Your HUGE guide to family friendly activities in Oxford this summer – everything you need to get you through, plus some for days when you feel you are all out of inspo. Have a scroll through as some of the events in here require booking in advance. Don’t forget our ‘Sunny Guide to Oxford’ for the days when the sun is belting down, as well as our ‘50 free things to do in Oxford‘.
Activities that are on throughout the summer – keep scrolling down for our day by day guide
Our Fairy Door Trail is running for the whole of August. Sweet, simple and self-guided. Walk through the beautiful setting of the Trap Grounds Nature Reserve and see what magic you can find…
The Story Museum is open daily during the summer holidays! And whatever age your children are there is something for them. The new Story Arcade gallery has just opened with custom-built arcade machines, dressing up and pixel-themed crafts and activities, alongside Narnia and the Whispering Wood If you have younger children then Small Worlds is the way forward: a huge bed and story themed zones for the very young. A grand day out indeed in a museum which is kinda bonkers!
Waddesdon Manor kids go free this summer! Bring the whole family to enjoy the summer holidays with a range of fun activities for the Summer of Play, included with admission. Until 28th August, children get free admission to the house and grounds at Waddesdon! There’s archery, axe throwing or the climbing wall and a hands-on circus workshop, painting, mini-golf and croquet. Enjoy interactive children’s theatre shows. Create your own paintings play mini golf and croquet.
Waterperry Gardens’ family orienteering sculpture trail runs from the Explore the ornamental gardens, using directions and clues to follow the sculpture trail! £5 per child with a prize (compass supplied). Adult garden entry fee applies. This is in your Gardeners’ World 2-for-1!
South Oxfordshire Adventure Playground (SOAP) is open from 29th July – 29th August. It’s FREE and a lot of fun with a range of activities to suit children with different interests. SOAP is a local charity run by volunteers & paid sessional staff, providing free, inclusive, supervised, adventurous outdoor play and activities.
The Beach at Notcutt’s is running from the 26th July – 30th August. It’s a simple deal: £9.99 for a wristband to go on as many rides as you like all in! It’s open daily from 11am – 5pm (sessions from 11am – 5pm). There’s also a huge sandpit too.
Earth Trust’s Field of Fun looks epic – you may recognise it from the Spring Festival, it was so popular they’ve bought it back from the 4th August! Hay bale play, musical wall, mini obstacle course, petal pitch, chill out zone and more. Book in advance for best price.
Thomley, a place for people of all abilities and disabilities, is open throughout summer and offers several focus days which aim to suit children, teenagers and adults of all abilities. They have had some fantastic new additions to the site recently and the new Splash Pad and you can camp there too! Gated and fenced, good for runners.
Didcot Garden Party sees FREE events running across Didcot until the 1st September. These include music workshops, community days, free leisure centre open days, inflatable sessions, playdays and more!
Summer of Skate is running at Skate Parks across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse on selected dates from the 4th – 27th August. The free sessions are for all ages and abilities and if children don’t have any equipment (scooters, skateboards etc) then they are welcome to borrow from the organisers.
Radley Pool Fun Sessions consist of two large inflatable assault courses, pool toys and two diving boards, the sessions are action-packed and incredibly fun. The age limit for these sessions is 8-12 years old and parents are not permitted in the pool with the children. The sessions are fully lifeguarded.
Dinosaur Trail at Harcourt Arboretum! Follow the ‘living fossils’ trail and discover plants which grew alongside roaming dinosaurs. From Ferns to Wollemi Pines, Giant Redwoods to Monkey Puzzle trees, there are plenty of fascinating species to discover. 👀🌿Purchase from the Welcome Centre (£2), includes a prize.
Oxford Castle and Prison: Knight School is on! Join in the Castleyard for medieval weapons training, jousting and archery – all under the supervision of the Castle’s knights! Once you’ve been trained, you will be knighted and presented with your own sword to take home!
