23 of the best things to do in Oxford with kids

Oxford always feels like home to me – after living there for several years, I’ve loved being able to go back with my daughter to discover some of the fun things to do in Oxford with kids.

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Because needless to say, while I lived there, I spent more time hanging out with my friends (and studying) than checking out the tourist attractions… although I’ve got very fond memories of punting, and enjoying some of Oxford’s green spaces, as well as its beautiful buildings.

And Oxford really is gorgeous: even with a head full of exam revision, I never lost sight of how truly lovely this city is – I’ve picked out some of the best ways to explore Oxford with kids, as well as the family attractions you shouldn’t miss.

Oxford Story Museum

If you love books, you’ll love The Story Museum in Oxford – reopened after a major renovation in 2020, it’s somewhere to lose yourself in the magic of stories, whatever age you are.

As well as the Small Worlds area for toddlers and preschoolers, the museum is split into several sections, starting with the Whispering Wood, before heading to the Enchanted Library and Magic Common Room, plus other temporary displays.

Following the audio guide through the wood, to discover a string of interactive displays on stories from around the world (including the chance to try to pull the sword from the stone), it feels as if you’ve stepped into a fairytale world.

But the Enchanted Library is perhaps even more memorable, with eight different rooms that let you step inside a story, including Narnia, the Hundred Acre Wood and Wonderland, along with Horrid Henry’s bedroom.

Read my full review of our visit to the Story Museum in Oxford

University Museum of Natural History

One of my own favourite museums in Oxford with kids, I’ve visited several times with my daughter – after all, how many museums can boast dinosaurs, strokeable bears and 450 million-year-old trilobites.

The dodo is one of the most famous attractions at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History but there’s a huge amount to discover, with chances for kids to get hands on and temporary displays, all under the soaring arches of the roof.

If you visit towards sunset, with shadows appearing over the exhibits, it feels faintly like the start of Night in the Museum for an extra memorable end to the day.

Free to enter (no prebooking needed), there are also family trails for children to follow at the Natural History Museum, with options for different ages including preschoolers.

If you need some fresh air and space to run around after a visit to the museum, the University Parks are only a couple of minutes walk away for a lovely walk down to the river

Pitt Rivers Museum 

Walking into the Pitt Rivers Museum is like stepping into an explorer’s treasure chest – you never quite know what unexpected delights you’ll stumble across as you stroll around corners and open drawers.

While the museum is most famous for its collection of shrunken heads, these have currently been removed from display – but there’s far more to discover, from a golden torc found in Scotland to an axe from Papua New Guinea, masks, Pacific art, arms and armour, even a collection on body art from around the world.

There are free family trails to download (or pick up at the museum), including options for under-fives, plus ideas for crafts to do at home. And it’s also buggy friendly if you’re visiting with a baby, as I discovered on one of my earliest days out with my daughter.

It’s free to visit and you don’t need to prebook: the museum is at the back of the Museum of Natural History – head past the dinosaurs to find the door – so it’s easy to combine the two.

Ashmolean museum

Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean is the world’s first university museum – and Oxford’s museum of art and archaelogy.

Another free museum in Oxford, it’s a great place to visit on a rainy day with family trails to follow, as well as the Ashmolean Adventure multimedia guide to follow, plus family activities and sketching pads and family packs for kids to borrow (when restrictions allow).

Some of the collections are likely to appeal more to older kids, but the Ancient Egyptian galleries are always a favourite with children, as well as other unexpected objects such as Guy Fawkes’ lantern, a Samurai helmet, a hat belonging to a judge at the trial of Charles I and a jewel made for Alfred the Great.

Prebooking is recommended but not essential, although you might need to queue.

Check out my review of the Ashmolean Museum with kids and tips for visiting

Museum of Oxford

Reopened after years of renovations, the Museum of Oxford in the Town Hall is an entertainingly eclectic collection – you can find everything from Elizabethan wallpaper to a bank note from 1870 and a car from the 1930s.

Telling the history of Oxford from the Romans to modern-day history, it’s a good reminder that there’s more to the city than the university.

Plus there’s no charge to visit this museum right in the heart of the city, ideal if you’re looking for free things to do in Oxford with kids – you no longer need to prebook timed entry slots, just turn up and pay what you can (although you may need to queue if it’s busy).

Museum of the History of Science

If you think the Museum of the History of Science sounds a bit dry for most kids, there’s more to discover here for families than you’d expect – although admittedly this isn’t a great option for toddlers.

For older kids, there’s a chance to see a blackboard which Einstein used during a lecture – it still has equations chalked on in his own handwriting – while fans of His Dark Materials will love the astrolabes and other astronomical and navigational objects, which look like early designs for an alethiometer.

