Oxford at all times appears like house to me – after residing there for a number of years, I’ve beloved with the ability to return with my daughter to find a number of the enjoyable issues to do in Oxford with children.
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As a result of for sure, whereas I lived there, I spent extra time hanging out with my buddies (and learning) than testing the vacationer points of interest… though I’ve obtained very fond reminiscences of punting, and having fun with a few of Oxford’s inexperienced areas, in addition to its stunning buildings.
And Oxford actually is attractive: even with a head filled with examination revision, I by no means overlooked how really pretty this metropolis is – I’ve picked out a number of the finest methods to discover Oxford with children, in addition to the household points of interest you shouldn’t miss.
Oxford Story Museum
In the event you love books, you’ll love The Story Museum in Oxford – reopened after a serious renovation in 2020, it’s someplace to lose your self within the magic of tales, no matter age you’re.
In addition to the Small Worlds space for toddlers and preschoolers, the museum is break up into a number of sections, beginning with the Whispering Wooden, earlier than heading to the Enchanted Library and Story Arcade, plus different short-term shows.
Detective fiction followers shouldn’t miss the present exhibition, Thriller Academy: College for Younger Detectives, the place there’s an opportunity to get palms on and clear up a thriller, in addition to dress-up, and plenty of enjoyable actions to enchantment to completely different ages, plus an introduction to a sequence of authors to indulge a sleuths, subterfuge and sneaky clues.
Following the audio information by way of the wooden, to find a string of interactive shows on tales from around the globe (together with the possibility to attempt to pull the sword from the stone), it feels as if you happen to’ve stepped right into a fairytale world.
However the Enchanted Library is probably much more memorable, with eight completely different rooms that allow you to step inside a narrative, together with Narnia, the Hundred Acre Wooden and Wonderland.
Learn my full evaluate of our go to to the Story Museum in Oxford
College Museum of Pure Historical past
One in every of my very own favorite museums in Oxford with children, I’ve visited a number of occasions with my daughter – in spite of everything, what number of museums can boast dinosaurs, strokeable bears and 450 million-year-old trilobites.
The dodo is likely one of the most well-known points of interest on the Oxford College Museum of Pure Historical past however there’s an enormous quantity to find, with possibilities for teenagers to get palms on and short-term shows, all below the hovering arches of the roof.
In the event you go to in direction of sundown, with shadows showing over the reveals, it feels faintly like the beginning of Night time within the Museum for an additional memorable finish to the day.
Free to enter (no prebooking wanted), there are additionally household trails for kids to comply with on the Pure Historical past Museum, with choices for various ages together with preschoolers.
In the event you want some contemporary air and house to run round after a go to to the museum, the College Parks are solely a few minutes stroll away for a beautiful stroll all the way down to the river
Pitt Rivers Museum
Strolling into the Pitt Rivers Museum is like moving into an explorer’s treasure chest – you by no means fairly know what sudden delights you’ll stumble throughout as you stroll round corners and open drawers.
Whereas the museum is most well-known for its assortment of shrunken heads, these have at the moment been faraway from show – however there’s way more to find, from a golden torc present in Scotland to an axe from Papua New Guinea, masks, Pacific artwork, arms and armour, even a set on physique artwork from around the globe.
There are free household trails to obtain (or decide up on the museum), together with choices for under-fives, plus concepts for crafts to do at house. And it’s additionally buggy pleasant if you happen to’re visiting with a child, as I found on considered one of my earliest days out with my daughter.
It’s free to go to and also you don’t have to prebook: the museum is behind the Museum of Pure Historical past – head previous the dinosaurs to seek out the door – so it’s straightforward to mix the 2.
Ashmolean museum
Based in 1683, the Ashmolean is the world’s first college museum – and Oxford’s museum of artwork and archaelogy.
One other free museum in Oxford, it’s an awesome place to go to on a wet day with household trails to comply with, in addition to the Ashmolean Journey multimedia information to comply with, plus household actions and sketching pads and household packs for teenagers to borrow (when restrictions permit).
A few of the collections are more likely to enchantment extra to older children, however the Historic Egyptian galleries are at all times a favorite with kids, in addition to different sudden objects equivalent to Man Fawkes’ lantern, a Samurai helmet, a hat belonging to a choose on the trial of Charles I and a jewel made for Alfred the Nice.
Prebooking is advisable however not important, though you would possibly have to queue.
