With so much to explore, Oxfordshire is a great destination for a family visit. Home to excellent family-friendly attractions, exciting museums and acres of outdoor space, Oxfordshire has everything you need to ensure that the whole family has a great time. In this 3 day family itinerary, spend time exploring historic Oxford, before heading to some of the best family attractions in the UK.
Day 1 – Oxford
Morning
Start your day by exploring Oxford city centre. A city steeped in history, there is so much to explore in Oxford. Get your bearings by pre-booking an Oxford Official Walking Tour for a family-friendly guided walking tour around more of Oxford’s iconic sites and locations. See the city’s most famous sites and learn about its history in the popular Oxford University & City Tour.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to walk, the City Sightseeing Oxford open top bus tour is a great way to see Oxford. Listen to your guide as you are driven around, with the option to hop-on and hop-off at 20 different stops across the city.
Afternoon
After lunch, take a family-friendly guided tour of Oxford Castle & Prison and discover the fascinating stories of the building’s 1,000-year history. Step back in time with their costumed guided tours and see fascinating stories come to life. Explore the Saxon St George’s Tower and descend deep underground to the 900-year-old crypt. After your guided tour, you can climb the mound, the remains of a motte and bailey castle. Explore the attraction at your own leisure and dress up like a prisoner in the Castle’s exhibition space.
Oxford Castle & Prison
Day 2 – South Oxfordshire
Morning
If you’ve had your fill of Oxford, head east from the city to Waterperry Gardens. Explore 8 acres of historic and inspirational gardens nestled in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside. Discover the spectacular 200 foot herbaceous border along with rose and formal gardens, a lily canal and riverside walk. Visitors can also head to the Art-in-Action Gallery and the Waterperry’s Rural Life Museum and complete their morning by stopping at the Teashop serving hot and cold lunches, afternoon teas and delicious cakes! A great opportunity for kids to stretch their legs and explore nature.
Afternoon
Travel back in time to the golden age of the Great Western Railway at Didcot Railway Centre. Savour the sights, sounds and smells of steam as you explore this 25-acre living museum with trains dating from Victorian times to the 1960s. Take unlimited rides on steaming days, explore the original 1932 engine shed and see magnificent preserved locomotives. Children can let off steam in the outdoor play area, make tracks to the indoor toy train sets or dress up as a Station Master. You can relax over lunch or enjoy a snack in the refreshment rooms and don’t forget to pick up a souvenir in the gift shop!
Day 3 – West Oxfordshire
If you head out to West Oxfordshire, gateway to the Cotswolds, a wealth of family-friendly countryside attractions await you. We have pulled together three must-visit attractions that the whole family will enjoy – choose one to visit on the third day of your itinerary, or mix and match all four if you plan to stay for longer!
Mixing classic fairy tales, animals, and adventure play, young children will love Fairytale Farm. With their exciting adventure playground, an enchanted walk with a surprise around every corner and a chance to meet their amazing animals, there is so much to see and do. Visit their Wilderness Walk area which includes a range of plants and wildlife habitats, including bird, bat and hedgehog boxes, log-piles, mini-beast hotel and worm-world, seed and nectar bar, bird feeding station and hibernation boxes.
Spend an afternoon in the beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswolds, visiting the historic grounds at Cogges Manor Farm. With over 1,000 years of history, Cogges is a 13th century manor house and farm with over 15 acres of grounds, walled garden, picnic orchard and moated islands. Children love to feed the farm animals, and there is also an adventure play island, sandpit and soft play area.
Enjoy a great day out at Crocodiles of the World – the UK’s only crocodile zoo – near Witney in West Oxfordshire with plenty of photo opportunities, feeding displays, crocodile talks and much more. Not to mention meeting all the amazing crocodiles, alligators, caimans, lizards, snakes, meerkats and even a Komodo Dragon! There are even underwater viewing enclosures for eye-to-eye encounters!