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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Christmas break in Oxford... what to do?

16 replies

Ingles2 · 16/09/2014 08:30

I'm so excited..have just booked a christmas hotel break in Oxford :D
this is completely on a whim and I don't know anything about Oxford at all.. so.. we are there Xmas eve, day and boxing day.. any suggestions on what to do, see? Where to walk?, anything that'll make our xmas break special? we are a family of 4 btw.. 2 teen boys (13/15)
Thanks

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Ingles2 · 16/09/2014 14:22

Bump.. Does anyone live in/ near Oxford and want to recommend places to go? Please?

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amy83firsttimer · 16/09/2014 18:33

Ooh, if it's cold enough park meadow floods then freezes and you can skate on it.

stealthsquiggle · 16/09/2014 18:35

If it's dry, lots of places. Stroll round the parks, across port meadow along the tow path. Not sure how much will be open over Christmas for wet weather options though.

velocity1 · 16/09/2014 18:47

The boys might enjoy the Pitt Rivers Museum, full of weird and wonderful stuff, not sure what days it is open over Christmas though. There are some wonderful walks along the river,various parks, Magdalen College deer park, and if you think your boys would sit through it, I guess the panto at Oxford Playhouse would be an option Smile

amy83firsttimer · 16/09/2014 19:08

Port meadow sorry, not park meadow!!!

stealthsquiggle · 16/09/2014 19:09

Depending what your boys are into, it might be worth checking out what is going on at the ice rink?

Finnellajoe · 16/09/2014 21:14

Where are you staying? The theatre (Playhouse and New) might be worth a look. The Castle complex is good for meals/drinks and used to be a prison so may have walks you can do. Will you have a car? Blenheim palace is 15 mins or so from Oxford and nice for walks but only the grounds are open I think. I wonder if any of the colleges will do a carol service? That would be lovely on Christmas Eve.

Ingles2 · 16/09/2014 21:30

Thanks everyone :) We're staying at the Malmaison which I gather is central and yes we've got a car.... A carol service would be fab though! and I'll have a look at the ice rink too. Any suggestions on websites to keep an eye for xmas events?

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CeliaBowen · 16/09/2014 21:32

Malmaison IS the Castle that finella was mentioning. Used to be a prison!

OverAndAbove · 16/09/2014 21:35

Oh the Malmaison is excellent and really easy to walk to places. See if you can get into a service at the cathedral!

stealthsquiggle · 16/09/2014 21:37

Malmaison is very cool. There should be plenty to do without needing to drive, TBH.

stealthsquiggle · 16/09/2014 21:40

You'll be needing the Daily Information (dailyinfo.co.uk) - guide to pretty much everything even if the website is crap

Ingles2 · 16/09/2014 21:41

oh brilliant! that's great news..:D mind you I just looked at the pitt rivers museum and it's right up my boys street..

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Ingles2 · 16/09/2014 21:42

thanks stealth and everyone.. I can't believe I'm planning this 3 months in advance.. I'm normally very bah humbug! Smile

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BirdingWidow · 17/09/2014 13:39

If your family likes Harry Potter there are quite a few venues that were used for location shooting. One place that is lovely to see is the Bodleian Library. You can look around Radcliffe Square and wander into the main quad (off Catte Street / Broad Street behind Sheldonian) and that is free. It is also possible to pay to get into the Divinity School and also take a tour of Duke Humfret's Library above it); the former is used in HP films as the Infirmary and the library is the hogwarts Library. Very beautiful in their own right though and the tour is good (and not too long). I am biased though as I got married in the Divinity School earlier this year!

Probably worth checking ahead to see if they are open on Christmas Eve / Boxing Day.

[http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/visit/individual/divinityschool]

On the HP theme, a bit was also filmed around Christ Church (and the Howarts dining room is a replica of Christ Church dining hall).

I second getting into an evensong on Christmas Eve if you can. dailyInfomis your best bet to find which services are on, or you could call ahead to the likely colleges (New, Magdalen, Christ Church but also the smaller ones). And also the walk on Port Meadow on Christmas Day when not much will be open.

There are also some lovely fuggly pubs to go to which would probably be a good pit stop in the day with your boys - check out The Bear Inn on Alfred Street, just behind the High Street, for an amazing collection of cut-off ties and very cosy.

You may need to pay a few quid to get in and probably not open on Christmas Day at least but Magdalen College Deer Park (accessed through the college) is lovely.

I'll keep thinking - you'll need to check opening times though as most places will close for Christmas Day at least.

KnittedJimmyChoos · 17/09/2014 18:51

WOODSTOCK gorg village, relaly lovely, access the cotswolds, village up on gorg village v xmassy.

lovely pub by river just outside oxford with peackcockcs.

however i prefer cambirhde

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