UPDATED! The sun is shining and it’s time to get out and enjoy the weather…while it lasts! The pressure is on…how can you squeeze the most of of these sunny days before it goes into hibernation again? We’ve got you covered with places to splash, shady walks under canopies and relaxed outdoor dining options – all families welcome. Click on the headers for more info.
Splash parks and lidos…
💦 Hinksey Splash Pad
This new splash pad and mini bike track is everything you need on a hot day to cool down. A £330k investment has been money well spent to re-vamp this tired (and constantly broken!) splash-pad. There’s also a Jericho Coffee Traders van outside the gate too. Hurrrrrrrrrrah! Check out all you need to know here.
🥽 Hinksey Open Air Pool
Right next door to the splash pad – combine both for a perfect sunny activity. This has been an Oxford sunny staple for so long and families flock here when the sun shine. After school outings are our faves (it’s open until 7pm on weekdays) and as well as a Jericho Coffee Truck and usually an ice-cream van too. A visit to the park across the grass is mandatory! Check out all the details here.
🏊🏼♂️ Northcroft Lido
This is a special one and wouldn’t look out of place at a Eurocamp in sunnier climes! Slides, splash pad and an Olympic sized pool make this feel like a HUGE adventure! Just to be clear, this is as fun for the big kids (that’s us!) and little kids! More info on this cracker here.
💦Cutteslowe Splash Pad
This park has so much to it but it’s the splash pad! Playgrounds, sandpits, miniature railway of dreams, crazy golf, huge areas of grass to run around and more. Check out the miniature railway timetable and enjoy everything at the same time. We can’t guarantee the fun but we guarantee the good times.
🌈The Leys Splash Park
Yet another splash park revamp! Bright rainbow colours and accessible water features make this one stand out. It was already a great park, now it’s even better!
🥽Wallingford Riverside Splash and outdoor pools
Another refurbed splash park (did the council get a job lot?!) with an outdoor pool beside it. The poo isn’t as wow as Hinksey but it’s fun and it’s in a gorgeous location along the river so lots of opportunities for other activities too like canoeing or boat trips.
🐠 Eynsham Abbey Fishponds
Fancy a shallow paddle? Get your toes ready for a dip in this shallow stream, you may even find a few tiddlers so don’t forget your nets! It’s a nice area to wander around and there’s a good park across the road too. All the directions to get to this joyous little spot here.
🛶 Buscot Weir
All the locals head here for a swim, to relax on the grass, play in the playground or just watch the world go by. There’s also a fab tearoom with a lovely garden en route – fuel up here for your picnic. Full details here.
If you fancy a shady walk…
🚶🏾♂️Thrupp Lake
We know you LOVE this as it’s one of our most visited paged on the website. It’s a lovely walk around the lake with lots of tree canopies to hide under and keep you cool. Views of the lake, fairy door magic to find and fallen logs to clamber on will keep little ones entertained too. See how to navigate to this outdoor adventure here.
🚶🏻♀️Blenheim Community Path
Lots of shade on this scenic walk through the estate. It eventually leads you into the Parkland where you can take other paths and extend your walk. Suitable for bikes and buggies too if you have little ones who want to join for a wheeled adventure. All the info here.
If you want to eat alfresco with the kids…
🍕 Valley Pizza and FarmBox Burger
A discovery last summer and one that kept us going back to enjoy as many food sundowners as we possibly could. There’s animals to meet whilst the grown-ups sit down at the benches on the grass. A child-friendly, easy place to enjoy some genuinely good food. We’re not keeping it secret – read all about it here.
🍇 Sunnyhill Vineyard and pizza
Vines, fresh pizza, playground, alpacas. Tick, tick, tick, tick! You could be in the Mediterranean on a sunny evening here. Stampede down there as everyone wants a slice of this place. Grab a pizza (really?! 🤦🏻♀️) of the action here.
🛝 The Manor, Garsington
A gastropub with stunning views and great play equipment. The pizzas are served hot straight from the pizza oven in the garden and there’s a BBQ every Friday night in the summer, as well as free children’s activities.
🍻Victoria Arms
Recently named as one of the best beer gardens in the UK! Here’s why: situated on the banks of the River Cherwell with a huge green area and picnic tables. Sit on the edge of the river bank and dip your toes in whilst enjoying a bowl of pub chips. Does it get any better?!
🍰Worton Kitchen Garden
Is this the most beautiful place to have tea and cake? Sit amongst the bursting borders, shaded by the trees and take in the views as you enjoy all the delights the garden kitchen has to offer. It’s real field to fork here; don’t forget to have a little explore to see where it all comes from.
Keep checking back as we’ll be adding more as the sun continues to shine!
