32 Free Days Out and Things to Do With Kids in Oxfordshire
I'm still adding to this list, so keep checking back, please get in touch if you've got any hidden gems to recommend, or if you have a picture to replace any that I'm missing (ie the places that have words). As a thank you, I'll send a 20% money off voucher to spend in the shop for anything that gets used.
I've tried to make sure that all the details on here are up to date, but please do double check on the websites I've linked to before you travel in case anything has changed. Although I'd love to be able to travel to every place on here, time and practicalities dictate that I've sourced a lot of information from 3rd parties so some information might be incorrect (Please let me know if you spot anything that is so that I can amend it).
Especially important: double check parking costs to avoid any nasty surprises on a day out that was supposed to be cheap, and obviously, be careful if you're visiting places with kids, especially where the terrain is dangerous (ruins, cliffs, beaches, slippy paths etc).
Happy adventuring!
2 floors of interesting exhibits including dinosaurs, and displays that kids can touch. There are activity sheets for kids. Check their website to see their programme of family events. The glorious Pitt Rivers Museum shares a building with it, packed with interesting things to see. (Rafiki LOVES it).
A whole heap of interesting exhibits, including fossils and local history. There's loads for kids to do, including gallery trails, and interactive elements including feely boxes and dressing up clothes. Check out their website for their programme of family events.
You can find this sanctuary for abused animals in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford. As well as looking after donkeys, they also have sheep, goats, chickens, geese and ducks. Visiting is free, with donations very appreciated. Check out their upcoming events on their website.
Iffley lock
Oxford
It doesn't get much more quintessential than this. A great place to watch boats drifiting by with a picnic, ride a bike, feed the ducks. It's a lovely 2.5 mile circular walk from Oxford train station through beautiful countryside.
Port Meadow
Oxford
136 hectares of nature in the city. The Thames flows through it, creating a flood plain, home to cattle, ponies and wildfowl. The landscape has remained the same since people lived on the meadow in the Iron Ages. A lovely place for walks, bike rides, and picnics. (be careful of the cattle and horses if you're picnic-ing away from the picnic benches.
A must visit for 'His Dark Materials' fans, take a look at some of the costumes and props in this museum that inspired Philip Pullman. There's a collection of family trails and activity sheets available from the entrance gallery, including one for amazing animals, and one for women in science. Check their website to see their programme of family events.
Christ Church Meadow
Oxford
A chilled out park in the middle of the city. You can download this trail before you go if you want to learn a little history. A lovely place to sit by the river, have a picnic, and take a stroll. Please note, ball games, kites, frisbees, and music aren't allowed.
A museum packed with exhibits related to art and archeology, including Egyptian mummies, Greek and Roman sculptures, and much more. There's lots to keep the kids entertained including a family trail. Check the website for free family events including arts and crafts.
They have an events programme. with things to do for younger kids (and teens and adults) as well as free activity backpacks to borrow full of creative activities. I think this is also an art space where teens can get a lot from it, and inspire some creativity.
Perfect for little paleontologists, who will love the interactive dinosaur gallery, and Megalosaurus hidden in som plants. There's also history and archeology galleries to teach some local history.
The ruins of a 15th century manor house in a beautiful setting next to the River Windrush. There are information boards to teach you a little history. Check the website for details about access and parking.
While you have to pay to visit the Divinity School, Bodlian Library, and Radcliffe Camera, the Weston Library hosts free exhibitions that might interest older kids and teens.
Ancient rolling downland, home to a bronze age chalk horse. Climb the hill to get a view over 6 counties (on a clear day). See the website for other things to have a look at while you're there, including burial mounds, ripples known as 'The Giant's Steps', Uffington Castle, and Dragon Hill.
Good to tie in with a visit to the White Horse, since it's only about a miles walk from there, along the Ridgeway. A neolithic chambered long barrow, it was once believed to have been the home of Wayland, the Saxon god of metal working.
