Family days out can quickly add up and put a serious dent on your bank balance. There are lots of free places to visit in Oxfordshire with kids. But what about a special treat that won’t add up to £100 or more!
The family days out and activities below come to £50 or under for 2 adults + 2 kids. If you have younger kids or visit off peak, it works out even cheaper for a few places. Book online in advance to save and don’t forget to pack a picnic and snacks to keep costs down during the day. There are some great value days out nearby in Buckinghamshire too
1. Treasure Map Trails (Abingdon, Oxford and Banbury) £4.99 to £6.99
Discover your home town in a different way or explore further afield with a Treasure Map Trail. These beautifully illustrated treasure maps are based on the town’s real road layout so you can find their way around, but feature a fantasy theme to add to the fun. Your challenge is to find treasures that include statues, sculptures, carvings and quirky signs. Maps are A3 glossy posters with the second side including facts about the town, clues and details of the Treasure Map Trails academy.
Find Treasure Map Trails here and get 10% off with the code REDKITEDAYS
This contains an affiliate link which means they give me a little bit if you click on the link and buy the map. Our Red Kite Days Bucks editor has tried them out (she paid full price for the map and gave it a thumbs up so I’m happy to share as a recommendation)
2. Rectory Farm PYO (near Oxford) – £7.40
Pick Your Own is a good value activity with the added bonus that you can eat what you spend. One of my favourites is Rectory Farm and you can’t beat the taste of freshly picked fruit and veg.
2024 pricing for PYO strawberries is 7.50kg and this is reduced to £7.40/kg if you bring your own punnet. Fancy making some jam? There are further reductions to £7.25kg as part of quantity discount.
The added bonus to Rectory Farm if you have younger kids is that they have a small free play park too which extends your trip out.
3. Day out with miniature train ride at Cutteswlowe Park – £9.20 (includes parking)
Cutteslowe Park is great for a day out with great play parks, lots of space to run around, splash pad in the summer and duck pond. Parking charges range up to £3.20 4+ hours and there miniature railway is great fun and only £1.50 per person with under 2s going free.
4. Hinksey Outdoor Open Air Pool – £18.60
Open from April to September and heated, Hinksey Outdoor Pool in Oxford is a great trip out. You can extend your trip out by visiting the Hinksey Play Park before or after or walking around the wider park and feed the ducks.
If you’re an Oxford resident (living in OX1 – OX4) rates are discounted further. Bonus Swim – £2.10pp (see more at www.oxford.gov.uk/bonuscard)
Hinksey Outdoor Swimming Pool Review
5. Dinton Pastures Country Park Pedaloes (Hurst) – £26
OK so not technically in Oxfordshire but it’s a great value day out. They have a brilliant free play park (just need to pay for parking) and great walks around their lakes. However, if you want more for your day out, you can hire pedaloes for £26 which take up to 5 passengers.
Dinton Pastures Country Park Review
You can also book a lake access pass to launch your own paddleboard, windsurf, dingy or kayak and pay per boat rather than per person.
6. Cogges Manor Farm (Witney) – £29.00 (includes up to 3 children)
Meet the friendly farm animals, explore the grounds, clamber around the wooden playground fort and fly down the zip wire. Cogges is a lovely place to visit with kids and has the 13th century manor house as a beautiful backdrop and fascinating visit.
7. River & Rowing Museum (Henley on Thames) – £30
The River and Rowing Museum in Henley is a wonderful place to learn all about rivers, rowing and the history of Henley as well as their wonderfully immersive The Wind in the Willows exhibit. Located on the banks of the Thames, next to the weeping willows and just a short walk from Henley, it’s a beautiful place to spend the day. There are lots of activities to keep kids of all ages entertained including interactive exhibits, art and craft projects and trails. Look out for special events during the school holidays too.
Side by side, Mill Meadows Adventure Play Park and Mill Meadows toddler play park are just a short walk from the museum.
8. Science Oxford Family Day (Oxford) – £30
Much loved by my kids, we’re regulars at the Science Oxford family days. A unique indoor outdoor attraction that is as much fun for grown ups as for kids. The family ticket includes 2 hours in the hands on Exploration Zone where you can experiment with the interactive exhibits.
The family days ticket also include all day access to the outdoor areas with the super fun Water Lab as well as ponds and 15 acres of woodland to explore. Pick up an Explorer Backpack and trail map and see what wildlife you can spot.
Science Oxford Family Day Review
9. Millets Maize Maze – £35.00
Running each summer, it’s more than just a maze at Millets Farm. Packed with lots of great activities for all ages, you certainly get your money’s worth. There’s a great area for little ones right at the start with ride on tractors, a big shaded sandpit, mini farm for great imaginative play, skittles and more. Of course there’s the maize maze to explore with 3 options depending on the ages of your kids. There’s also large go karts for bigger kids too, straw bales to clamber on and an assault course.
Millets Farm Maize Maze 2024 includes a review from last year
10. Fairytale Farm (near Chipping Norton) – £41.36 (cheaper weekday term time)
Not far from Chipping Norton, Fairytale Farm is a little more unusual compared to it’s counterparts and that’s part of the appeal. A sensory and learning wonderland for all the family, mixing classic fairy tales, animals and adventure play. It was the first UK attraction where children with additional needs come first in the design and layout. They run great events every school holiday making it a good value day out with kids.
11. Bibury Trout Farm – £41.50
Bibury Trout Farm is set in the idyllic Cotswold village of Bibury, just on the edge of Gloucestershire. It’s the oldest working trout farm and a unique place to visit for a family day out. A family ticket also includes a fish food and it’s great fun feeding the trout. Trout fishing is extra but you pay by weight and do get to keep what you catch.
12. Tumblestone Hollow (Stonor near Henley) – £44
Tumblestone Hollow is the perfect family place to escape into a magical world of adventure and exploration. The adventure playground has numerous routes and pathways to explore as well as the double twisty slide. Little ones aren’t left out either with their own dedicated space which includes a working water pump which my son loves.
13. Gravitee Golf (Oxford) – £47.60 if children are under 12, £53.60 if over
It’s always good to have a few fun indoor activities up your sleeve for a rainy day. This out of this world indoor mini golf has two themed options and is great for a variety of ages.
14. The Story Museum (Oxford) – £56
Prepare to be enchanted as you enter The Story Museum in Oxford. Bang the gong three times and enter the whispering woods. Armed with headphones on and magic wands to activate the different stories this is a totally immersive experience.
If you have pre-school children then Small Worlds is for you and it’s cheaper too. Stepping into Small Worlds at The Story Museum is like entering a magical storybook world crafted especially for the very young.
Family Attraction Annual Pass
If you’re close to an attraction that has an annual pass, these can often work out great value over the year.
Buy a house, park and gardens pass for Blenheim Palace and you can convert it to an annual pass for no extra cost.
Cotswold Farm Park have various different membership packages that are valid for 12 months and grant free entry the Farm Park during their open season.
Cogges has been mentioned as their day tickets are great value but you can save even more with an annual season ticket which often also provides access on selected events for free or at a discount.
A family National Trust membership costs £159 for a year which averages just over £13 a month (June 2024). With amazing places to visit all of the country, we take our pass with us when we go on holidays too.