There are also free trails, including one aimed at younger kids to find the various animals hidden in the museum, as well as another one on women in science. Free to visit, and there’s no need to prebook.

Go punting

Have you even truly visited Oxford if you haven’t been punting? There’s truly nothing better to do on a warm day in Oxford – and older kids will love having a try too.

An Oxford tradition dating back to the 1800s, punting involves floating along the river in a long, flat bottomed boat while someone steers using a long pole (like the English version of a Venetian gondola).

Many visitors opt for a chauffeured punt for a more relaxing experience, such as this 30-minute guided punting tour.

But you can also hire self-drive punts for a memorably fun family-friendly activity. You may not get as far, but the kids will love trying to steer the boat for themselves – it’s worth knowing that the poles are quite long, so not easy for little ones to manoeuvre without some adult help though.

Just be sure to bring everyone a change of clothes in case someone falls in – this happens more often than you’d think! Head to Magdalen Bridge Boathouse for chauffeured and self-drive punts, or try Cherwell Boathouse.

Take a river cruise

If you don’t fancy punting, it would be a shame not to get out onto the water at all – and with two rivers in Oxford, there’s plenty of choice.

Most river cruises head along the Isis (as the Thames is known here, from the Latin Thamesis) – the other river is the Cherwell (pronounced Charwell) – and you can choose options with guided commentary to learn some of the city’s history.

This 50-minute cruise passes by some of Oxford’s iconic sights, including Christ Church Colleege, as well as passing under 19th century Folly Bridge, out towards Iffley. Or there’s a 90-minute version of the river cruise including afternoon tea – get a discount on either cruise if you book through my links.

Visit the Oxford colleges 

Whether your kids are old enough to be thinking about university yet or not, a visit to at least one of the 39 Oxford Colleges is an absolute must.

After exploring the historic hallways and grand cloisters of the magnificent college buildings, you might even end up with an aspiring ​​Oxonian on your hands.

Not all are open to the public (unless you’re part of a guided group) and some have an entrance fee – check here for the latest details if you have your heart set on exploring a particular college.

Christ Church College

The most popular college amongst visitors thanks to its beautiful architecture and its many literary and film connections – tickets for Christ Church College are released each week including a multimedia tour. Click here to book.

Magdalen College

Another great (and slightly cheaper) option. The college even has its own deer park within its grounds – booking isn’t currently required and you can even get joint tickets with the Oxford Botanic Gardens.

Merton and Balliol

Two of the oldest colleges in Oxford, Merton and Balliol both have cheaper entry than some of their better-known fellows – although if you’re looking for a taste of Oxford college life without spending too much, others don’t charge at all.

Oxford Castle & Prison Tour

Spark everyone’s imagination on a guided tour of Oxford Castle and Prison. One of the top things to do in Oxford with kids who love history, the tour is led by costumed guides to bring the 1,000-year-old castle’s fascinating past to life in a fun and engaging way.

On the interactive tour, you’ll descend below ground to the candle-lit Norman crypt, step inside 18th-century prison cells, and climb 101 steps to the top of St George’s Tower for amazing panoramic views across the city.

Get discounted tickets to Oxford Castle if you book using my link on the tiqets website too.

And if you’re looking for somewhere unique to stay in Oxford with older kids, check out the Malmaison Hotel which sits within a renovated area of the castle’s Victorian prison.

Take a walking tour

One of the big joys of a visit to Oxford is wandering around its historic streets, spotting some of the loveliest buildings like the Radcliffe Camera and the Sheldonian Theatre, the famous Bridge of Sighs, as well as learning some of the city’s history.

Traipsing around in a standard group tour isn’t always going to be hugely entertaining with kids though… you can arrange your own private tour with Experience Oxfordshire, tailored to suit families – as well as a two-hour group walking tour.

Or the children’s walking tour from Explore Oxford tours is aimed at those visiting Oxford with kids, including a literary tour focusing on Harry Potter (scroll down for more), Alice in Wonderland, Narnia and more. If it’s CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein who your kids love, you can even find a walking tour focused on those two authors, or follow this Philip Pullman self-guided trail discovering Lyra’s Oxford.

You could also choose one led by a previous student at the university, like this walking tour of Oxford, especially if you’re visiting with older kids.

If you prefer to go at your own pace, download the Oxford Podcast Tour, created by two local historians, while younger kids will love the Treasure Map Trails, beautifully designed and illustrated maps which take you on a mini treasure hunt around the city.

You’ll find themed walking tours galore as well – along with Harry Potter and other literary walking tours, check out the Haunted Oxford ghost tour (best with tweens and teens).

