oxford or close by, fun stuff to do for 2.5, 7, 9 yr olds.

[dandycandyjellybean]

Oxford is half way for me and my sister. We want to meet in the hols for the kids to get together and do something. Anybody got any ideas? Probably more focus on the younger ages, as 9 yr old likes to 'mommy'.

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There's a couple of indoor play places, one in Abingdon (Snakes & Ladders) and there's one in Oxford at the Kassam stadium, there's also bowling and a cinema there. Pitt rivers musuem is good but might not hold the younger one. there are usually childrens activities on. Blenhiem palace (Woodstock outside Oxford)has nice park land, there's a minature railway, childrens play area, maze, butterfly house. You can pay to just do the grounds. Depending on how long you are planning on being together there's Millets farm near Southmoor. It's a pick your own farm with a few animals, small play area, garden centre& gift shop. In the summer there's a maize maze, bouncy castle, trampolines, you have to pay to use this part but you can come & go as you please. I took my 2 dc 13 & 10 last summer and we were there for about 4 hours. We stayed right up until they closed.

Bit south of Oxford (nearer to Reading) but Beale Park used to be fun.

[Disclaimer: I have not lived near there for nearly 5 years.]

My DC liked the Natural History museum. Lots of skeletons...

Snakes and Ladders a bit grim IMO, though God knows I've been there a fair few times .

Good weather? Hinksey Pool - outdoor pool with shallow entry and small amount of grass to sit on. Is lovely but a tad more expensive than other pools. Take proof of children's age to get free entry I think for all the children (you will prob have to fill in forms for this). Has place to buy chips and ice creams.

Nicer but further from Oxford is Abbey Meadows in Abingdon. I HIGHly recommend this. Outdoor pool with more space than Hinksey; free 'splashpark' which always seems to work (the Hinksey one has been closed for 2 years ); nice playground; lots of space; river views; and a Waitrose within walking distance if you get hungry

Bad weather? I'd say think about Modern Art Oxford as it is small and has a GREAT cafe [shallow emoticon] and is just along the road from George & Davis ice-cream parlous, plus the colleges and all that. And just down the road from the library. And there is a Sainsburys round the corner [fount of all supermarket knowledge emoticon]

Or second the Pitt Rivers, 2.5 is OK for the Natural History bit, Pitt Rivers is inside that one. It's open only from 12 usually though.

Yes Beale park is good, crazy golf, animals, train, play park, paddling pool.

There's also crazy golf & nice river walks at the Abbey Meadows, Abingdon.

Cutteslowe park has crazy golf, croquet and a lovely miniature railway (ride-on), as well as lots of open space, playground etc. If wet, Living Rainforest 20 mins down A34 provides huge greenhouses with plants/ monkeys/ birds.

I have taken my 2.5 yo round Pitt Rivers. He likes to charge around the very interesting space looking at the Victorian gratings, riding in the lifts and opening drawers. All good. Cross through to Lamb and Flag or Eagle and Child for lunch.

Totally recommend Abbey Meadows too.

Millets Farm, just outside Abingdon has free animals to look at, playground, sandpit, ride on tractor things, garden centre cafe and shops. In summer there is a Maize Maze with bouncy castles etc. for an entry charge. Garden centre has fish inside.

Cogges Manor Farm (near Witney so a way out) is great. Millets Farm Centre is also good (and that's free). Over the summer (July-August) Millets also has a really good Maize Maze (although you need to pay for that).

Ice skating in Oxpens Road rink?