[1] The museum includes both permanent and temporary displays featuring artefacts relating to Oxford's history from prehistoric times to the present day.

[3] The museum contains a gift shop stocked with items related to Oxford's history and cultural heritage, including books, toys, food, clothing, postcards.

[1] The museum is situated inside Oxford Town Hall, which was first opened in 1897 and was built by the architect Henry Hare in the Jacobethan style.

[citation needed] In 2005 the museum was awarded a financial grant by the Big Lottery funding scheme, Home Front Recall.

[5] In 2018 the museum acted as a temporary home to archaeological artifacts uncovered during the construction of Oxford's Westgate Shopping Centre.

[15] [16] During this time which encompassed the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum begun focusing more heavily on online material and temporary displays were erected in other rooms also located inside Oxford Town Hall.

Past examples have included Of Ordinary Things featuring art by Iraqi women living in Oxford,[32] and Queering Spires which won the National Lottery's 'Sustainable Project of the Year Award'.

[30] Also available is a kitchenette, museum props, Wi-Fi, furniture, baby changing areas, gender neutral toilets, and on-site catering.