A small museum explaining the history of the Uffington area, in a beautiful 17th Centure schoolroom. Check out their village trail, for a walk about 90 minutes, seeing 30 historic locations around the village.
Learn about the history of England's oldest continually inhabited town, including exhibits on Iron Age, Roman, and Saxons. Check out this information for schools, that also works well for parents for how to get the best out of the experince with kids. You can access the roof terrace for £2 for adults and £1 for kids.
Play hide and seek in the ruins of the Abbey, burn off energy in the large playground. Stroll down to cross the weir, and watch boats navigate the loch. There's a splash pad but it's always been covered in goose poo everytime we've gone. There's also a paid for seasonal outdoor pool.
A conservation area on the outskirts of Abingdon, it can tie in nicely with a walk from Abbey Meadows. There's a nice 1 mile circular walk around the lake. A very tranquil place, keep an eye out for kingfishers and Otters.
A local charity, run by volunteers, it offers free, inclusive supervised outdoor play for over 7s. It operates in the october, and easter holidays, as well as an after school club on tuesdays and fridays, and a youth club on thursday evenings. Check the website for details, and days that under 7s can go, accompanied.
The remains of a roman villa, thought to be one of the larger villas in Roman Britain. The most impressive feature today is the mosaic tile floor dating from the 4th century.
Explore the town's history since it was founded by the Saxon's 1000 years ago, with lots to keep kids entertained. Check out the website for their programme of family events.
Located in Oxford, it's best for older kids, or kids that are particularly interested in music, there aren't any particular kids activities, but there's a huge collection of instruments to explore for those that are interested.
A farm where you can see animals including rabbits, ducks, goats, sheep, pigs. There's also a playground. There's a nature trail through woods and wetland (check if it's currently open). There's also heaps of paid for activities including soft play, PYO, falconry, adventure golf, and seasonal events.
Great Coxwell Barn/ Badbury Woods
Worth a pop in if you're spending a day sampling the many delights of Farringdon. A Medieval Tithe Barn, built in 1292. It is just a barn, BUT it is a very impressive barn. Combine it with a trip to Bradbury Woods, an ancient woodland, famed for it's bluebells.
There's lots of fun to be had in the little woodland surrounding this tower. Sculptures to spot, and a wooden canon to be played with. The tower itself is sometimes open, and costs £3 for adults, £1 for 11-16s, and under 11s free. Combine this trip with the nearby Farringdon cyle park where
A big open space, with lots of ups and downs to explore, and old ruins to see. There are information boards to tell you about the rich history. If you're visiting Wallingford in summer months, then you could also check out the free splash pad, next to the paid for pool.
A large park in Oxford, with a semi-natural wildlife area, community woodland, seasonal splash pad, 3 playgrounds, table tennis, sports pitches, skate park, go geocaching. You can also pay to ride the (Seasonally open) Cutteslowe Park Miniature Railway for £1.50 a ride.
117 hectares of nature, with beautiful views accross south Oxfordshire. Follow the trails to explore hidden valleys, grasslands, heaths, ponds, and meadows. There's geocaching, a natural sandpit. It's very popular with mountain bikers. Combine it with a visit to the CS Lewis Nature Reserve.
A sanctuary for wildlife, follow the visitor trail alongside the expansive floodplain grazing marsh. Keep your eyes peeled for Lapwings, Redshanks, and Marsh Harriers (and plenty of other animals).
There's a few things to combine for a new day out in Henley, including walking the thames path to Marsh Loch, playing in the Mill Meadows Adventure Playground and visiting the nearby Warburg Nature Reserve.
A lovely walk with great views, these are the oldest known planted hilltop beeches in England, dating back over 300 years. Look out for curved ramparts of Castle Hill, dating from the Iron Age, as well as Red Kites. Visit the website to see what else you can explore, and for details of how to get there.
A great playground with lots for kids of all ages to explore including a maze with musical stations dotted around it.
You know what the kids would love to be filling in as you're exploring new places? An epic activity pack! And it should be filled with easy activity ideas, and stickers, and personalised!
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