Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

SOFO offers its visitors engaging and immersive experiences through a changing exhibitions programme and permanent galleries including a recreated Great War trench, a mock up section of a Horsa Glider from D Day and Afghan Alley.

Our galleries take visitors through the life of a ‘21st Century Soldier’, the ‘Blood and War’ of the frontline, Winston Churchill and the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars and the ‘Liberation of Bergen-Belsen’ by the Oxfordshire Yeomanry as well as ‘Prisoners of War, at Home and Abroad’.

For visiting children, we offer an under-fives den, Kids Art Cart, trails and quizzes as well as dress up, feely boxes and code breaking!

Oxfordshire Remembers 1914-1918
A fascinating look at how the Great War affected the county and the opportunity to delve into previously unseen objects and images from the SOFO collection.

There are four resident Galleries

The Secret War
Women have always been at war, whether as nurses, ambulance drivers, or even spies. They continue to inspire and teach us that being in uniform or even in disguise is a dangerous mission but through selection, training and working together even the toughest theatres of war can be faced. The exhibition brings together heroic stories and fun activities for children as they learn just how Oxfordshire became part of the Secret War in World War Two.

Modern Conflict
Formed in 2007, the Rifles Regiment consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, take a look at the daily life of the Rifles in Afghanistan.
Also we offer the opportunity to learn more about Oxfordshire's newest regiment DEM'S and the incredible work they do.

Blood and War
What was life like on the front line? How have survival rates changed and what does being injured on the front line mean for today's soldiers? A fascinating and fun look at the gore that is always part of military action, from lice to helicopters, medical advances are explored with hands on activities and quizzes to stimulate debate amongst the family.

Churchill and the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars
Winston Churchill was not just a politician and world leader, he was also part of our own county regiment and was proud to be known as an Oxfordshire Hussar. Wearing this uniform to meet the Kaiser before the outbreak of WW1 he signalled the importance of his allegiance to the 'Queer Objects on Horseback'.

For visiting children, we offer an under-fives den, Kids Art Cart, trails and quizzes as well as dress up, feely boxes and code breaking!