission)

£7.00

Aged 16 to 64 years Standard admission rate

Disabled Person's Carer

Free

Accompanying a disabled visitor

Concessions (Normal Admission)

£6.00

Aged 65 and over

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Oxford Bus Museum Location and Orientation

Located on Main Road in Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire, the Oxford Bus Museum sits conveniently adjacent to the Hanborough Railway Station. This close proximity to the station makes the museum exceptionally easy to reach for visitors arriving by train to explore the region's transport history. The site serves as an ideal base for discovering historic buses, vintage Morris cars, and classic bicycles.

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Planning Your Visit to the Oxford Bus Museum

Planning a visit to the Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough allows you to explore a collection of historic vehicles and vintage bicycles. To enjoy the exhibits and local transport displays fully, visitors should plan for a relaxed, self-guided experience. Checking local travel connections ahead of time will help ensure a smooth arrival at this transport heritage destination.

See how to visit the museum

Discovering Transport History at the Oxford Bus Museum

The Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough presents a detailed look at more than 130 years of Oxfordshire's local transport heritage. Visitors can explore an extensive collection of historic regional buses alongside exhibitions of vintage bicycles and classic Morris Motors cars. A key highlight is the active restoration workshop, where guests can stand on an observation platform to watch volunteers preserve historic vehicles. On designated event days, the museum brings history to life by operating complimentary rides aboard its beautifully preserved heritage passenger buses.

Museum interior showing a horse-drawn tram with a real horse statue, vintage red and cream buses, and a mannequin in Victorian-era dress, all roped off with information placards.

History of the Oxford Bus Museum

The Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough was founded in 1967 when a preservation syndicate acquired its first vintage vehicle. In 1984, the collection moved to the former goods yard of Hanborough station to provide covered accommodation. Following a major heritage-funded refurbishment in 2001, the site expanded by opening the Morris Motors Museum in 2004. These milestones have preserved over **130 years of regional transport history**.

Established in 1967
1967Founding
The museum was founded in November 1967 when the Oxford Bus Preservation Syndicate acquired its first vehicle, a 1949 AEC Regal III semi-coach, to preserve local transport history.
Relocation to Hanborough railway station
1984Relocation
In 1984, the museum's collection was moved to its current site, which occupies the former goods yard of the Hanborough railway station in Long Hanborough. The move allowed for the construction of new covered accommodation for the vehicles.
Building refurbishment and expansion
2001Renovation
The museum's buildings underwent a significant refurbishment and expansion in 2001, a project that received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Morris Motors Museum opened
2004Opening
The Morris Motors Museum, which displays a collection of cars and vans from the Nuffield Organization, opened on the museum site in 2004.

Oxford Bus Museum FAQ: Getting Your Timing Right

Planning a trip to the Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough but worried about turning up on the wrong day? With doors open strictly on Wednesdays and Sundays, timing is everything. Read our quick FAQs to ensure you don't roll up on a Saturday only to find the buses resting.

What are the Oxford Bus Museum weekend opening hours?

On weekends, the Oxford Bus Museum is open only on Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00. The museum is completely closed on Saturdays.

Is the Oxford Bus Museum open on Mondays?

No, the Oxford Bus Museum is closed on Mondays. The museum is only open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00.

What time does the Oxford Bus Museum close?

The Oxford Bus Museum closes at 16:00 on Wednesdays and Sundays, which are the only days of the week the museum is open.

What are the visiting hours for the Oxford Bus Museum?

The Oxford Bus Museum is open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00. The museum remains closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

See museum FAQ answers

Tips for Visiting the Oxford Bus Museum

Planning a trip to the Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough allows visitors to step back in time and explore the history of regional public transport. The exhibits showcase a diverse collection of vintage buses, coaches, and historic bicycles, alongside photographs and uniforms. Taking your time to wander through these displays ensures a relaxed and informative experience. Visitors should prepare to explore both large vehicles and smaller archival materials during their stay.

Who is the Oxford Bus Museum For?

The Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough is well-suited for families, groups, and solo visitors interested in regional transport history and design. The museum's exhibitions display a wide variety of historic buses, classic Morris Motors cars, and vintage bicycles that appeal to both children and adults. Enthusiasts of local heritage can also view an active vehicle restoration workshop from an observation platform to see how these historic machines are preserved. It provides an engaging and educational experience for anyone curious about the evolution of public transit in Oxfordshire.

Inside the Oxford Bus Museum: A Visual Preview

Explore the vibrant visual history of the Oxford Bus Museum in Long Hanborough through its collection of preserved vehicles. Photos showcase restored single and double-decker heritage buses in classic regional livery, alongside vintage Morris cars and historic bicycles. Visitors can preview the indoor galleries featuring a historic horse-drawn tram and active vehicle restoration.

A vintage cream and maroon AEC Regal III bus numbered 703 with a destination sign reading '61 to Witney via Standlake Marcham' parked outdoors at a bus coach stop with visitors standing nearby

A vintage red and cream double-decker bus driving on a road past a stone cottage under a blue sky with white clouds

Three vintage buses parked on a gravel lot under an overcast sky: a red double-decker, a red and maroon double-decker, and a cream and blue Morris FF single-decker coach.

Side view of a vintage cream and dark blue Morris FF bus parked outside a green corrugated metal building under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Side view of a vintage red and green Oxford bus parked outdoors under a cloudy sky, with another red double-decker bus partially visible on the left

A red and maroon vintage double-decker bus with a yellow Stephensons of Oxford advertisement banner, parked outdoors under a blue sky with white clouds.

Red and cream vintage double-decker bus on display inside a museum, registration AD 7156, route number 80

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Discovering Transport History at the Oxford Bus Museum

History of the Oxford Bus Museum

Established in 1967

Relocation to Hanborough railway station

Building refurbishment and expansion

Morris Motors Museum opened

What are the Oxford Bus Museum weekend opening hours?

Is the Oxford Bus Museum open on Mondays?

What time does the Oxford Bus Museum close?

What are the visiting hours for the Oxford Bus Museum?

Find Museums in Oxford by Interest and Subject

Oxford Union Old Library guide

Blackwell's Bookshop Oxford Overview

Carfax Tower: Overview & Views

Didcot Railway Centre Overview

Blackfriars Oxford Overview

The Queen's College Overview

Oxford Town Hall Visitor Guide

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