Try my evaluate of the Ashmolean Museum with children and suggestions for visiting
Museum of Oxford
Reopened after years of renovations, the Museum of Oxford within the City Corridor is an entertainingly eclectic assortment – you will discover every part from Elizabethan wallpaper to a financial institution word from 1870 and a automobile from the Nineteen Thirties.
Telling the historical past of Oxford from the Romans to modern-day historical past, it’s a very good reminder that there’s extra to town than the college.
Plus there’s no cost to go to this museum proper within the coronary heart of town, splendid if you happen to’re searching for free issues to do in Oxford with children – you now not have to prebook timed entry slots, simply flip up and pay what you possibly can (though chances are you’ll have to queue if it’s busy).
Museum of the Historical past of Science
In the event you suppose the Museum of the Historical past of Science sounds a bit dry for most children, there’s extra to find right here for households than you’d count on – though admittedly this isn’t an awesome possibility for toddlers.
For older children, there’s an opportunity to see a blackboard which Einstein used throughout a lecture – it nonetheless has equations chalked on in his personal handwriting – whereas followers of His Darkish Supplies will love the astrolabes and different astronomical and navigational objects, which appear like early designs for an alethiometer.
There are additionally free trails, together with one geared toward youthful children to seek out the assorted animals hidden within the museum, in addition to one other one on ladies in science. Free to go to, and there’s no have to prebook.
Go punting
Have you ever even really visited Oxford if you happen to haven’t been punting? There’s really nothing higher to do on a heat day in Oxford – and older children will love having a strive too.
An Oxford custom relationship again to the 1800s, punting includes floating alongside the river in an extended, flat bottomed boat whereas somebody steers utilizing an extended pole (just like the English model of a Venetian gondola).
Many guests go for a chauffeured punt for a extra stress-free expertise, equivalent to this 30-minute guided punting tour.
However you may also rent self-drive punts for a memorably enjoyable family-friendly exercise. It’s possible you’ll not get as far, however the children will love attempting to steer the boat for themselves – it’s price figuring out that the poles are fairly lengthy, so not straightforward for little ones to manoeuvre with out some grownup assist although.
Simply you should definitely deliver everybody a change of garments in case somebody falls in – this occurs extra usually than you’d suppose! Head to Magdalen Bridge Boathouse for chauffeured and self-drive punts, or strive Cherwell Boathouse.
Take a river cruise
In the event you don’t fancy punting, it could be a disgrace to not get out onto the water in any respect – and with two rivers in Oxford, there’s loads of alternative.
Most river cruises head alongside the Isis (because the Thames is understood right here, from the Latin Thamesis) – the opposite river is the Cherwell (pronounced Charwell) – and you’ll select choices with guided commentary to study a number of the metropolis’s historical past.
This 50-minute cruise passes by a few of Oxford’s iconic sights, together with Christ Church Colleege, in addition to passing below nineteenth century Folly Bridge, out in direction of Iffley. Or there’s a 90-minute model of the river cruise together with afternoon tea – get a reduction on both cruise if you happen to e-book by way of my hyperlinks.
Go to the Oxford schools
Whether or not your children are sufficiently old to be eager about college but or not, a go to to not less than one of many 39 Oxford Faculties is an absolute should.
After exploring the historic hallways and grand cloisters of the magnificent school buildings, you would possibly even find yourself with an aspiring Oxonian in your palms.
Not all are open to the general public (except you’re a part of a guided group) and a few have an entrance charge – test right here for the newest particulars when you have your coronary heart set on exploring a selected school.
Christ Church Faculty
The preferred school amongst guests because of its stunning structure and its many literary and movie connections – tickets for Christ Church Faculty are launched every week together with a multimedia tour. Click on right here to e-book.
Magdalen Faculty
One other nice (and barely cheaper) possibility. The faculty even has its personal deer park inside its grounds – reserving isn’t at the moment required and you’ll even get joint tickets with the Oxford Botanic Gardens.
Merton and Balliol
Two of the oldest schools in Oxford, Merton and Balliol each have cheaper entry than a few of their better-known fellows – though if you happen to’re searching for a style of Oxford school life with out spending an excessive amount of, others don’t cost in any respect.
Oxford Fort & Jail Tour
Spark everybody’s creativeness on a guided tour of Oxford Fort and Jail. One of many high issues to do in Oxford with children who love historical past, the tour is led by costumed guides to deliver the 1,000-year-old fortress’s fascinating previous to life in a enjoyable and interesting approach.
