Shop & Café
You don't have to be visiting the museum galleries to make use of our shop and cafe. If you are just coming in for a coffee or to find that perfect birthday gift, you won't be charged museum admission.
The Oriental Museum Shop
The museum shop sells a range of oriental-inspired gifts and souvenirs. There is something for everyone from pocket money toys to exclusive items that are perfect for that special gift.
Our shop is divided into four themes - China, Japan, India and Ancient Egypt, with products coming from the country of origin whenever possible. We also sell postcards, cards, slides, books and gift-wrap.
We aim to sell items not found on the high street: we are the exclusive stockists of 'ALSO Home', a beautiful range of luxury textiles, crockery and gifts with an Oriental twist. We also stock the quirky 'Momiji' range (pictured), as well as the more traditional Kokeshi dolls, hand carved from cherry wood in Japan. Other exciting products include Chinese fortune-telling sticks, sari-covered photo albums, delicate lacquer ware and boxed ceramics.
Oriental Museum gift collection now online
A handpicked selection of Oriental Museum gifts are now available to buy directly from Durham University's online shop. Visit www.durham.ac.uk/shop to view the collection which includes exquisite Indian leather-bound notebooks, Chinese ceramics and Japanese silk scarves.
Treasures of the Oriental Museum book
On 30th June 2010 University Chancellor, Bill Bryson, launched the Treasures of the Oriental Museum, Durham University. The book's introduction traces the history of the collections and their arrival in Durham and the 50 short essays that accompany the objects have been written by artists, curators, researchers, students and collectors from the UK and around the world, offering a wide range of viewpoints on this enormously varied and fascinating collection, accompanied by all new colour photography of these stunning objects.
Launching the book, Bill Bryson echoed the words he used in the foreword to the book, urging anyone who has yet to visit the Oriental Museum to "drop everything and go at once. It's that good."
Copies of the book and other Durham University merchandise can be ordered online from the Durham University Retail Office.
The Museum Cafe
We sell a range of delicious coffees, made using freshly ground fair-trade beans, as well as a selection of speciality teas to give you a real flavour of the Orient. Fresh sandwiches are available daily, as well as refreshing cold drinks, biscuits, chocolate and snacks. Child-friendly drinks and snacks are on sale and we can provide a high seat if required.
The Oriental Museum cafe is open from 10am to 4.00pm weekdays and 12pm to 4.00pm at the weekends and on Bank Holidays.
As part of Durham University we are Fairtrade certified. We are committed to providing Fairtrade food and drink wherever possible. As much as possible is sourced locally to reduce the environmental impact of 'food miles' and wherever possible packaging is biodegradable or recyclable. Our coffee is fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified, our tea supplier is part of the Ethical Tea Partnership. For more information on our environmental and fairtrade policies please see the University's Fair Trade webpage.
Please note our cafe seats 16 people on a variety of seating. Our sandwiches are not made on site, so If you are visiting the museum as part of a group please let us know in advance, so that we can order in sufficient sandwiches.