FREE swimming for children under 16 living in Oxford throughout summer. Before you get too excited, Hinksey is not included in this! Grrrrrrrrrr. The pools that are: Barton, Ferry and the Leys. The times are a bit restrictive but I will definitely be taking advantage as sometimes a quick dip can turn a day around! If you haven’t re-registered since Fusion handed over to More then you will have to do that, but after that it’s pretty easy to book.
Friday 15th August
📚Weston Library Summer Family Fun: Treasured
Discover precious and unexpected treasures of the Bodleian and enjoy exhibition trails, stories, crafts, and keepsake printing. Craft activities are most suitable for children aged 4–11, but all are welcome. For the youngest visitors there’s the Toddleian Library with a soft mat, baby toys and board books.
📅Thursday 15th August ⏰11am – 3pm 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Read more on the Weston Library website.
🍓Rectory Farm strawberry picking
Is there anything more quintessentially British than fruit picking? Nice little play area for the children too. And good news, it’s even easier to get to Rectory Farm now as it has its very own bus stop! It’s joined the 108 route from Oxford – Bicester and it stops right inside the car park! No service Mondays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Remember that you don’t have to book and pay for weekday PYO visits in the summer holidays, just the weekends.
📅Closed Mondays ⏰Tuesday – Saturday: 8.30am – 5pm, Sunday: 9am – 4pm 💴 No bookings needed in the week, only weekends (£1.25 pp) 🎫 Booking required only at weekends ℹ️ More info on Rectory Farm website.
Saturday 16th August
🚂Pendon Museum: Summer Craft Festival
Join us for a family friendly day of culture with craft workshops (rag rug, weaving & wool, herbalism &
folklore), Pendon Passport trail, teddy bear hospital & more. The Pendon Museum is such an interesting place! It’s a glimpse of rural life through extraordinary display scale models and large scenes of the rural countryside. We absolutely love following the railway around; especially as it passes so many places that we recognise!
📅 Saturday 16th August ⏰11am – 4pm 💴 Adults: £8, Children: £6, Under 5: Free 🎫 Booking recommended ℹ️ Visit the Pendon website to see what it’s all about.
🔬Science Oxford: Family Day
The UK’s first indoor-outdoor primary science education centre with a hands-on Exploration Zone and 15 acres of woodland and ponds. Create fun animations at the new ‘Animate Science’ activity, from astronauts exploring space to dinosaurs in a Jurassic world, or design and make your own! such fun, we have been SO many times!
📅 Every Saturday throughout August ⏰Session times: 10am – 12noon/ 12.30pm – 2.30pm/ 3pm – 5pm 💴 £8 per ticket, Under 3s Free 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Book via the Science Oxford website and check out our previous visit here.
Sunday 17th August
🐻SENDsational Morning at Tring
Have you ever been to Tring Natural History Museum? It’s a very unique experience! Their SEND morning gives an opportunity for neurodiverse children to enjoy the museum at a quieter time. Visitors have access to a few activities including specimen handling, crafting and a gallery trail and all these activities are supported by experienced, autism-aware facilitators. A sensory space will also be available for children needing a quieter and calmer space.
📅 Sunday 17th August ⏰ 10am – 12 noon 💴Free 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Book via the Tring Natural History Museum website. Check out our last visit here.
🚂 Cutteslowe Miniature Railway
Such a lovely miniature railway experience and with the track extension it’s great value for money too. There is SO much to do at Cutteslowe park: numerous playgrounds, huge sandpit, free splash park (now open!), crazy golf, tennis courts, wildlife area, duck pond, beach volleyball court, café and more! It’s easily a whole day adventure!
📅 Sunday 17th August⏰ 1pm – 4.30pm 💴 £2 per ticket, Under 2’s free with fare paying adult🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the website for more details and more pictures from our visit here.
Monday 18th August
⚔️Museum of Oxford: Ancient Games
Ever wondered what games people played across the centuries? Head to MOX to create and play board games based on archaeological finds. Create paper board games and tokens based on those found by archaeologists. Take your games away with you to play at home!
📅 Monday 18th August⏰ 11am – 1pm 💴 £1.50 (includes adult) 🎫 Pre-booking required ℹ️ See the MOX website for more details.
