I’m always really excited about the summer holidays, but they come with their own set of challenges. It’s a lot of time to all spend together and it costs an awful lot of money. To help out here’s my guide to the best free and cheap things to do with the kids and family days out in Oxfordshire.
There’s so much going on I’ve split the counties into separate blogs otherwise this post would be really long, read all of those here. Oxfordshire in particular is full of great things to do with the kids and cheap family days out. If you want to know what’s on in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire just click the links. Keep checking the website or subscribe to the WhatsApp channel get the updates right to your inbox.
If you think I’m missing somewhere either leave a comment below or get in touch via contact@freetimewiththekids.com
This is just a guide to the summer events. You can find all of my reviews of family days out and activities in Oxfordshire here.
There are FREE play and activity events run by the Oxfordshire Play Association across Oxfordshire during the summer holidays. There will be face painting, body zorbing, giant bubbles, tricky trails biking and archery tag. The events will be at Bicester (29th July), Witney (1st August), Carterton (27th July), Eynsham (26th July), Rose Hill (20th July), Wheatley & Holton (13th July), Abingdon (6th July), Benson (29th June), Didcot (22nd June), Littlemore (15th June), Banbury (14th August), Henley (13th August), Berinsfield (6th August), Heyford Park (3rd August), Banbury (31st July) and Faringdon (2nd August)
What’s on in Oxford
Oxford’s Museum of Natural History (the review is here) has got a packed and varied program of free or cheap family activities over the summer. There are family friendly Sundays, the opportunity to handle fossils, crafts, trails, specimen handling opportunities and dedicated Autism friendly openings (must be pre-booked). Don’t forget to pop into the Pitt Rivers Museum (the review is here) at the back as well.
Waterperry Gardens are running a summer sculpture trail over the summer holidays. Enjoy exploring the ornamental gardens using directions and clues to follow the sculpture trail, this year featuring 10 bespoke pieces, hidden across every corner of the gardens, ready to be discovered by eager young visitors. £4.50 per child includes compass and prize! 24th July – 1st September. Read my review here. Plus they have got various performances throughout the summer. The Oxford Storytelling Festival is on the 23rd – 25th August (with options for camping over the weekend for the full festival)
Science Oxford (reviewed here) are hosting science family open days Saturday during the summer holidays. Visit the exploration zone with lots of hands-on exhibits, try out lots of experiments and explore the woodland. Session times apply. £7.50 per person. They also have pond dipping on the 17th August. Book online.
The Museum of Oxford is holding lots of family friendly events during the summer holidays. There’s the chance to make a magazine or comic (ages 11-16), archaeology family fun days, storytelling workshops, theatre shows and craft workshops.
The Oxfordshire museum has got activities taking place almost every day during the summer holidays! There’s arts, music sessions, story time and more. All activities are free.
The Story Museum in Oxford are running holiday courses for children aged 8-12. You can either book for just one day, or all five. Their brand new “Here be Dragons” exhibition co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless opens on the 13th July and will be open throughout the summer holidays. There’s also their regular comic club, lego master builders club and numerous performances and story-telling sessions during the holidays. You can learn about all their events here.
Sutton Courteney Nature Reserve has a summer nature trail on the 3rd, 5th, 6th August (£5 per child, pre-booking required). Their big family day out is on the 10th August is £8 per child and £2 per adult. There’s a toddlers Teddy Bear’s picnic on the 22nd & 24th August
What’s on in South Oxfordshire during the summer holidays
Wallingford Museum has family archaeology day on the 20th July. Free with admission (£6 per adult, kids go free). Throughout July and August there are family drop-in craft sessions.
Blenheim Palace (reviewed here) in Oxfordshire have made significant changes to their summer events this year. There’s an AR trail in the Adventure Playground that’s all about Shaun the Sheep. Plus you can now buy an annual pass that includes admission to the adventure playground. It’s £51 more than a normal annual pass, but with one session in the playground costing a family of 4 £24 you only need to go twice to make your money back! Other than that there’s no main event in the gardens during the summer.
Millets Farm (reviewed here) have got various free things to do; the animal walkway, play area and Phoebe’s woods. Plus there’s also a Maize Maze (£8 per adult, £9.50 per child. Reviewed here), Sprouts play barn (reviewed here), PYO and Falconry Centre (now called Millets Wildside) (reviewed here). Their teddy bear’s picnic from the 29th-31st July. There are productions of As you like it on the 7th August and Angelica Sprocket’s Pockets on the7th & 8th. Don’t forget the new crazy golf is also open now.
Grey’s Court have a summer of play trail during the holidays until the 3rd September. Free with admission. You can read my review of Grey’s Court here.
The River and Rowing Museum in Henley have got their summer of sport event this summer with something different going on each week. (Charges apply to some activities). They also have a work and play holiday club each Wednesday where you get to work in their cafe whilst the kids are doing art sessions in the museum (primary aged children only, £26 per child)
It’s a wild summer at Tumblestone Hollow from the 20th July – 1st September. There’s nature walks, story-telling sessions and a Musical Tree. You can read my full review here.
There are free Family Xplorer events across South Oxfordshire during the summer holidays. Locations include Shrivenham, Didcot, Abingdon, Cholsey, Chinnor & Kingston Bagpuize. It’s a family friendly fun navigation challenge that is suitable for all ages.
There’s also girls’ football (ages 5-11) in Abingdon, Faringdon and Wantage. Free event.
Didcot Garden Party is running from the on several dates in August. It’s a series of free events including craft session, DJs, shows, dance workshops and more. Suitable for ages 4-7 as 8-12.
Wimbledon pickleball 30th July (White Horse Leisure Centre), 6th August (Faringdon) and 13th August (Wantage). Free, all ages.
Family sports fun days, free events. 26th July (Aston Tirrold), 9yh August (Cholsey), 23rd August (Chinnor), 27th August (Wallingford), 30th August (Chalgrove and Watlington).
Born to move, family fitness sessions. Grouped by ages from 3 – 18 years. Free events. 29th July (Abingdon), 30th July (Oxford), 7th August (Didcot), 12th August (Abingdon), 23rd August (Thame), 28th August (Henley).
Multi-sports sessions, ages 3-12, free. 7th August (Botley), 15th August (Cholsey), 21st August (Berinsfield). Cricket & rounders, 31st July, Crowmarsh Gifford.
What’s on in NOrth Oxfordshire during the summer holidays
There’s a free wild Bicester event on the 3rd August at Langford Community Orchard.
Cogges Manor Farm (read my review here) have a busy summer planned. All of the details are on their website but they have got crafts, activities, scavenger hunts, junk modelling, a teddy bear’s picnic and the chance to meet the animals.
Upton House (reviewed here) are running several summer activities. There’s a walk in the woods summer trail (£2 per child), a hands-on art trail (free). There’s crafts every Tuesday, Wildlife Wednesdays and Story Time Thursdays as well (charges apply for some activities)
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Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook