Your Visit

Please look under the links on the left for information on opening hours and admission charges, access and facilities such as our cafe and shop. 

Look under Location and Directions for directions to the Oriental Museum and advice on how to reach us via different modes of transport. There are also downloadable maps available, of both Durham, and the northeast region.

To help you plan your visit you can also download a plan of the museum galleries from this page.  Just click on the link below. 

• Oriental Museum gallery plan (last modified: 22 October 2012)

Oriental Museum Redevelopment Project

The Oriental Museum is currently undergoing a major redevelopment project.  This will involve the closure and complete redisplay of many of the galleries over the next 4-5 years. Work on the Egypt and China galleries has now been completed.  During 2012/13 work will be getting underway on the Japan, South and South East Asia and Islamic World gallleries.  We are trying to keep as much of the museum open and accessible to visitors during this work but it will involve some closures and disruption.  Up to date information on the changes we are making, and the reasons behind them, can be found under Redevelopment Project.

New security measures

Following the theft that took place at the Oriental Museum in April 2012 we have had to bring in new security measures to ensure the future safety of the museums collections.  As part of these measures we are asking visitors to assist us by removing hats, caps or hoods while they are inside the museum.  We are also asking visitors to deposit any large bags and backpacks in the free lockers provided. 

We hope that our visitors will understand the necessity of taking these measures.  We thank you for your co-operation.