Join a bus tour

Looking to save your legs as you explore? There is a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Oxford which is a fun option if you’re visiting with younger kids.

Realistically the city is designed for bikes and pedestrians rather than buses so you’re a little more limited as to where the bus can drive – but there’s a kids’ audio tour and tickets include two optional walking tours.

Harry Potter Oxford 

Oxford’s historic buildings helped inspire some of the designs for the first Harry Potter movies, as well as taking a starring role as one of the filming locations, so there’s plenty for fans to spot in the city.

Start at Christ Church college, whose own Tudor dining hall inspired the Great Hall at Hogwarts, while the staircase was used to film the entrance scene where Professor McGonagall meets Harry, Ron and Hermione.

New College cloisters were also used as the spot where Mad Eye Moody turned Draco Malfoy into a ferret – both colleges can be visited independently, although Christ Church needs to be prebooked.

The Divinity School at the Bodleian Library appears as the school’s infirmary, plus if you join a special tour, you can see into Duke Humfrey’s Library where Harry used his invisibility cloak to access the restricted section.

Check out my review of a Harry Potter tour in Oxford with kids

This 90-minute Harry Potter tour of Oxford includes entry to the Divinity School, as well as pointing out other city highlights, including the statue that looks like ‘Nearly Headless Nick’, and Turf Tavern Lane, which looks like Knockturn Alley.

Or there’s also a two-hour private Harry Potter walking tour available. If you’re visiting The Story Museum while you’re in the city, you can also pop into the Magic Common room with its Harry Potter theme.

For more great days out for Harry Potter fans, check out this post

Self-guided Alice in Wonderland Tour

Fans of Alice in Wonderland can follow in her footsteps in Oxford – and those of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), who was inspired to write the famous book after meeting Alice Liddell, the 10-year-old daughter of HG Liddell, then dean of Christ Church College.

The author lived and taught in Oxford for most of his life, and it’s easy to create your own self-guided Alice in Wonderland tour.

See if you can spot Alice in her iconic blue dress in one of the stained glass windows of Christ Church College’s main dining hall, where the real-life Alice and her sisters would have walked the hallways and gardens.

But there are locations that inspired other characters in Carroll’s book all across Oxford, such as the Dodo and white rabbit in the Museum of Natural History or the grave of Theophilus Carter in Holywell Cemetery, the tradesman who the Mad Hatter is thought to have been based on.

End your self-guided tour with a visit to Alice’s Shop close to Christ Church College to pick up some beautiful memorabilia.

Or for even more Alice-themed fun, look out for occasional Alice-themed afternoon teas at the Mad Hatter or try the Alice in Puzzleland escape room (for 8+) – the latter was a bit worn when we tried it, and not the easiest escape room with younger kids but still fun.

If you visit in early July for Alice’s Day, there are always extra celebrations taking place too.

Oxford Botanic Gardens

Escape the busy streets of Oxford’s historic city centre for a while and pay a visit to the peaceful oasis that is the Oxford Botanic Garden. 

Dating back to 1621, the garden is the oldest of its kind in Great Britain and one of the oldest in the world. There are numerous greenhouses and gardens for you to explore, featuring over 5,000 different plant species from across the planet.

There’s plenty to do for kids at the Oxford Botanic Garden too – younger children can follow the Garden Eye Spy trail, while older kids can learn about the many plants and what they’re used for on one of the seasonal themed trails.

You’ll also find plenty of family-friendly activities and events taking place throughout the school holidays. Fans of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy shouldn’t miss the bench in the Lower Garden, famously a meeting point for Will and Lyra.

Sister site Harcourt Arboretum is a 15-minute drive outside the city – see what we thought of visiting Harcourt Arboretum with a toddler

Port Meadow

Another great place to visit on a sunny day in Oxford with kids is lovely Port Meadow. One of the largest open green spaces in Oxford, Port Meadow runs alongside the River Thames just to the north of the city centre.

The large meadow is a lovely spot for taking a walk in the sunshine, stopping for a picnic, throwing a ball around, or going for a paddle in the river (in places).

Keep an eye out for the many cows and ponies grazing in the lush countryside around you.

Just north of Oxford train station, and not far from the pastel-coloured houses of the suburb of Jericho, it’s a short bus ride, or you can walk in around 20 minutes from the city centre.

Oxford’s best viewpoints

​​Known as the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ due to its beautiful architecture and the towers that dominate the city’s skyline, seeing Oxford from above is a must for visitors of any age – and there are several great viewpoints to choose from.

