Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

SOFO Museum first opened during the summer of 2014, tucked away in the beautiful gardens in the grounds of The Oxfordshire Museum and Woodstock Library, and just on the doorstep of Blenheim Palace.

A new take on the classic military museum, SOFO shares stories of heroism, combat and peace from across the globe and throughout time. We also tell stories of how conflict has affected the county and its people, from soldiers serving on the front lines to ordinary people living on the Home Front.

As well as a range of ever-changing exhibitions and events, our permanent displays explore topics that you’ll find surprising and moving in equal measure, such as raw accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen from both camp survivors and Oxfordshire soldiers.

Battles of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry puts you on-board a Horsa Glider as it prepares to land in Normandy in the early hours of D-Day 1944, while Secret Agents, Secret Armies explores the world of spies and espionage through the lens of Ian Fleming and his famous creation, James Bond.

Discover the county’s Victoria Cross and George Cross recipients in our new Oxfordshire Gallantry Board, alongside our extensive medal collection.

Walk the Western Front in our recreated Great War trench dugout, and take cover in our replica Anderson Shelter as you hear real stories of people evacuated to Oxfordshire during the Second World War.

A Woman’s War lets you see conflict through the eyes and experiences of women in and out of uniform, from groups like the Women’s Land Army in the First World War to the women now serving in the modern day British Armed Forces.

SOFO holds a collection of over 3,500 objects and 7,500 archive items from two county regiments, the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars (QOOH) and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. These are our starting point for reflecting on the county’s rich and diverse military heritage.