Top Family Days Out

1. HIGH ROPES OXFORD
Furze Brake Woodland, rear of Culham No 1 site, Oxford OX14 3DA
www.highropesoxford.com

Aimed at slightly older children, here is the chance to swing through the trees like Tarzan. With three zones and 40 obstacles including zip slides, wobbly bridges, balance beam and Tarzan swings, this is not for the faint hearted.
The obstacles are graded for difficulty but there are instructors on hand for anyone needing a bit of guidance. Safety is a priority and the big ticket obstacle must be the 42ft parachute descender.

Adult £27.50, child £22.50, instructor-led sessions £30 for each under 18.
Opening times: February to November. Arrange time at booking.

2. BLENHEIM PALACE
Woodstock, Oxford OX20 1PP
Tel: 01993 810530
www.blenheimpalace.com

Blenheim Palace, home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and famous for its connection to Winston Churchill is a firm family favourite which justifies a full day out. Set in more than 2,000 acres of park and garden and boasting a 150-acre lake which it is possible to swim in on selected dates, Blenheim Palace has something for everyone.
Boasting beautifully manicured formal gardens, extensive parkland to explore and a pleasure garden complete with maze, butterfly house, mini golf and a fantastic adventure playground for children to enjoy, while adults relax in one of the many cafes, before taking a trip on the children’s train. Many happy hours have been spent at Blenheim.There are extensive activities for families over the summer holidays, some of which may incur additional charges. Check the website for details. Children may use
scooters which may be a bonus if exploring the park, but no cycles allowed.
Dogs on leads also welcome in the park, but not in the pleasure gardens or palace.

Adult tickets for palace, park and gardens £22.50, child £12.30, under fives go free, family ticket (two adults and two children) £59. Every ticket enables you to convert to a annual pass, giving 12 months free entry to palace, park and gardens.
Open from February to December from 9am to 6pm.

3. COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK AND GARDENS
Burford, Oxon OX18 4JP
www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

Spend a day among the animals; lions, leopards, wolves, camels, meerkats and a whole host more. Set in acres of uninterrupted parkland; it’s Oxfordshire’s answer to the Serengeti. With an adventure playground, numerous animal feeding times and Bella the train for younger visitors, there is plenty to fill a full day.

Adults £15, Children three to 16 £10, concessions £10 but save by booking online.

4. THE ASHMOLEAN
Beaumont street, Oxford OX1 2PH
www.ashmolean.org

Still fresh from the multimillion pound overhaul, the building is as impressive as its contents. Britain’s first public museum and home to the university’s collection of art and archaeology.There are family trails to capture a child’s interest. Set in the middle of Oxford, there are plenty of places to visit afterwards.
Regular family drop-ins are available where kids can try their hands at something arty. Great cafe too!

Admission: Free.
Opening times:Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, Bank Holiday Monday 10am to 6pm.

5. BAREFOOT BOOKS
Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7ED
www.barefootbooks.com/visit-barefoot/oxford-uk

Drumming workshops, crafts, storytimes and sing-alongs make this Summertown hub a must for free family fun and coffee.

Admission: Free but charges for some events.
Closed Monday; Tuesday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm, Saturday 9.30am to 6.30pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm.

6. HINKSEY OUTDOOR POOL

Lake Street, off Abingdon Road, Oxford OX1 4RP
www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Hinksey_Outdoor_Pool

This is a large heated pool easily accessible on foot, by bus or car.
Great family fun in safe surroundings with sunbeds available for those wanting to soak up the Oxford sunshine.
Spend a day splashing and swimming and then there’s no need for a bath.

Family £11.50, adults £4.50, children £2.70.
Open until October 31.

7. DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE
Didcot Station, Didcot
www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk

For railway enthusiasts of any age, there is a collection of steam trains in the sheds and the depot with a replica country branch line where on steam days, rides on the steam trains are
available.
Follow Archie the engine driver trail and during the holidays there are family activities.
For Thomas the Tank Engine fans, look out for the days where you can meet him and the Fat Controller.

Adult £10, child £9, family £30.
Opening times: Saturdays and Sundays all year but daily during most school holidays.

8. THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN
Rose Lane, Oxford OX1 4AZ
www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk

Combine this with some of Oxford’s sights to make a full day out but for budding gardeners and botanists, this is unmissable. 7,000 different species of plant, there is more biodiversity than a tropical rain forest even though the weather is unlikely to match up.
There are glasshouses, a walled garden and a rock garden and plenty of space to stretch the legs.
Perhaps would appeal more to adults but none the less, quite a spectacle and a haven of peace and tranquillity amongst the chaos of Oxford.

Adult £4.50, Kids go free.
Summer opening hours: 9am to 5pm

9. CHERWELL BOAT HOUSE
Bardwell Road, Oxford OX2 6ST
www.cherwellboathouse.co.uk

Though this may not be a full day out, who could possibly spend a day in Oxford that didn’t involve the river? With rowing boats, canoes and punts for hire, there is fun for everyone in the family, even the dog! Try your hand at punting and no need to worry because life jackets are available. Pack a picnic or treat yourself to food at the Cherwell boathouse restaurant.

Punt hire: Weekdays £15 per hour or £75 for the full day. Weekends and bank holidays £18 and £90.
Open times: March to October 10am to dusk.

10. OXFORD UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AND NATURAL HISTORY
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW

A beautiful listed building which houses the university collections of animals, insects and geological specimens. Highlight are the dinosaurs, the dodo and the swifts in the tower. Look out for the dinosaur footprints outside.