Tuesday 19th August
🦖Museum of Natural History: Autism Friendly opening
A relaxed morning opening to explore the Museum collections in a quiet environment for families with members on the autism spectrum.
📅 Tuesday 19th August ⏰ 9am – 10am 💴 Free 🎫 Booking essential via email: [email protected] ℹ️ More details on their website. Never visited the museum? See one of our many visits here.
Wednesday 20th August
🚂 Pendon Museum: Junior Model Making
The Pendon Museum is such an interesting place with lots on for families. This hands-on model-making session (11am – 3pm) is run by expert modellers who create and maintain Pendon’s world-famous models. Each participant will work on their own small diorama to take home.
📅 Wednesday 20th August ⏰11am – 4pm 💴 Adults: £8, Children: £6, Under 5: Free 🎫 Drop-in session is free ℹ️ Visit the Pendon website to see what it’s all about.
🐰 History of Science Museum: Find the white rabbit
Help Alice find the White Rabbit in a fun gallery-based game. Get the answer right at each museum object to move your figure on the board game and unlock the next question. Answering all the questions leads to finding the White Rabbit and a sticker!
📅Wednesday 20th August⏰ 1pm – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the History Of Science website for more info.
🚂 Cutteslowe Miniature Railway
Such a lovely miniature railway experience and with the track extension it’s great value for money too. There is SO much to do at Cutteslowe park: numerous playgrounds, huge sandpit, free splash park (now open!), crazy golf, tennis courts, wildlife area, duck pond, beach volleyball court, café and more! It’s easily a whole day adventure!
📅 Wednesday 20th August⏰ 1pm – 4.30pm 💴 £2 per ticket, Under 2’s free with fare paying adult🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the website for more details and more pictures from our visit here.
Thursday 21st August
🪩 Museum Of Oxford: FamJam
Are you asking? Cos I’m dancing! A rave up like no other! Bubbles, magic carpets, stormy seas and beautiful butterflies. Great tunes and total freedom for little dancing feet. This is so popular that there is two on the same day: 11am and 2pm.
📅 Thursday 21st August⏰11am – 12 noon and 2pm – 3pm 💴 £3 plus booking fee (one child ticket includes accompanying adult) 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Details on the MOX website.
🏊🏼♀️ Radley Pool Fun Sessions
Two large inflatable assault courses, pool toys and two diving boards, these sessions are action-packed and incredibly fun. The age limit for these sessions is 8-12 years old and parents are not permitted in the pool with the children. The sessions are fully lifeguarded.
📅 Thursday 21st August⏰ 2.30pm – 4pm 💴 £8 per session 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Details on the Radley website.
Friday 22nd August
📚Weston Library Summer Family Fun: Treasured
Discover precious and unexpected treasures of the Bodleian and enjoy exhibition trails, stories, crafts, and keepsake printing. Craft activities are most suitable for children aged 4–11, but all are welcome. For the youngest visitors there’s the Toddleian Library with a soft mat, baby toys and board books.
📅Thursday 22nd August ⏰11am – 3pm 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Read more on the Weston Library website.
🏠Bekonscot Model Village
Have you booked your ticket to the world’s oldest model village? It’s the perfect summer outing! So quaint, and the perfect place for the little ones to feel like giants. I used to go as a child and love bringing my children back there too. Book tickets 48 hours in advance and save 10%. There’s loads of additional activities for children throughout summer, check them out on the website.
📅 Open daily ⏰10am – 5.30pm 💴 Adult: £14, Children: £9 🎫 Booking recommended ℹ️ Book via the website and take a look at all the (very sweet!) pics and info here.
Saturday 23rd August
💦Hinksey Splash Pad and Hinksey Open Air Pool
Sun shining? Get yourself to Hinksey! The heated open air pool does 2 hour sessions and the brand spanking new Splash Park and Mini Wheels Track next door is free and doesn’t require booking.
