The 1st May is May morning – full of tradition, singing and dancing. At dawn, the choir of Magdalen College sing from the top of Magdalen Tower as thousands gather below to listen. This is a busy, busy morning when the city welcomes spring. There’s specific viewing areas for wheelchair users, families with young children, and those with buggies in the Magdalen College School car park and in Rose Lane. Lots of places are open early to grab something to eat or a coffee (or a pint!) but expect queues! You can find information from the council about May Morning timings, road closures and a video to give you an idea of the schnizzle -all the info here.
Saturday 2nd May
🕺Dorchester Festival
A spectacular festival! There is so much on over the 10 day festival. Gardener’s corner, scarecrow trail, duck race, tea parties, science, family dog show, lego and more! The children’s activities are mostly over the bank holiday weekend so have a read and plan.
📅 1st – 10th May 💴 Mix of free and paid events 🎫 Some events require booking ℹ️ More on Dorchester Festival website.
🚜Rectory Farm: Asparagus Fest
You don’t have to love asparagus (although I sooooooo do) to come to this event! There will be free Tractor & Trailer rides, the playground to enjoy plus food & drink including asparagus on the BBQ, icecream, coffee and more. PYO asparagus at a discount all day and rhubarb also picking
📅 Saturday 2nd May ⏰ 9am – 5pm 💴 Free entry 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ More info on Rectory Farm website.
🔬Science Oxford: Family Day
The UK’s first indoor-outdoor primary science education centre with a hands-on Exploration Zone, Water Lab 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 2nd May ⏰10am – 12noon/ 12.30pm – 2.30pm/ 3pm – 5pm 💴 £8.50 per ticket, Under 3s Free 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Book via the Science Oxford website and check out our previous visit here.
🐏Westgate Oxford: Shaun The Sheep Trail
Join the flock! This interactive trail will take you around the Westgate where you will unlock animated scenes, take part in fun challenges and enjoy selfie moments. When complete enter a competition to win £100 John Lewis vouchers.
📅 1st – 31st May ⏰All day 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ More info on the Westgate 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⏰ 10.30am 💴 Free 🎫 Dop-in ℹ️ Visit the Oxford City Farm website for more info. Never been to the farm? Check out our visit here.
🎉May Day in Brill
Brill’s May Day celebration has a lovely fête feel with community market, traditional maypole dancing, Morris dancers, fire engine and family treasure hunt. Expect plenty of food and drink stalls plus games, entertainment and activities for all ages. We love Brill; one of the area’s prettiest hilltop villages – a visit to the windmill and playground a must.
📅 Saturday 2nd May ⏰ 10.30am 💴 Free 🎫 Drop-in0 ℹ️ Visit the Brill Windmill Facebook page for poster and info.
Sunday 3rd May
🛡️Cogges Farm: Immersive History Day
Explore 1,000 years of history through hands-on fun. Little explorers can try traditional crafts, meet historical characters, and discover how people lived and worked in the past. A playful, immersive day. There’s no additional costs for any of the (many!) additional activities. Particularly interested in the ‘jobs for children’ so my gang know how easy they have it!
📅 3rd May⏰ 10am – 4pm 💴 Adult: £12, Child (3 – 16): £9, Toddler (2 – 3 years) : £2.20🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the Cogges 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!
📅 Sunday 3rd May⏰ 10am – 4pm 💴 £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.
🍃Nature Day at Kate’s Place
A chance to connect with nature with activities such as seed planting, painting, cooking on the open fire and a chance to spot our resident tadpoles in the wildlife pond. It’s free to attend and everyone is welcome.
📅 Sunday 3rd May⏰11am – 3pm 💴 Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See the Nature Effect website for more details.
🚴 Islip Big Bike Ride: Tykes and Trikes
Part of the Big Bike Ride but just a short route down Mill Street. Be at the start line at Islip Village Hall for 12 noon and everyone is a winner and gets a medal at the end. The Islip Bike Bike Ride has varying distances – the longest being 70 miles and the shortest 4 miles – and raises £20kfor local charities.
📅 Sunday 3rd May⏰ 12 noon 💴 Suggested donation: 50p 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Visit the Islip Big Bike Ride website for more info.
🎥 Ultimate Picture Palace: Kino Kids Club
How to Train Your Dragon – as always a classic. If you haven’t been before, Kino Kids it’s a relaxed affair and the sound will be turned down a notch, and the lights will be up a little, and they don’t mind if people make a bit of noise or move around during the film. The UPP will sell food and drink and provide free craft activities, but do feel free to bring your own crafts and/or lunch if that suits you better. Have you signed the UPP petition to secure its long term future? Read all about it here.
📅 Sunday 3rd May ⏰12.45pm 💴 Adult: £7.00, Child: £5.00, Family (multiples of 4) £5.00 x 4 = £20.00 🎫 Booking recommended ℹ️ Book here.
Monday 4th May
🏃♂️ Bannister Mile: Community Mile
We do this every year! The Community Mile starts at St Aldate’s and takes in the colleges on the route along the High Street, finishing on the Iffley Rd track. The medal is fantastic and you have timed chips too – it’s a serious event! Take in the Mile Fair after at the Iffley Rd track, interesting with a fair few freebies too! The family wave is at 9.30am. You will see everyone you know in Oxford doing this, it’s such a popular event and an easy distance for children.
📅 Monday 4th May ⏰Waves starting from 9am – 10.10am. The family wave is at 9.30am 💴 Adults: £15, Students: £12, Kids (U15): £7, Kids (U6) : Free 🎫 Booking essential ℹ️ Book here.
🚌 Oxford Bus Museum: Model Railway Displays
Railway mad? Get yourself down to the Oxford Bus Museum for a mooch plus heritage bus rides too!
📅 Monday 4th May ⏰10am – 4pm 💴 Adults £8, Concession £7, Children £5, Family £17🎫 No booking required ℹ️ See website for more info.
Thomley: May Bank Holiday Family Fun Day
A reduced-price family fun day with so many activities included in the ticket price: soft play, bubbles, inflatables, archery face paining, splash park and trampoline. A really affordable day out for the whole family.
📅 Monday 4th May ⏰10am – 3pm 💴 Adult: £1, Children: £5 🎫 Booking essential ℹ️ More info on the Thomley website.
🎉Wheatley May Day celebrations
A lovely local celebration with maypole dancing from the primary school, plus plenty of food and drink. The Wheatley Lock-Up will be open too – if you’ve never noticed it, it’s the small hexagonal stone building by the playground, it was once used to house drunks and petty criminals overnight before they were marched off to the magistrates. A quirky slice of village history! It’s also a good excuse to check out the newly spruced-up Church Road rec, which has recently had a glow-up.
📅 Monday 4th May ⏰10am 💴 Free 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ More info on the Wheatley Parish Council Facebook page.
🏰Yarnton Manor Spring Open Day
Explore the historic Manor House, take part in children’s activities and play garden games. I’ve been to this before and the gardens are beautiful. You are welcome to brin a picnic to enjoy on the lawn if the weather behaves.
📅 Monday 4th May ⏰10am – 2pm 💴 Free 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ More info on the Yarnton Manor website.
🚂 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!
📅 3rd and 4th May⏰ 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.
Getting outside this long weekend? Here’s some ideas:
The bluebells are out at Harcourt Arboretum, plus the ninja obstacle course.
Stand on top of the world on a sunny day at White Horse Hill
Wander around a reservoir at Farmoor (also a great café!) or try the longer Farmoor Countryside Walk
A 5k loop that starts and ends at a pub (we spot a pattern here) and amazing Chilterns views
A trip to University Parks in spring is always a good idea!