On the interactive tour, you’ll descend beneath floor to the candle-lit Norman crypt, step inside 18th-century jail cells, and climb 101 steps to the highest of St George’s Tower for superb panoramic views throughout town.
Get discounted tickets to Oxford Fort if you happen to e-book utilizing my hyperlink on the tiqets web site too.
And if you happen to’re searching for someplace distinctive to remain in Oxford with older children, try the Malmaison Resort which sits inside a renovated space of the fortress’s Victorian jail.
Take a strolling tour
One of many massive joys of a go to to Oxford is wandering round its historic streets, recognizing a number of the loveliest buildings just like the Radcliffe Digital camera and the Sheldonian Theatre, the well-known Bridge of Sighs, in addition to studying a number of the metropolis’s historical past.
Traipsing round in an ordinary group tour isn’t at all times going to be vastly entertaining with children although… you possibly can organize your personal non-public tour with Expertise Oxfordshire, tailor-made to swimsuit households – in addition to a two-hour group strolling tour.
Or the youngsters’s strolling tour from Discover Oxford excursions is geared toward these visiting Oxford with children, together with a literary tour specializing in Harry Potter (scroll down for extra), Alice in Wonderland, Narnia and extra. If it’s CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein who your children love, you possibly can even discover a strolling tour targeted on these two authors, or comply with this Philip Pullman self-guided path discovering Lyra’s Oxford.
You could possibly additionally select one led by a earlier pupil on the college, like this strolling tour of Oxford, particularly if you happen to’re visiting with older children.
In the event you choose to go at your personal tempo, obtain the Oxford Podcast Tour, created by two native historians, whereas youthful children will love the Treasure Map Trails, superbly designed and illustrated maps which take you on a mini treasure hunt across the metropolis.
You’ll discover themed strolling excursions galore as effectively – together with Harry Potter and different literary strolling excursions, try the Haunted Oxford ghost tour (finest with tweens and youths).
Go to the Bodleian Libraries
A go to to a library may not appear to be the plain factor to do in Oxford with children, however there’s loads to tempt you into the Bodleian.
Not solely is it one of many oldest libraries in Europe, the official library of the College of Oxford, you’ll discover every part from behind-the-scenes excursions to free family-friendly exhibitions.
For starters, it’s not only a single library (therefore the title, the Bodleian Libraries). Begin on the Weston Library on Broad Road, for the free exhibitions – Pets and their Individuals was working throughout our go to, taking a look at how lengthy pets have been a part of our lives and what components they play, with every part from historic books on show to a miaowing toy cat to entertain little ones.
There are a couple of enjoyable interactive quizzes and an awesome A-Z video which is price a watch, together with a restaurant and store. Or head throughout the highway for one of many 30-minute guided excursions, appropriate for teenagers aged 11+, which takes you into the fifteenth century Duke Humfrey’s Library in addition to the Divinity Colleges, and is filled with sudden information and enjoyable trivia.
These do e-book up, particularly at weekends and in the course of the summer time, so it’s price planning upfront – tickets go on sale precisely one month earlier than. There may be additionally a 60-minute tour if you happen to’re visiting with older children.
Be a part of a bus tour
Seeking to save your legs as you discover? There’s a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Oxford which is a enjoyable possibility if you happen to’re visiting with youthful children.
Realistically town is designed for bikes and pedestrians moderately than buses so that you’re a little bit extra restricted as to the place the bus can drive – however there’s a children’ audio tour and tickets embrace two elective strolling excursions.
Harry Potter Oxford
Oxford’s historic buildings helped encourage a number of the designs for the primary Harry Potter films, in addition to taking a starring function as one of many filming places, so there’s loads for followers to identify within the metropolis.
Begin at Christ Church school, whose personal Tudor eating corridor impressed the Nice Corridor at Hogwarts, whereas the staircase was used to movie the doorway scene the place Professor McGonagall meets Harry, Ron and Hermione.
New Faculty cloisters have been additionally used because the spot the place Mad Eye Moody turned Draco Malfoy right into a ferret – each schools might be visited independently, though Christ Church must be prebooked.
The Divinity College on the Bodleian Library seems as the varsity’s infirmary, plus if you happen to be part of a particular tour, you possibly can see into Duke Humfrey’s Library the place Harry used his invisibility cloak to entry the restricted part.
Try my evaluate of a Harry Potter tour in Oxford with children
This 90-minute Harry Potter tour of Oxford contains entry to the Divinity College, in addition to stating different metropolis highlights, together with the statue that appears like ‘Practically Headless Nick’, and Turf Tavern Lane, which seems to be like Knockturn Alley.
