Would you like to explore Oxford with children? This famous English university city is an ideal destination for a day trip or a weekend. There is certainly enough to fill an interesting itinerary for the whole family! We have visited Oxford with the children several times, so I wanted to give you an overview of what you could do there. In general, I am always keen to show that there is more to England than London :-). Oxford is a pleasant, manageable English city with plenty of historical and cultural interest. You can discover all the essentials on foot. I love Oxford for its architecture and its many free museums.
What to do in Oxford with children
Admire the architecture in central Oxford
The Bridge of Sighs: yes, Venice is not the only city with a Bridge of Sighs! Oxford’s version may not have the charm of the canals, but it is a beautiful structure:
Radcliffe Camera: you will pass this university building with its magnificent classical architecture. It is not easy to get tickets to see the interior, which is accessible only on specific guided tours (see my section about the Old Bodleian Library).
The Old Bodleian Library
This is the famous historic library of the University of Oxford. The 30-minute guided tour gives you access to Duke Humfrey’s Library and, when it is open, the Divinity School, the University’s historic teaching room. The Divinity School was also used as the hospital wing and the room where the students practised dancing in the Harry Potter films.
You then go upstairs into the library itself. I love the wood panelling! The tour is short, but it is beautiful.
Please note: children must be aged 11 or over to join a Bodleian Library tour. It is also best to plan ahead, as tours are very popular and tickets are released according to a set schedule, with some held back for sale on the day. Check the official website:
Old Bodleian Library.
We visited just before Christmas, hence the tree in the pretty courtyard.
The streets of central Oxford: you will walk along Broad Street and Cornmarket Street, among others, and come across many university buildings throughout the city (see below).
Next, it is time to visit some free museums! Oxford has plenty of excellent museums for the whole family.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Housed in a remarkable neo-Gothic Victorian building, Oxford’s natural history museum is like a little sibling to its London counterpart. The great central court beneath its glass roof is striking. Young children are especially fascinated by the dinosaur and other animal skeletons. The first time I visited, I was with Ticoeur when he was five, and he loved it. We have since returned as a family, and it is always a visit that everyone enjoys. Admission is free.
The Pitt Rivers Museum
In the same building as the Museum of Natural History, you will find this impressive collection of ethnographic and archaeological objects: masks, clothing, weapons, jewellery and other items from around the world. It is fascinating! A magnificent room is filled with wonders arranged by theme. There is something for everyone, and the displays are incredibly dense. This is another free museum, so make the most of it!
The Ashmolean Museum
It is a little like a smaller, Oxford version of London’s British Museum, and admission is free. Historically, the museum is very important: it opened in 1683 as Britain’s first public museum and the world’s first university museum. It has an excellent collection of art and archaeology arranged by region. Ticoeur recommends the Ancient Greece and Egypt galleries. I particularly enjoyed the Asian galleries. Allow around 1 hour 30 minutes just to see the highlights. These are clearly signposted in the museum, and you can also pick up a list at reception.
The History of Science Museum
Just a short walk from the Old Bodleian Library is this small museum devoted to the history of science, also free. It is not my favourite museum, but I enjoyed seeing the blackboard on which Einstein wrote equations during a lecture about the expanding universe. The children liked seeing the object that inspired Lyra’s alethiometer in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials books. For anyone unfamiliar with the story, this magical instrument reveals the truth. If your children are fans of the books, that is one more reason to visit Oxford, where part of the story takes place.
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The University of Oxford
You will encounter university buildings throughout the city: Oxford currently has 36 colleges and three societies that operate much like colleges. Christ Church and Magdalen are among the best known. Here are a few photographs taken outside university buildings. We did not visit the interiors because admission can be quite expensive, and we plan to explore them when the children are older and we attend university open days. They are already very beautiful from the outside!
Attend Choral Evensong performed by university choirs
One way to see the inside of the cathedrals or chapels of some colleges free of charge is to attend Choral Evensong and listen to their excellent choirs. Services are often held at 6pm, but check the current calendar for each venue. At Christ Church Cathedral, Evensong normally takes place at 6pm each evening, although the choir performing varies. College choirs generally follow university term dates, while visiting choirs may sing during vacations.
A trip on the River Thames
Yes, the Thames also flows through Oxford! During my first stay in Oxford, I took a cruise with Oxford River Cruises. You pass through a few locks aboard a charming English boat. I loved the bucolic, green and romantic scenery—so British! The peace and quiet of nature… A dream! It is also fun for children.
Alice in Wonderland and Oxford
Oxford is where Lewis Carroll created Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. He lived here and drew inspiration from real people: Alice was the daughter of the dean of Christ Church. Every year, an Alice’s Day festival is held in Oxford in early July. Ticoeur and I took part in 2015 to celebrate the book’s 150th anniversary. Each year, Alice’s Day features parades and plenty of people dressed as Alice!
If you are not visiting for Alice’s Day—which is by no means essential—you can still visit a little shop dedicated to Alice and buy a few souvenirs: Alice’s Shop, 83 St Aldate’s, Oxford.
Oxford with children: our favourite places
Here are a few places for lunch or dinner in Oxford with children:
- Bbuona Pinsa Bar: excellent small pizzas, just like in Italy. Simple, inexpensive and effective!
- Najar’s Place: just a small street-food stand a short walk from the Ashmolean Museum. Its speciality? Generously filled, inexpensive falafel wraps!
- Banana Tree: a good restaurant serving Asian specialities in a pleasant setting.
- The King’s Arms. This pub is just outside Oxford, beside the water. It is more suitable if you have a car and want to experience the atmosphere of a country pub on a beautiful summer’s day. The view over the River Thames is superb. The menu features British pub classics—fish & chips, burgers, grilled chicken and more—as well as a children’s menu. The King’s Arms, Church Road, Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford.
Where to stay in Oxford
I have not yet found a great-value option right in the heart of the city. Staying in central Oxford is often as expensive as London, and there is not much choice! Most of the time, we have visited Oxford just for the day and have not stayed overnight. If you are travelling by car, it is easier: just a few kilometres outside the city, you can find better accommodation options, such as this typically English pub 8 km from Oxford: The Coach and Horses (book two double rooms, as there are no family rooms).
For a more upmarket option, we once stayed at the voco Oxford Thames, an IHG Hotel. The rural riverside setting is romantic. I particularly liked the large lounge with exposed beams in the entrance hall. The children enjoyed the courtyard garden and the heated indoor swimming pool. In short, it is a lovely place for a special treat!
How to get to Oxford
- From London, take the train from Paddington station—yes, the one associated with our favourite little bear! Do not forget to show the children the Paddington statues. The journey to Oxford takes around one hour, with the fastest trains taking approximately 52 minutes.
- By car, it is approximately 3 hours from Dover, 2 hours from London and 1 hour 30 minutes from our home :-). If you are travelling by car, I recommend combining your visit to Oxford with a stay in the Cotswolds.
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So, are you tempted by a family trip to Oxford? Read my article about a day in Cambridge too.
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