Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Oxford

The world's first university museum, the ornate, columned, and charming Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology sits on the campus of Oxford University and contains a collection of artifacts, objects, and documents related to a broad spectrum of history. Dating back to the mid-19th century, the building itself serves as a historical exhibit and features Greek Ionic architecture. The prime interest, though, lies in the facility’s various collections, which preserve pieces of Greco-Roman pottery, drawings by Da Vinci and Michelangelo, Stradivarius violins, Egyptian artifacts and many other such curiosities. Make sure you see the Alfred Jewel, a ninth-centry relic from the reign of Alfred the Great featuring a construction of enamel and quartz enveloped in gold. If you're traveling with children, check the museums program of activities for youngsters before you visit. Add Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology and other attractions to your Oxford trip itinerary using our Oxford travel route builder site.