Carfax Tower

The remains of a 12th-century church, Carfax Tower is the symbolic centre of Oxford. Once the tallest building in Oxford, for a long time, nothing could be built higher than this tower, meaning it has some of the best views out across the city centre.

There are 99 steep steps to climb to reach the top of the tower. Tickets cost £4 for adults and £3 for children.

St Mary the Virgin Church

Another of the best views is from the tower of St Mary the Virgin Church on the High Street.

Climb the 127 steps to reach the top of the 13th-century tower and you’ll be greeted with spectacular views over the Oxford colleges below. Children need to be 8+ to climb the tower, and tickets cost £6.

Westgate Shopping Centre

Finally, for a free viewpoint, head to the roof terrace of Westgate Shopping Centre where you’ll find several restaurants with outdoor seating areas overlooking the iconic city skyline – including child-friendly options.

The Covered Market

Set in a historic building dating back to the 1770s, Oxford’s Covered Market is a great place for the whole family to take a wander around and grab a bite to eat.

Ben’s Cookies has long been one of my favourite treats, but you can also find some tempting sweet bakes at Hamblin Bread, then combine all of your favourite flavours in a custom milkshake at Moo-Moos. Make sure you turn up hungry!

It’s also home to many independent local traders selling everything from fresh produce to gifts, fashion and more – don’t miss the delicious cheeses at the Oxford Cheese Company (with samples to be tried too).

Eat ice cream

You’ll find ice cream at the Oxford Covered Market as well, at Iscream Gelateria, with lots of classic flavours as well as a few fun options like Lotus Biscoff and some great sorbets.

Or one of my own personal favourites is not far from the Ashmolean on Little Clarendon Street, where you’ll find the original branch of G & Ds – aka George & Davis’. Flavours change daily – how about Mango & Malibu, or the intriguingly named Golden Secret Returns.

There are two other locations now, including George & Danver on St Aldate’s near the Museum of Oxford, and George & Delila on Cowley Road.

The Board Game cafe

If your kids love board games, there are a whopping 2,700 different options in the game library at Thirsty Meeples (a meeple being the little figure you use to play some board games!)

The focus is on the games rather than the cafe element, but you can also get food and drink there while you play, plus there are game gurus to help you find the perfect option.

Perfect for a rainy day in Oxford with kids or if you need somewhere to rest your legs after walking.

There is a cover charge to enter (less if you’re buying food and drink), and standard booking slots last three hours – it’s worth reserving a table in advance to be on the safe side.

Headington Shark House

The Headington Shark is an unofficial Oxford landmark but one that’s likely to be a bit hit with kids – a large shark statue sticking out of the roof of a residential home in the suburb of Headington.

The unusual creation – real name Untitled 1986 – caused a divide in opinion among locals ever since it was built over 30 years ago but it’s certainly one of the most unusual things to do in Oxford with kids.

Seeing the shark doesn’t take long so is only worth visiting if you’re exploring Headington or driving through the area already – it’s around 15 minutes on the bus from central Oxford.

Although if you’re looking for a cool place to stay in Oxford (with lots of people coming to gawp), the Shark House is often available to rent – click here to book.

Oxford Ice Rink

Whether you’re visiting Oxford at Christmas (look out for the Christmas market if so) or just fancy a chilled-out day out with kids, Oxford Ice Rink is a fun activity to keep on the list.

There are general skating sessions as well as skate school, so it’s ideal for beginners as well as for those looking to improve their skills on the ice.

Open daily, you can also hire skates as part of admission – great for a rainy day in Oxford with kids too.

Blenheim Palace

The only non-royal country house in all of England to hold the title of palace, Blenheim Palace is around 20 minutes from Oxford, at Woodstock in the Oxfordshire countryside – really easy to combine with a trip to Oxford with kids.

Check out my review of a day out at Blenheim Palace with kids

Famous for being the birthplace and home of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, it’s also an incredibly child-friendly day out, including a great audio tour of the grand palace itself.

In the 2,000-acre estate, you’ll find immersive family exhibitions on the palace’s history, as well as sprawling gardens that feature a children’s play area, a two-mile hedge maze, a miniature train, butterfly house and pony trail for little ones, not to mention special events throughout the year.

There are regular special family events during school holidays too, as well as at Halloween and Christmas.

Oxford also makes a great base to explore the Cotswolds with kids, as well as being an easy day trip from London

*last updated 2025*

PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN OXFORD WITH KIDS

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Images: Bridge of Sighs/Ashmolean/punting/Christchurch/Botanic Garden/skyline/Blenheim Palace courtesy of Depositphotos; Headington Shark courtesy of Picfair; all others copyright MummyTravels

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