📅 Hinksey open 7 days a week for the season ⏰Monday – Friday: 6.30am – 8pm, Saturday & Sunday: 7.30am – 6pm 💴 Adult: £5.70, Junior £3.60, Under 5: Free. Different session lengths cost different amounts. 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ More details on the Oxford City Leisure website and check out our visit here.
Sunday 24th August
🦖Oxford Natural History Museum: Family Friendly Sunday
A Sunday afternoon of nature-themed activity backpacks, crafts, family-friendly trails, and more! One of our favourite museums which should definitely be on your summer hotlist.
📅 Monday 24th August⏰ 💴Free🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the museum website for more details and one of our previous visits here.
Monday 25th August
🚗Cowley Classic Car Show and Family Fun Day
Love this, we go most years and it’s really interesting to look at all the classic cars. You can join the convoy too which leave from the mini plant to go to Notcutts, it’s great to be a part of! There’s a fun dog show and children’s activities, trade stands and refreshments. All the monies from the event goes to charity.
📅 Monday 25th August⏰9.30am – 4pm 💴Adults: £7, Under 12: Free, Family ticket: £19 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the Cowley Classic Car Show Facebook page for poster and more details.
🚌Oxford Bus Museum: Heritage Skills Day and FREE heritage bus rides
Bank Holiday special! Demos of heritage skills and FREE heritage bus rides at 12.15pm and 2.15pm. The museum houses a collection of historic buses, coaches and trams plus a model railway too. Very family-friendly with a dedicated play area for children. Super fun and interesting for the whole family!
📅 Monday 25th August⏰10am – 4pm 💴Adults: £8, Children £5, Under 5: Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the website for more details.
🚂 Cutteslowe Miniature Railway
Miniature railway experience – numerous playgrounds – huge sandpit – free splash park – crazy golf – tennis courts – wildlife area – duck pond – beach volleyball court – café and more!
📅 Monday 25th August ⏰ 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. See one of our many visits here.
Tuesday 26th August
🌾Earth Trust : Field of Fun
The last few days of Earth Trust’s Field of Fun! Hay bale play, musical wall, mini obstacle course, petal pitch, chill out zone and more. Book in advance for best prices.
📅 Open until 29th August ⏰ 10am – 3.30pm 💴 Adult: £3, Children: £5, U2: Free (advance booking prices) 🎫 Advance booking for best prices ℹ️ See Earth Trust website for more info and booking.
Wednesday 27th August
🦕Harcourt Arboretum: Dinosaur Plants Family Day
A day of fun activities and find out about the trees and plants that grew alongside the dinosaurs. Explore palaeobotany, ancient plants and their fossils, and take a look at mosses, ferns, ginkgo and conifers. You can also see some very special plant fossils from the OUMNH Earth Collections, have a go at dino-themed arts and crafts and try making a giant willow dragonfly. Adult entrance fee applies.
📅Wednesday 27th August⏰ 1pm – 3pm 💴 Adults: £7.20, £3 per child for event, U2: Free. 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the Harcourt Arboretum website for more info.
🐰 History of Science Museum: Find the white rabbit
Help Alice find the White Rabbit in a fun gallery-based game. Get the answer right at each museum object to move your figure on the board game and unlock the next question. Answering all the questions leads to finding the White Rabbit and a sticker!
📅Wednesday 27th August⏰ 1pm – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the History Of Science website for more info.
🚂 Pendon Museum: Junior Model Making
The Pendon Museum is such an interesting place with lots on for families. This hands-on model-making session (11am – 3pm) is run by expert modellers who create and maintain Pendon’s world-famous models. Each participant will work on their own small diorama to take home.
📅 Wednesday 27th August ⏰11am – 4pm 💴 Adults: £8, Children: £6, Under 5: Free 🎫 Drop-in session is free ℹ️ Visit the Pendon website to see what it’s all about.
Thursday 28th August
🔢 History of Science Museum: Count me in
Hands-on with objects and activities exploring maths in the real world. Find out how and why things were measured in the past, try out the amazing lightning adding machines, and unravel the mysteries of Napier’s bones.