Admission: Free.
Open 10am to 5pm daily.

11. THE STORY MUSEUM
Rochester House, Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP
www.storymuseum.org.uk

A gallery of rogues and rascals, wizards, witches and wild things which unfold throughout the spaces in the story museum. There are events for all ages; author workshops, family story tours and performances all set in the heart of Oxford with a lovely cafe to enjoy as well. Take a look at the website for a full programme of holiday events.

Admission: Adults £7.50, Children £5, Family £20. Under 2s free.
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm.

12. SULGRAVE MANOR
Manor Road, Sulgrave, Banbury OX17 2SD
www.sulgravemanor.org.uk

An historic house built by George Washington’s ancestors hence the largest collection of Washington memorabilia. The house is only shown by guided tour which lasts about 75 minutes but on Saturdays and during half term weeks, there is a shorter 45 minute children’s tour.

Adult £7.90, children five to 15 years £3.60, concessions £7.40, family £21
Open April to October weekends and bank holidays only, Tuesday to Sunday through August 11am to 4pm.

13. CROCODILES OF THE WORLD
Burford Road, Brize Norton OX18 3NX
www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk

See nature’s greatest predators in Britain’s only crocodile zoo. Shaun Foggett, Oxfordshire’s answer to Crocodile Dundee, has made it his mission to rescue endangered creatures and share their wonder at his conservation and education centre.

Adults £8.95, child three to 16 £6.50, family £27.
Open 10am to 5pm.

14. MILLETS FARM CENTRE
Kingston Road, Frilford, nr Abingdon OX13 5HB
www.milletsfarmcentre.com

A children’s farm zoo and playground adjacent to a farm shop and restaurant.
Ponies, pygmy goats, sheep and cattle are among those to be enjoyed, and in summer there are 30 different types of fruit and veg to pick your own. The garden centre is a good wet weather option and there’s even a woodland for a family ramble.

From July 16 to September 13 will be the addition of a maize maze.
Take a look at the website closer to the time for ticket prices and full details.
Admission: Free. Open 9am to 6pm daily.

15. WADDESDON MANOR

Waddesdon, Aylesbury HP18 0JH
www.waddesdon.org.uk

Waddesdon is one of the National Trust highlights – former home of the Rothschild family and set in extensive grounds, you’ll want to spend the whole day here. A spectacular adventure playground, a house to visit and gardens that are screaming to be enjoyed.

Adults £16.20, children £8.10 (free in August), family £40.50. Free with NT membership.

16. PITT RIVERS MUSEUM
South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PP
www.prm.ox.ac.uk

Combine this with a visit to the Natural History Museum to which it is attached. A classic example of an old school style museum stuffed with random collections from around the world including some pretty gruesome shrunken heads. There are free drop-in family events on the first Saturday of every month, every Sunday and during school holidays. Be prepared that kids may have enhausted this in half an hour. Next to University Park for a picnic afterwards.

Admission: Free.
Opening times: Monday noon to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm.

17. OXFORD CASTLE UNLOCKED
44 New Road, Oxford OX1 1AY
www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk

Take a guided tour and enjoy some horrible history as characters reveal their fascinating stories entrenched in the building’s 1,000 year history. Visitors can also climb the Saxon St George’s Tower and enjoy its stunning views over the city; descend deep underground into the dark atmosphere of the 900-year-old crypt; explore the austere confines of the 18th century Debtors’ Tower and Prison D-Wing and scale the mound of the 11th century motte-and-bailey castle.

Children pay £1 during half term from May 26 to 31 and go free from July 21 to September 7 (both with a full paying adult, some dates excluded and conditions apply).
Regular tour prices are adult £10.25; concessions £8.75; child five to 15 £6.95; under fives free; family party of four £32.95.

18. FARMER GOW’S ACTIVITY FARM
Fernham Road, Longcot, Faringdon SN7 7PR
www.farmergows.co.uk

Hard to beat a family farm day. Meet the animals, hunt for treasure, walk a goat and see all the farm animals you can imagine. Trailer rides around the farm are the highlight and then it’s onto the bale climb and the pedal tractors. Take a picnic and pray for good weather. There’s an indoor play area and twice a day a meet and feed the animal session.

Under threes free, children £7, adults £8, family £28. Extra charges for the treasure hunt and trailer ride.
Opening times: 10am to 5pm daily.

19. RIVER AND ROWING MUSEUM Mill
Meadows, Henley RG9 1BF
www.rrm.co.uk

Perhaps not the most interesting museum if you’re not a rowing nut but set by the river in Henley, and close to the playground, there is a welcome for families, with free backpacks to help bring the rowing story to life. The highlight for small children is the Wind in the Willows exhibition and there are often family activities on throughout the holidays. With the recent addition of the Quince Tree restaurant, if for nothing else, go for the fabulous coffee.

Adult £8.50, child (four to 16) £6.50, concessions £6.50, family tickets from £22.50.
Opening times: 10am to 5.30pm.

20. THE OXFORSHIRE MUSEUM
Fletchers House, Park Street, Woodstock OX20 1SN

A museum and dinosaur garden with some sections that will draw children’s interest with trails and fun packs to help them through the less interesting bits. An interactive dinosaur gallery that will definitely entertain and there’s a beautiful garden to have a picnic or enjoy the wares from the lovely cafe.

Summer holiday activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays at £1.50 per child. Admission: Free.
Opening times:Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 2pm to 5pm.