Great Things to Do in Oxford with Kids
Harry Potter and The Trip to Oxford: Explore the university city with kids
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It may be known throughout the world for its prestigious university, but we here at Plum Guide have put all of our expert travel knowledge into this digital brochure to tell you about the city of Oxford. Of course, that includes taking a tour of the university, because what parent wouldn’t want to show their little ones a glimpse of a future it’ll be nigh-on impossible to attain, leading to years of therapy down the line when they feel like they’ll never live up to their parents’ expectations? No, we’re not drawing from our own experience. Mummy? Are you reading this?
‘Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them,’ said Oxford University alumni Oscar Wilde. So, maybe it’s not such a good idea to send them here. In any case, there are plenty of activities for kids in and around the city, from children’s museums to wildlife parks and gardens. Here are some of the best things to do in Oxford with kids.
Take a tour of the university
Oxford University, UK
Let’s get this activity - the one that sets unrealistic expectations on the little ones for life - out of the way first. With any luck, it won’t make an indelible stain on their little psyches. Don't worry, this isn't as boring as it sounds: many parts of Oxford University were used as Harry Potter filming locations, making this a great option when looking for things to do in Oxford with kids. The Oxford University and City Walking Tour will amaze your little ones by giving them behind-the-scenes insight into the wizarding world. You’ll also get to see some of the historic architecture, with highlights including the Bodleian Library and the Bridge of Sighs. Walk across the latter and sigh really loudly to annoy the students passing through. Check out the Sheldonian Theatre and the Radcliffe Camera, among the many iconic attractions at the university.
Tulip, Plum Guide home in Oxford, UK
Walk around the rest of the city and go shopping
Of course, Oxford existed long before its university. Or did it? Yes, it did, it was known as Oxenaforda, named for a river crossing for oxen in A.D. 900. Take a stroll through the city (which is pretty much dominated by the university campus - darn, we’re back to the university topic again). Amble through the St. Aldates area for its boutique stores and notice the Oxford Town Hall. Get your kids some presents in the vast Westgate shopping mall as a reward for their patience or as a motivator to do well at school and end up here. Browse the shops in the Golden Cross arcade and delve into the Covered Market for a sense of the local culture. The Clarendon Centre, Queen Street and the Cornmarket are all busy commercial and cultural hubs in the Oxford city centre. And if you want to stay in the heart of the city, book a night or two at our professionally vetted home Cherwell.
Cherwell, Plum Guide home in Oxford, UK
Head out to family museums
Didcot Railway Centre, Oxford, UK
Children will love the Story Museum, with its immersive displays that celebrate and showcase stories of all kinds, so this is definitely one of the best things to do in Oxford with kids. It has all manner of workshops and interactive exhibits, as well as readings from children’s book authors and stages set up to tell stories through design and pictures.
Take the kids to the nearby Oxford University Museum of Natural History to see a giant (well, normal-sized by the species' standards) T-Rex. Find out about the progress of the swifts (birds) nesting in the tower, and ask a docent about the architectural quirks of this cathedral-like building. See a stuffed dodo and learn about the extinct reptiles of the Jurassic seas. Check out the old-world costumes and antiques in the Pitt Rivers Museum and take the little ones to the Oxford Bus Museum, because kids seem to really like transport. While you’re at it, drop in at the Didcot Railway Centre, a little south of the city.
Lovell, Plum Guide home in Oxford, UK
Enjoy visiting the parks
Oxford University Botanic Garden | © Peter Dean/Flickr
Oxford is a pretty green city, packed with parks and gardens that are a far cry from the chaos of big cities like London (which, to be fair, is also pretty green and filled with parks). The University of Oxford Botanic Gardens is particularly impressive, and is thought to be the oldest garden of its kind in the Great Britain. Make your way between the Walled Garden, the Glasshouses and the Lower Garden, marvelling at the design of the Danby Gateway among other impressive designs.
For something more park-like, watch a game of cricket in the Oxford University Parks or travel to the Port Meadow, where you could set up a picnic on the lawn beside the lake. Head into the countryside and clamber up and down the hills of the Shotover Country Park. The kids will love the Oxford Wet n Wild in Berinsfield, comprising an inflatable obstacle course with trampolines and slides.
Wolf Cub, Plum Guide home in Oxford, UK
