Visit the Oriental Museum to marvel at our collections, see our exhibitions, and enjoy fun family activities.
The nationally important collections at the Oriental Museum, Durham are located over 4 floors, with plenty to discover about the cultures of the orient. You may wish to plan for a visit of around 2 hours minimum.
Checkout all the latest family events on The Oriental Museum website
Little Dragons at the Oriental Museum
Little Dragons is a group for under 5s and their families on a Wednesday morning in the Oriental Museum, Durham. Free entry, booking is essential. Packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.
For more information, opening times & family events details please visit The Oriental Museum website
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Background Information about the Oriental Museum, Durham
‘The Orient’ is not an area with defined geographical boundaries. The term can mean widely differing things to different people. In the case of the Oriental Museum, the definition is a wide one indeed, with the collections covering a huge area from North Africa to South East Asia. This is the legacy of the origins or the Oriental Museum in the teaching of oriental languages at Durham University.
The museum celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2010. Opened in 1960 to support university teaching and research, the museum’s role has changed enormously over the years.The Oriental Museum plays an important part in a number of major international projects at Durham University working with museums and universities across Asia.