Ashmolean Museum

Lonely Planet review

A vast, rambling collection of art and antiquities is on display at the mammoth Ashmolean Museum , Britain's oldest public museum. Established in 1683, it is based on the extensive collection of the remarkably well-travelled John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I, and housed in one of Britain's best examples of neo-Grecian architecture.

Bursting with Egyptian, Islamic and Chinese art; rare porcelain, tapestries and silverware; priceless musical instruments; and extensive displays of European art (including works by Raphael and Michelangelo), it's impossible to take it all in at once. However, the Ashmolean is undergoing a substantial redevelopment phase, and as some galleries are closed a 'Treasures of the Ashmolean Museum' exhibition offers a cross section of highlights from the vast collection. The exhibition runs until December 2008. Otherwise, study the floor plan well and choose a manageable route through the sumptuous rooms and hallways.