Oxford adventures this summer!
Need some summer holiday inspiration for the kids? Look no further! Our Oxford guide will keep the big summer days full and the Little Oxplorers exhausted…just watch out for the danger nap on the way home!
Peter Rabbit Mischief and Mayhem exhibition at Oxfordshire Museum
You would be hopping mad not to get down to The Oxfordshire Museum this summer for the Peter Rabbit Mischief and Mayhem exhibition! Write a letter to Peter Rabbit, visit his burrow and plant some tasty carrots. Mr McGregor is definitely NOT invited!
The exhibition runs until Saturday 8th September and there are many free and reasonably priced Peter Rabbit themed family fun sessions running throughout the summer. The dinosaur garden is pretty roar-some too (sorry!) for a run around.
Countryfile Live
We were so impressed with Countryfile last year! Aside from the fairground rides, animal handling, crafts, live arena shows and a huge range of outdoor activities to try there are mighty great big tractors with wheels twice the size of a grown up! We spent most of our time inspecting these mighty machines last year and look forwrad to doing the same this year!
Different ticket options, under 5’s go free. Countryfile Live runs from 2–5th August at Blenheim Palace.
Knight School at Oxford Castle and Prison
Calling all budding knights for an hour of sword fighting, archery and shield decoration! Led by a merry band of experts, your little ones can let loose and roar to their hearts content. Only the bravest need apply.
Knight School runs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 30th July until 31st August. £9.50 for one child, £16 for two and £22.50 for three.
Yoga Picnic at Barracks Lance Community Gardens
Bank some zen with the children at a Yoga Picnic in the lovely Barracks Lane Community Gardens on Saturday 4th August with Off to Yoga. Yoga with my tot kicks off proceedings, followed by Nature mandalas and then Kids only! yoga. Bring a scotch egg or two to share.
11am-2pm. Donations to the garden gratefully received.
Twiglets
A fantastic outdoor toddler group in Barracks Lane Community Gardens every Monday from 10.30am — 12.30pm. Explore the gardens, hang out in the sandpit and make some new friends! Different activity every week, keep an eye on the FB page for details. Runs throughout the summer hols.
Pond Dipping Adventure at Earth Trust
What mini beasts lurk beneath the water? Find out, with experts on hand, at this pond dipping adventure on Friday 10th August.
10am — 4pm. Adults £4 and children £2.
Cutteslowe Miniature Railway
The Cutteslowe miniature railway is so much fun for miniature people — and grown ups too! There’s lots of different trains to choose from, you could ride them all. The squeals of excitement as the driver toots the horn are delightful!
Cutteslowe Park also has great playgrounds, a huge sandpit, splash park, mini golf, tennis and a lovely cafe. A full day spent here guarantees fun.
South Oxford Adventure Playground
A huge adventure playground run by volunteers and play workers to support and encourage children in their play. Outdoors is a wooden fort, tower, zip wire, football pitch, wobbly bridge, tyre and rope swings, slides, den making area, fire pit, and trees to climb! Inclusive, exciting, adventerous and FREE!
Open Mondays -Fridays in the summer (except bank holidays) from 10am-4pm. All children must be registered with SOAP before they can use the playground and under 7’s must not be left unsupervised.
Crafty Rafts with Science Oxford at Cogges Farm
Get thinking and crafting at this innovative family workshop on the 7th August. What makes materials buoyant and can you design, build and test your own mini raft? Will it float or sink? Us? Competitive? Noooooooooooo. Suitable for ages 4–11. Tickets cost £1 plus Cogges entry fee.
There are loads of free activities at Cogges over the summer holidays including meet the animals, crafts and storytelling.
Lego Expo in Wantage
Who knew?! In its third year and bigger and better, we’re not sure how the first two years passed by our Lego mad family but we will not be wasting this opportunity! Perfect for all ages with lots of Lego models on display plus Lego themed activities and gallery trails. The expo is on throughout the holidays until 8th September and only £1 entry, this is the place that will see you through the ‘I’m bored!’ days!
Adventures within an hour of Oxford
Feel like you need to go bit further afield? Check out these adventures within an hour of Oxford, our favourite is the model village — what’s yours?
