There’s more to Oxford than the
university with its dreaming spires, brainy students and even brainer dons.
This beautiful city has something to offer everyone, even the most demanding of
vistors – children. If you decide on Oxford as the destination for your next
family getaway, check out http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/book/oxford-hotels
for fantastic deals on spacious, comfortable family rooms that won’t break the
bank.
Woodstock Open Air Heated Pool
Perhaps it’s because we get to do it so
rarely, but there’s something really special about swimming outdoors in the UK.
Open from April to September, this open air pool
is well worth the short drive from the city to swim and splash around under the
(hopefully blue) sky. All that swimming will work up an appetite so pack a
picnic to enjoy afterwards. The postcard-perfect village of Woodstock is also
home to the magnificent Blenheim Palace, birthplace and ancestral home of Sir
Winston Churchill, so you can cunningly combine your swimming trip with an
educational activity.
South Oxfordshire Adventure Playground
Soap
is something many children shy away from, but not when it stands for South
Oxfordshire Adventure Playground. This wooden, outdoor facility is designed to
let kids run free, get mucky, play together and challenge themselves in the
great outdoors. It’s designed with 7 – 15 year olds in mind but under 7s are
allowed in as long as they’re supervised at all times. It’s a fantastic day out
and all that activity will guarantee they’ll be ready for a good night’s sleep
at the end of it.
Magadalen Bridge Boat House
A gentle drift down the river on a
sunny afternoon must be the quintessential Oxford experience. Punting with
children in tow could well be a recipe for disaster, so why not hire a rowboat
for £20 an hour to experience the tranquility of the river and the lovely views
of the ancient university buildings. Pack some strawberries and lemonade and
sit back and let Dad do the hard work while the rest of you simply relax.
Harry Potter In Oxford
Tour company Footprint Tours offer this
experience, which is sure to enchant Harry Potter fans, aged 6 to 106. It’s not
an official tour but when the average child first sets foot in the grand
university buildings of Oxford the first thought they’re likely to have is
‘Hogwarts.’ This tour gives you the chance to visit Hogwarts Hospital and walk
the halls of Hogwarts (sort of). Bring your broom and your imagination and get
ready to hear lots about Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Chronicles of
Narnia, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings too – all timeless children’s
classics penned in Oxford.
You’re unlikely to run out of fun
things to do in Oxford but if you do, remember it’s also well stocked with soft
play centres, cinemas, bowling alleys, fast food outlets, parks and all the
usual kid staples. But in a city with so many unique family attractions, you’re
unlikely to need to resort to these to keep the kids amused.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post