Or there’s additionally a two-hour non-public Harry Potter strolling tour accessible. In the event you’re visiting The Story Museum whilst you’re within the metropolis, you may also pop into the Magic Widespread room with its Harry Potter theme.
For extra nice days out for Harry Potter followers, try this publish
Self-guided Alice in Wonderland Tour
Followers of Alice in Wonderland can comply with in her footsteps in Oxford – and people of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), who was impressed to write down the well-known e-book after assembly Alice Liddell, the 10-year-old daughter of HG Liddell, then dean of Christ Church Faculty.
The writer lived and taught in Oxford for many of his life, and it’s straightforward to create your personal self-guided Alice in Wonderland tour.
See if you happen to can spot Alice in her iconic blue gown in one of many stained glass home windows of Christ Church Faculty’s essential eating corridor, the place the real-life Alice and her sisters would have walked the hallways and gardens.
However there are places that impressed different characters in Carroll’s e-book all throughout Oxford, such because the Dodo and white rabbit within the Museum of Pure Historical past or the grave of Theophilus Carter in Holywell Cemetery, the tradesman who the Mad Hatter is believed to have been based mostly on.
Finish your self-guided tour with a go to to Alice’s Store near Christ Church Faculty to choose up some stunning memorabilia.
Or for much more Alice-themed enjoyable, look out for infrequent Alice-themed afternoon teas on the Mad Hatter or strive the Alice in Puzzleland escape room (for 8+) – the latter was a bit worn once we tried it, and never the simplest escape room with youthful children however nonetheless enjoyable.
In the event you go to in early July for Alice’s Day, there are at all times additional celebrations happening too.
Oxford Botanic Gardens
Escape the busy streets of Oxford’s historic metropolis centre for some time and pay a go to to the peaceable oasis that’s the Oxford Botanic Backyard.
Courting again to 1621, the backyard is the oldest of its variety in Nice Britain and one of many oldest on the planet. There are quite a few greenhouses and gardens so that you can discover, that includes over 5,000 completely different plant species from throughout the planet.
There’s loads to do for teenagers on the Oxford Botanic Backyard too – youthful kids can comply with the Backyard Eye Spy path, whereas older children can study in regards to the many crops and what they’re used for on one of many seasonal themed trails.
You’ll additionally discover loads of family-friendly actions and occasions happening all through the varsity holidays. Followers of Philip Pullman’s His Darkish Supplies trilogy shouldn’t miss the bench within the Decrease Backyard, famously a gathering level for Will and Lyra.
Sister website Harcourt Arboretum is a 15-minute drive outdoors town – see what we considered visiting Harcourt Arboretum with a toddler
Port Meadow
One other great spot to go to on a sunny day in Oxford with children is beautiful Port Meadow. One of many largest open inexperienced areas in Oxford, Port Meadow runs alongside the River Thames simply to the north of town centre.
The big meadow is a beautiful spot for taking a stroll within the sunshine, stopping for a picnic, throwing a ball round, or going for a paddle within the river (in locations).
Preserve a watch out for the numerous cows and ponies grazing within the lush countryside round you.
Simply north of Oxford practice station, and never removed from the pastel-coloured homes of the suburb of Jericho, it’s a brief bus trip, or you possibly can stroll in round 20 minutes from town centre.
Oxford’s finest viewpoints
Referred to as the ‘Metropolis of Dreaming Spires’ resulting from its stunning structure and the towers that dominate town’s skyline, seeing Oxford from above is a should for guests of any age – and there are a number of nice viewpoints to select from.
Carfax Tower
The stays of a Twelfth-century church, Carfax Tower is the symbolic centre of Oxford. As soon as the tallest constructing in Oxford, for a very long time, nothing may very well be constructed greater than this tower, which means it has a number of the finest views out throughout town centre.
There are 99 steep steps to climb to succeed in the highest of the tower. Tickets value £4 for adults and £3 for kids.
St Mary the Virgin Church
One other of the very best views is from the tower of St Mary the Virgin Church on the Excessive Road.
Climb the 127 steps to succeed in the highest of the Thirteenth-century tower and also you’ll be greeted with spectacular views over the Oxford schools beneath. Kids should be 8+ to climb the tower, and tickets value £6.
