About
SOFO Museum first opened during the summer of 2014, tucked away in the beautiful gardens in the grounds of The Oxfordshire Museum and Woodstock Library, and just on the doorstep of Blenheim Palace.
More than a local military museum, SOFO is a museum that everyone can enjoy, from kids to parents and grandparents. We tell stories of how conflict has affected the county and its people, from soldiers serving on the front lines to ordinary people living on the Home Front.
On top of a range of ever-changing displays and events, our permanent exhibits explore topics that you’ll find surprising and moving in equal measure, such as raw accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen from both camp survivors and Oxfordshire soldiers.
Battles of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry puts you on-board a Horsa Glider as it prepares to land in Normandy in the early hours of D-Day 1944, while Secret War explores the world of spies and espionage and lets you try your hand at sending and decoding secret messages.
SOFO holds a collection of over 3,500 objects and 7,500 archive items from two former county regiments, the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars (QOOH) and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. These are our starting point for reflecting on the county’s rich and diverse military heritage.
Our Value Proposition
A new take on the classic military museum where everyone can be inspired to learn and share stories of courage and combat in conflict and peace.
Our Vision
We will reach out to an increasingly varied audience through our collection and associated knowledge, using innovative programs that engage and foster learning for all ages. We will contribute to our communities’ understanding of the military history of the County, bridging military and civilian understanding and undertake our stewardship of the collection in a way that ensures our inheritance is enhanced and passed on to future generations.
Our Mission Statement
To inspire everyone with our collections and story-telling.
Our Customer Commitment Policy
If you would like to read more details about our commitment to customers, our policy can be viewed using the link below.