Summer Fun Trails at Waterperry Gardens
You may already know that we are orienteering fans here at Little Oxplorers. We are also more than a bit in love with Waterperry Gardens. So when an orienteering trail comes to Waterperry Gardens we may just be in heaven!
The trail runs from Saturday 4th July until Sunday 2nd September. Garden entry fee applies for adult, £3 fee for the trail which includes a prize at the end.
Family Friendly Crafts at the Harcourt Arboretum
Every Tuesday throughout August, Harcourt Arboretum hosts drop-in family friendly crafts from 1–4pm. Why not explore some of this beautiful 150 acre site whilst you are there? BEWARE: The peacocks will chase you for your Pom Bears!
Family Forestry School at Blenheim Palace
Explore the Blenheim Palace woodland and discover mini beasts, enjoy tree climbing and den building or explore the water with pond dipping. All these activities take place at the family forest school site close to the palace and are included in the price of an entry ticket, just sign up at the Welcome Desk in the Visitor Centre. Family Forestry School takes place on Wednesday 15th, 22nd & 29th August from 10.30am — 12.30pm and 1.30pm — 3.30pm.
There are a whole host of family activities taking place at Blenheim Palace this summer including slime workshops! And best of all, they are included in the ticket price, or annual pass if you have one. Under 5’s go free.
Elder Stubbs Festival
This hugely popular family festival returns to the Elder Stubbs allotments in Cowley for another year on Saturday 18th August! The theme is ‘Rainforests’ so expect children dressed up as rainforest animals, live music, stalls and even a rainforest cafe! Money raised by the family day will go towards helping Restore promote mental wellbeing and offer recovery support.
12pm — 6pm. Entry is £3, concessions are £2, and under-12s enter for free.
Blenheim Palace Family Cycling Day
Make sure Sunday 19th August is in the diary for this unique opportunity to cycle around the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace. Bring a picnic and enjoy a pit-stop with a view.
9am-5.30pm. A Park and Gardens ticket or a valid Annual Pass is required to attend this event. Under 5’s go free.
Wild West Maize Maze at Millets Farm
Yeeeeeee-ha! This years Maize Maze theme is the Wild West so grab your little outlaws and head on down to Millets for some good ‘ol fun. It’s not just about the maze though, there’s also a bouncy castle, trampolines, ride on tractors, pedal go-karts, crazy golf, sand pits, construction area, toddler zone and garden games. No buckeroo though. Sorry about that.
The Wild West Maize Maze is open from Wednesday 18th July to Monday 3rd September. Under 2’s go free, 2–3 year olds are £4 and adults and children over 4 are £7.
Rectory Farm PYO
Fruit picking is a mandatory summer activity! The strawberries are ripe and juicy at Rectory Farm ensuring red faces and full bellies and the free bouncy castle, sandpit, hay bale climbing and tractor rides make it a lovely place to while away a summers day.
Rectory Farm is closed on Mondays.
5 of the best hills to run down in Oxfordshire
If your little ones STILL haven’t run out of summer holiday steam then let them lose on one, or all, of these hills to run down in Oxfordshire! Still full of beans? Send them back for another trek up and gallop down. And repeat. You’re welcome.
Pony riding with Pony Pursuits
Is your little one keen to get in the saddle? Check out this fabulous riding stables based in Oxford offering affordable pony experiences for all ages and abilities. Ride and Groom sessions, Pony Fun Days and Woodland Rides in the beautiful Shotover Country Park are just some of the options available. Don’t forget to bring a carrot as a thank you.
Open 7 days a week, booking in advance is essential.
Oxford Castle Quarter Circus Skills Workshop
Let the kids clown around at this FREE circus skills workshop whilst you relax on a deckchair. Uni-cycling (!), juggling and plate spinning are wonderful skills which they will learn and may well come in handy…as the long summer holidays draw to a close you might just be ready to pack them off to the circus!
11am — 2pm in the old prison exercise yard. These free circus workshops take place on Thursday 9th August and Thursday 30th August.
We hope this inspires your summer holidays. Follow us on Facebook for more outdoor adventures.