Westgate Procuring Centre
Lastly, for a free viewpoint, head to the roof terrace of Westgate Procuring Centre the place you’ll discover a number of eating places with out of doors seating areas overlooking the long-lasting metropolis skyline – together with child-friendly choices.
The Coated Market
Set in a historic constructing relationship again to the 1770s, Oxford’s Coated Market is a good place for the entire household to take a wander round and seize a chunk to eat.
Ben’s Cookies has lengthy been considered one of my favorite treats, however you may also discover some tempting candy bakes at Hamblin Bread, then mix your whole favorite flavours in a customized milkshake at Moo-Moos. Be sure to flip up hungry!
It’s additionally house to many impartial native merchants promoting every part from contemporary produce to presents, vogue and extra – don’t miss the scrumptious cheeses on the Oxford Cheese Firm (with samples to be tried too).
Eat ice cream
You’ll discover ice cream on the Oxford Coated Market as effectively, at Iscream Gelateria, with a lot of basic flavours in addition to a couple of enjoyable choices like Lotus Biscoff and a few nice sorbets.
Or considered one of my very own private favourites shouldn’t be removed from the Ashmolean on Little Clarendon Road, the place you’ll discover the unique department of G & Ds – aka George & Davis’. Flavours change each day – how about Mango & Malibu, or the intriguingly named Golden Secret Returns.
There are two different places now, together with George & Danver on St Aldate’s close to the Museum of Oxford, and George & Delila on Cowley Highway.
The Board Recreation cafe
In case your children love board video games, there are a whopping 2,700 completely different choices within the sport library at Thirsty Meeples (a meeple being the little determine you employ to play some board video games!)
The main focus is on the video games moderately than the cafe aspect, however you may also get foods and drinks there whilst you play, plus there are sport gurus that will help you discover the right possibility.
Good for a wet day in Oxford with children or if you happen to want someplace to relaxation your legs after strolling.
There’s a cowl cost to enter (much less if you happen to’re shopping for foods and drinks), and commonplace reserving slots final three hours – it’s price reserving a desk upfront to be on the protected facet.
Headington Shark Home
The Headington Shark is an unofficial Oxford landmark however one which’s more likely to be a bit hit with children – a big shark statue protruding of the roof of a residential house within the suburb of Headington.
The weird creation – actual title Untitled 1986 – prompted a divide in opinion amongst locals ever because it was constructed over 30 years in the past but it surely’s actually probably the most uncommon issues to do in Oxford with children.
Seeing the shark doesn’t take lengthy so is simply price visiting if you happen to’re exploring Headington or driving by way of the world already – it’s round quarter-hour on the bus from central Oxford.
Though if you happen to’re searching for a cool place to remain in Oxford (with a lot of individuals coming to gawp), the Shark Home is commonly accessible to lease – click on right here to e-book.
Oxford Ice Rink
Whether or not you’re visiting Oxford at Christmas (look out for the Christmas market in that case) or simply fancy a chilled-out day trip with children, Oxford Ice Rink is a enjoyable exercise to maintain on the listing.
There are common skating classes in addition to skate faculty, so it’s splendid for learners in addition to for these seeking to enhance their expertise on the ice.
Open each day, you may also rent skates as a part of admission – nice for a wet day in Oxford with children too.
Blenheim Palace
The one non-royal nation home in all of England to carry the title of palace, Blenheim Palace is round 20 minutes from Oxford, at Woodstock within the Oxfordshire countryside – very easy to mix with a visit to Oxford with children.
Try my evaluate of a day trip at Blenheim Palace with children
Well-known for being the birthplace and residential of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, it’s additionally an extremely child-friendly day trip, together with an awesome audio tour of the grand palace itself.
Within the 2,000-acre property, you’ll discover immersive household exhibitions on the palace’s historical past, in addition to sprawling gardens that characteristic a kids’s play space, a two-mile hedge maze, a miniature practice, butterfly home and pony path for little ones, to not point out particular occasions all year long.
There are common particular household occasions throughout faculty holidays too, in addition to at Halloween and Christmas.
Oxford additionally makes an awesome base to discover the Cotswolds with children, in addition to being a simple day journey from London
*final up to date 2025*
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Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. Entry to some points of interest was free for the needs of evaluate however all opinions stay my very own, as does my love of Oxford
Photographs: Bridge of Sighs/Ashmolean/punting/Christchurch/Botanic Backyard/skyline/Blenheim Palace courtesy of Depositphotos; Headington Shark courtesy of Picfair; all others copyright MummyTravels
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