📅 Thursday 28th August ⏰1pm – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 No pre-booking essential ℹ️ More info on the History of Science Museum website.
📚Weston Library Summer Family Fun: Treasured
The last session of the Summer Family Fun series. Discover precious and unexpected treasures of the Bodleian and enjoy exhibition trails, stories, crafts, and keepsake printing. Craft activities are most suitable for children aged 4–11, but all are welcome.
📅Thursday 28th August ⏰11am – 3pm 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Read more on the Weston Library website.
🧱Banbury Museum: Brick Madness
A WHOLE Lego collection for a massive pile in, free-play session this summer holiday. Loads of dates over the school holidays!
📅 Thursday 28th August ⏰10.30am – 12 noon 💴 £3 per child 🎫 Booking essential ℹ️ Book on the Banbury Museum website.
🤖Oxford Westgate Library Makerspace: Robot Endurance Competition (ages 7 – 13)
Test your coding mindset by, given limited coloured tiles and limited space, build a track that allows the Robot Car to run the longest. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this event is perfect for kids between 7-13.
📅Thursday 28th August ⏰2 – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 Booking essential ℹ️ Book via Eventbrite.
Friday 29th August
🥳Bunkfest
A free-access, community festival which has been going for 23 years on the banks of the River Thames in Wallingford. There’s loads of family-friendly entertainment and the option to camp too. There’s also a fringe festival taking place across Wallingford with lots more events, some ticketed.
📅Friday 29th – Sunday 31st August⏰ All day 💴 Free 🎫 Some fringe events require booking ℹ️ More info on the Bunkfest website.
🎨Banbury Museum: Fabric painting
Get inspired by the latest dinosaur exhibition at the museum and paint and print your favourite colourful dinosaurs onto tote bags.
📅Friday 29th August ⏰ 10.30am 💴 £5 per ticket 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Book via the Banbury Museum website.
Saturday 30th August
🔬History of Science Museum: Autism Friendly Opening
A relaxed morning opening to enjoy the Museum displays and collections in a quiet environment for families with members on the autism spectrum. SEND-friendly Light and Space backpacks to borrow and ear defenders at the front desk. There’s also social stories to read before your visit.
📅Saturday 30th August⏰10.45am – 11.45am 💴 Free 🎫 Email Helen at [email protected] ℹ️ More info on the History of Science Museum website.
🔬Science Oxford: Family Day
The UK’s first indoor-outdoor primary science education centre with a hands-on Exploration Zone, outdoor and 15 acres of woodland and ponds. This is STEM on another level and the fun factor is off the wall! We’ve been here so many times for school trips and days out and there is always something new to learn.
📅 Saturday 30th August ⏰10am – 12noon/ 12.30pm – 2.30pm/ 3pm – 5pm 💴 £8 per ticket, Under 3s Free 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Book via the Science Oxford website and check out our previous visit here.
🥳Bunkfest
A free-access, community festival which has been going for 23 years on the banks of the River Thames in Wallingford. There’s loads of family-friendly entertainment and the option to camp too. There’s also a fringe festival taking place across Wallingford with lots more events, some ticketed.
📅Friday 29th – Sunday 31st August⏰ All day 💴 Free 🎫 Some fringe events require booking ℹ️ More info on the Bunkfest website.
Sunday 31st August
🚂 Cutteslowe Miniature Railway
Miniature railway experience – numerous playgrounds – huge sandpit – free splash park – crazy golf – tennis courts – wildlife area – duck pond – beach volleyball court – café and more!
📅 Wednesday 31st August ⏰ 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. See one of our many visits here.
🥳Bunkfest
Last day of this free-access, community festival which has been going for 23 years on the banks of the River Thames in Wallingford. There’s loads of family-friendly entertainment and the option to camp too. There’s also a fringe festival taking place across Wallingford with lots more events, some ticketed.
📅Friday 29th – Sunday 31st August⏰ All day 💴 Free 🎫 Some fringe events require booking ℹ️ More info on the Bunkfest website.
You have survived the summer holidays! Congrats!
