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 to 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, letting 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 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.

New for 2022: 

For families with Special Educational Needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, we open outside our regular hours on certain special days. Enjoy the Museum at a quieter time, free from the general public, and with many of the gallery sounds turned off. Explore our gallery spaces in peace, or get hands-on with our activities.

Advanced booking is essential as places are limited, and must be booked online. Children and young people under 18 go free; adults charged at standard admission rate.

10am - 11am on Saturdays in term time, Wednesdays and Fridays during school holidays. Contact us at education@sofo.org.uk to book and for more details.