Saturday 25th April
🌎Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities: Open Day
We’ve been waiting for this! The new(ish) Schwarzman Centre throws it’s door open to the public with a day of free programmes for families! We’ve already managed to nab tickets to the Mad Hatter’s Tea party but even if you didn’t there’s loads on to explore including theatre, dance, spoken work, music and circus, digital installations and the opportunity to see the Bate Collection in it’s new home. All ages welcome!
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰ 10.25am – 6pm 💴 Free 🎫Drop-in ℹ️ More info on the festival on the Schwarzman Centre website.
🏉KatieFest SEND Rugby Festival
KatieFest is an annual inclusive tag rugby festival in Oxfordshire for children and adults with SEND, celebrating ability, community, and opportunity through sport. Check out this lovely video – this is what it’s all about.
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰ 9am – 2.30pm 💴 Free 🎫Drop-in ℹ️ More info on the festival and running order here.
🎥Ultimate Picture Palace: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (TWELVE HOURS LONG!!!!)
Whaaaaaaat?! Although I very much doubt any of us can vacate all our responsibilities for 12 hours to watch the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (although my children would defo be up for 12 hours straight of screentime for sure!), I had to highlight it for the sheer madness. Back-to-back screenings of the extended editions, with breaks. Only at UPP (and another reason to save it – sign the petition here).
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰ From 10am 💴 £27 🎫Booking recommended ℹ️ More info on the UPP website.
🦖 Museum of Natural History: Relaxed morning opening
Relaxed morning openings offer early access to the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum in a quieter, less crowded setting. Visitor numbers are limited to reduce noise and create a calmer environment. These sessions are designed for those who may benefit, including visitors on the autism spectrum, with additional learning needs, or sensory and communication difficulties.
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰ 9am – 10am 💴 Free 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ More info on how to book on the Museum of Natural History website.
🚴🏾♂️Dr Bike at Flo’s The Place in the Park
Bike diagnosis, safety checks, tune-ups and repairs. Flo’s is undergoing a glow-up so you will find the team near Flo’s Hatch – opposite the tennis courts and by the Trapeze school.
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰2pm – 4.30pm 💷 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ More info on the Flo’s Facebook page.
🌱Cutteslowe Greenhouse: Plant Sale
If you’ve been in Oxford a while, you may remember this place being open and hosting brilliant (and often a bit out there!) activities for children. Well, it re-opened a while ago with a 25 year lease secured and the local community have been working hard so come and see all that has been achieved! Pick up plant plugs or seeds, take a look around the greenhouse and enjoy a coffee and a slab of cake! Keep an eye on their socials for more Family Bushcraft sessions too!
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰ 9.30am – 12 noon 💴 Free 🎫 Dop-in ℹ️ See how they’ve grown on their website.
🚒 Goring Fire Station Open Day
50 Years of Goring Fire Station! Plenty to see and do for all ages from meeting your local firefighters and exploring the appliance, to family activities, demonstrations, and a chance to learn more about what the fire crews do and how we keep Goring safe. All proceeds from the day go to the Fire Fighters Charity, supporting firefighters and their families across the UK.
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰ 10am – 3pm 💴 Free 🎫Drop-in ℹ️ More info on the Goring Fire Station Facebook page.
📻History of Science Museum: Marconi Day
Get on the airwaves! To mark Marconi Day – Marconi is widely credited as being the pioneer of wireless communication – the Museum will host an amateur radio station using modern equipment to connect with enthusiasts worldwide. Visitors can also try sending and receiving Morse code in the Top Gallery. Something a bit different!
📅 Saturday 25th April ⏰ 12 noon – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫Drop-in ℹ️ More info on the History of Science Museum website.
🐏 Oxford City Farm: Family Friendly Day
Lambs has arrived, the chickens are out of lockdown and the sheep, goats and pigs can’t wait to meet you! There’s an area for free play and much to learn about farm to fork in the vegetable patch. Community farming – we love you! Bring a bag as they sell farms wares on a Saturday, now that’s shopping local.
📅 Open every Friday and Saturday⏰ 10am – 1pm 💴 Free 🎫 Booking only needed for parties over 10 ℹ️ Visit the Oxford City Farm website for more info. Never been to the farm? Check out our visit here.
Sunday 26th April
🗿Ashmolean Museum
We’ve been to the Ashmolean twice in the last month – not for any special exhibition or ‘thing’, just to have a look around. Fascinating! There’s load of ways that families can enjoy the museum: book the Ashmolean Adventure digital guide for families (available every weekend in term time and every day of the school holidays), download a free family trail in advance or pick one up at the Welcome Desk or you could pick up an Ashventure Pack or Explorer Kit from the Welcome Desk. There’s two baby changes and a lunch room you can use if you brig a packed lunch. Very much worth a visit!
📅 Open daily ⏰ 10am – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Visit the Ashmolean website for details of events and activities.
🏠Kingston Bagpuize House
Perfect your Dowager of Grantham face as this Downtown Abbey gem is ready for you! You don’t have to be prim and proper here though – run wild in the meadows, spot and enjoy tea and cake on the lawn. What a delight!
📅 Sunday 26th April ⏰1pm – 4pm 💴 Garden entry only: Adults: £8, Students: £4.50, Primary school aged children: FREE🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ See one of our visits here and future opening dates for house and gardens here.
It’s a sunny one this weekend! Here’s some ideas:
We did a 40 minute Oxford boat trip with Salter’s Steamers last weekend – loved it!
Alfresco dining at Valley Farm pizza and FarmBox Burger is a huge hit in the sunny weather.
Start and finish at a glorious pub garden with the Marston Hamm walk.
Visit Oxford’s very own jungle.
