Swooning in the history of music

For the last few months a showcase in the lobby of the Old Bank Hotel has been displaying a selection of important wind instruments from The Bate Collection, one of Oxford’s most intriguiging – and yet little known – museums.

Home to more than 2,000 magnificent musical instruments from the sixteenth-century to modern times, the museum is to classical musical lovers what the Hard Rock cafe is to rock fans. Managed by the University’s Faculty of Music the collection includes a saxophone by the inventor, Adolph Sax, superb string instruments & violin, viola and cello bows by some of the finest bow makers of all time. Harpiscords & pianos, portraits, even a plaster cast copy of Haydn’s skull, add to its appeal. The curators are friendly and knowledgeable.

Admission to the museum is free. To find it, walk down St Aldate’s, past Christchurch college and the museum is on the left opposite Tesco.

To find out more about concerts and musical events in Oxford, just ask at reception.