day out in oxford

[nellieloula]

Hello - does anyone have any top tips for a day out in Oxford with a 5 yr old boy and 3 yr old girl? Thanks!

On a dry and not freezing day we enjoyed the delights of www.milletsfarmcentre.com/
Free to look at the animals and play on the play equipment - and a nice cafe/restaurant.

Likewise Rectory Farm www.kbsuk.com/demo/rectoryfarm/index.asp?Category=%20Vegetables

Hope that's of some limited use.

Thanks Shivster. Def one to look into!

The Natural History museum in oxford is great with children, and the castle area often has things going on in the courtyard area.

Nice kids film showings on weekend morning (sat or sun not sure which) at Phoenix picture house in Jericho area (and nice chilled out cafe opposite for lunch/drink)

Pitt Rivers Museum is the best museum in the world!

definitely pitt rivers, we went last year, so much to see. Am I right that you go in the Natural History Museum and it's at the back?

we went to the castle and then had a very short queue to get into Jamie's for lunch.

we parked in the park and ride and got the double decker into the centre.

Pitt Rivers Museum.

Followed by the covered market, and hot chocolate/ice cream at G&D's, and browsing in Blackwells (I assume there is still a children's section even though the wonderful children's bookshop closed decades ago?)

Optional rioting in the parks if sunny.

I'd second the Natural History Museum and the Pitt Rivers. My two are the same age as your's and particularly the Natural History. They also like joining us for coffee in Blackwells!

Stealth, yes, Blackwells still have a pretty good children's section! I send DH in there occasionally as he goes in there EVERY day for coffee after lunch (his one 'luxury')!

at your DH, pigeonpie - that sounds like my idea of heaven - I love that place.

well, TBH, it might have to merge with G&Ds to be absolute heaven [declaration of bias - I occasionally coached a (incompetent but cheerful) crew which G and D of G&Ds rowed in when they were graduate students]

I haven't thought about G&Ds for aaages. Think the DSs will be old enough to go there this summer hols - hoorah.

Yes, second the suggestion of Natural History Museum and Pitt Rivers (they are essentially in the same building so you can move between them with ease).

Blackwells Bookshop has a good children's section for chilling out in a while. There is a large toy department in Boswells for browsing (not much out for playing with though)

Top tip for lunch: if you are going for a pub lunch after the museums, walk back into town down St Giles. The Eagle and Child opens on a Saturday at 11.30 - you can't order food until 12 but you can be in, sitting down (with a bag of crisps if you're us ) and doorstepping the bar to get the first order in if a prompt lunch is necessary.

mrsgboring - now I'm getting hungry! Haven't been to the Eagle and Child for ages either. (note to self - we really must get out more!)

There have to be more interesting venues for lunch than the Eagle and Child, surely? Especially with DC too young to be even faintly impressed by the Hobbit connections? My vote would go to Jamies (although possibly not at a weekend) or the noodle bar on Gloucester Green, or the cage on Walton Street which snail1973 mentioned, or any of the places in the castle, or......

Yes, but they do do reasonably priced pretty edible food! Just remembering their 'Mushroom Pepperpot'!

Yes, there are of course more interesting venues for lunch (top of Ashmolean is good and interesting and much less hyped than Jamie). But IME of children and city sightseeing, if you want them to walk lots and look at lots of different things, then you need somewhere reliable to sit down for lunch where you can eat something and chips to keep them going.

Nicer than The Eagle and Child is Browns and that's on the way back from the museums too. But you can sometimes end up with a horrendous wait for a table and they don't take bookings. (Had a bad experience of waiting there once)

What is G&D's?

G&Ds

1. Don't drive: plenty of park and ride to choose from
2. Nat hist museum as above (but no cafe, be warned
3. 2 is conveniently close to University parks with endless space and lots of ducks, assuming the weather's up to it.
4. Lots of cafes, all can get very busy (I personally wouldn't even try and go near Jamie's on a saturday...), worth getting anywhere early. George street (by bus station, Jamie's is here) is full of pasta/pizza type places.
5. Museum of oxford worth a visit if you're hiding from the weather!

Sausage restaurant nr Pitt Rivers

Intersting, inexpensive, unusual, tasty

I quite like a wander round the Covered Market - some nice cafes in there though might be lacked..
Botanical Gardens if fine.
Castle is good for a selection of cafes and a bit of space.
Or Giraffe is good for children imo.

Ahh, I thought it might be the ice cream place, just couldn't remember what it was called.

Natural History Museum and University parks - parking at Water Eaton Park and Ride can be an utter pig, park at Norham Gardens and walk through University Parks. The Nat Hist museum is less than 10 mins walk.

catinthehat - EXCELLENT call on the banger place, I'd forgotten about that! Menu is making me hungry

If going to Pitt Rivers though, Park and Ride is the only way (unless you're coming by train, it's only 10 mins from the station). The nearest car parks are bloody extortionate!

If you've got clubcard vouchers, Oxford Castle is one of the places you can get vouchers for.

Oh, and if you're wanting to travel a bit further, and the weather is nice (hey, these things happen!) then Cotswold Wildlife Park is brilliant.

harpsichord - what's the restaurant/cafe called on the upper level of the covered market.... Rosemary's maybe? Think it's near the big cake shop..

Georgina's.