Looking for what’s on this weekend for the family in Oxford? You’re in the right place! Half-term guide drops next week…
Events on all weekend ⬇️ Scroll down further for day by day guide
👻 Evenly Wood Garden: Halloween Spooktacular
Collect your map, find spooky creations and collect your bag of treats! It’s a spooky journey of ghosts, myths and legends. This place is like an absolute film set, they go all out on these events and the children love it. The prizes are always brilliant too!
📅 On until 2nd November ⏰ 10am – 4pm, late night openings 💷 Children: £8.30 per, Adult £9.50 garden entry (only book a child tickets, adults pay £9.50 garden entry on day) 🎟️ Pre-booking recommended ℹ️Info and booking on Evenly Wood Gardens website.
🍂 Earth Trust Tales and Trails
NEW from the Earth Trust! Follow the Enchanted Trail, wind your way around the giant maize maze, get hands on with autumn crafts, clamber over the hay bales and listen to seasonal storytelling. There’s marshmallow toasting and food and drink on offer too.
📅 Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October, plus Saturday 25th – Friday 31st for half term ⏰ 10am – 3pm 💷 Adult: £3 + booking fee in advance or £4 at the gate, Child: £6 + booking fee in advance or £7 on the gate, Under 2: Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ More info on Earth Trust website.
🎃 High Lodge Farm: Pumpkin Patch and Spooky Trail
I mean, why wouldn’t you? One price, stay the whole day. And there really is enough to keep you and (most importantly!) the children entertained for the whole day. Here’s what you get for your dosh: spooky woodland trail, activity sheet, pumpkin patch, mud play, wooden games, bale play, tractor and a sweet treat for everyone! SEND sessions and late night Pumpkin Nights available too.
📅 Weekends only up until half-term then Monday – Friday during half term (Halloween is on the Friday!) ⏰ 10am – 4pm (SEND sessions at 9am) 💷 Child: £9, Adult: £7, Child under 1: Free, Carer: Free (with ID) 🎟️ Pre-booking recommended ℹ️ More info on High Lodge Farm website.
🎃 Bunkers Hill: Charity Pumpkin Hunt
First off, bravo to Bunkers Hill for all the money they have raised for mental health charities over the years with their trails and hunts. This one is no different and all the money raised goes to Mind and Restore. The trails are now in the meadow, which gives children more space to run around.
Big Bertha and Tiny Tim return, as well as the Ugly Mug (my fave!) & Handsome Hero Parade. A visit to the honesty tea-shop is a non-negotiable wins you parent of the year! Closed Tuesdays. We went last weekend and loved it. See our post here.
📅 On until the 2nd November ⏰ 9.30am – 6pm, closed on Tuesdays 💷 £4, includes certificate and prize 🎫 Booking required for weekends and half term ℹ️ More info on Bunkers Hill website or here’s our visit last weekend.
🎃Rectory Farm Pumpkin Patch
Thousands of pumpkins, games and activities, ride-on tractors, face painting, sensory play areas, bale climbing, music, food and more!
📅 Weekends only up until half term ⏰ 8.30am – 5pm 💷 £8.50 per ticket, Children (U2): Free 🎫 Booking recommended ℹ️ More info on the Rectory Farm website .
🦇 Waterperry Gardens: Spooktacular Halloween Hunt
Love these Waterperry trails – a visit to Waterperry is always a pleasure! Find the spooky characters hidden around the garden and collect a scary prize at the end. Free play area by the café and short pushchair-friendly walk nearby. £4.50 per trail, includes prize.
📅 Saturday 18th October – Sunday 2nd November ⏰ 1oam – 5pm 💷 Adults: £12.50, Children under 16: Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ More info on Waterperry website.
SATURDAY 18th OCTOBER
🧠 Ideas Festival: Explorazone
Our fave part of the Ideas Festival! An interactive science fair with hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and the chance to meet friendly scientists and inventors. Immense fun! Activities on offer for all ages.
📅 Saturday 18th October ⏰ 11am – 5pm 💷 PWYD 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ More info on Ideas Festival website.
🦕 Oxford Museum of Natural History: Autism opening
A relaxed morning opening for families with members on the Autism Spectrum to explore the Museum collections in a quiet environment. More information, including a social story which will be emailed to attendees a week prior to the visit. Please bring along ear protectors if required. This is a joint event with the Pitt Rivers Museum.
📅 Saturday 18th October ⏰ 9am – 10am 💷 Free 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Booking and more info on the website.
🎉ParkPlay at Blackbird Leys
ParkPlay is free community play, every week in Blackbird Leys Park. It’s active and has inclusive games where all generations play together, in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. Sessions are run by local volunteer PlayLeaders, who help shape activities to suit the group and ensure everyone feels welcome and included. The PlayLeaders at Blackbird Leys will be from Oxford Community Action. Don’t forget to register!
📅 Every Saturday ⏰ 11am – 1pm 💷 Free 🎫 Drop-in, children must not be left unaccompanied ℹ️ More info and register on ParkPlay.
🗺️Museum of Oxford: Story Power – a family trail
Celebrate the joy of learning together as a family. Pick up a free gallery trail and create your own story by exploring the museum. The trail is suitable for ages 5+, but all family members are welcome to take part.
📅 On until the 2nd November ⏰ Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm 💷 Free 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ More info on the MOX website
SUNDAY 19th OCTOBER
🎥 Ultimate Picture Palace: Kino Kids Club
Frankenweenie (PG). When young Victor brings his beloved dog Sparky back to life, his experiment sparks chaos in their small town. Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie is a spooky tale of love, loss, and friendship inspired by classic monster movies.
📅 On until the 2nd November ⏰ 1pm 💷 Adults: £6, Children (under 15): £4 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More info on UPP website.
🪵 Combe Mill: Wood Crafts and Autumn Market
Open and in steam! In addition to their Beam Engine and small steam engines in operation there is also Al’s Owls and Charlbury Morris Dancers. Blacksmiths are in the forge and volunteers will be in their specialist areas. The pumpkin trail opens this weekend and the Millie the Cat trail is open too.
📅 Sunday 19th October, ⏰ 10.30am – 4.30pm 💷 Adults: £9, Concessions: £7.50, Children (under 16): Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ More info on Combe Mill website.
🚂 Cutteslowe Miniature Railway
The last running of the miniature railway until December! Get your train rides in this weekend then gear up for their next opening…at Christmas!
📅 19th October ⏰ 1pm – 4.30pm 💴 £2 per ticket, Under 2’s free with fare paying adult 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the Cutteslowe Miniature Railway website for more details and more pictures from our visit here.
Lovely autumn walks:
White Horse Hill – Waylands Smithy
Skirmett, Fingest and Turville 5k walk (pub with fire on the way!)
The Cheese Shed
Hailey and Ipsden Circular Walk (pub with fire on the way! )
Thrupp Lake
