Tips for two nights in Oxford with kids

[BretonStripe]

We're looking at booking somewhere like the Travelodge Pear Tree (£46 per night but no restaurant or breakfast, no free parking) or an airbnb (ones with two bedrooms and free parking are around £110+ per night, and include breakfast) for two nights during half term.

Idea is to dump the car and use buses to get to the various museums. Kids are 4 and 7.

Has anyone got any useful tips or done this before please?

Consider the Travelodge on the Abingdon Road? Might be very slightly closer (though no bus lane on the abongdon road so slower to get in) but there is a playground very nearby and easier access to the river if you fancy walking in one day. On that bit of the river is also the Iffley Farmhouse pub which i really like and has a big pub garden. Iffley lock is nice, and fun to watch boats go through it.

Further up the Abingdon road is the ice rink and the Westgate shopping centre. The latter is just a mall, but if you follow signs for the cinema you get to the top floor which has lots of chainy but nice restaurants all with THE best views of the oxford skyline. The westgate has the oxford central library if needed.

Also near that end in the centre is Modern Art Oxford which is bonkers but fantastic. Check what's on, some if it is very child friendly, some actively unsuitable.

Also near the Abingdon road is Christchuch (harry potter dining hall, charles dodgson's college, picture gallery).

Having said that, the Museum of Natural History, the Pitt Rivers and the University Parks are much more accessible from the Peartree end.

Daily Info is the best source for listings

Havd a wonderful time

Given how hideously pricy parking can be in and around Oxford I'd be inclined to spend the extra for the AirBnB, especially if it's in the city. Dumping the car will be easy enough - Oxford's a small city and our son could walk between museums easily enough at the age of 4. If you do want to stay on the outskirts, or somewhere like Headington, and use buses, both main bus companies will be able to sell you a family dayrider for just over £8 which you can use on both Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company services all day, unlimited trips. There are loads of places that will be open for breakfast but if you have to haul both kids into the city first thing for food it could turn into a really long day for them.

Have a look at the 'Daily Info maps of Oxford' www.dailyinfo.co.uk/oxford/map - there are a few variations which mark out sightseeing, walks, parks etc. and if it's a nice day then the University parks is a great place for the kids to let off some steam. The Gardens, Libraries and Museums at the University are all geared up to run family friendly events so it's worth checking in advance what's running during half term www.glam.ox.ac.uk/families

I'd recommend planning to get lunch etc. somewhere other than the museum cafes though! Places like G&D on Little Clarendon Street, the Vaults cafe at St Marys and the food court at the Westgate (Westgate Social) all offer better variety at a better price.

Oh wow, thanks so much for these brilliant tips and links - so so helpful! We've only been once, for a day trip to the Natural History Museum last year. The boys loved it but we ran out of time/energy for the Pitt Rivers even. So decided to spend a couple of days there this year.

Will look at links and info properly later, but I'm definitely swaying towards the airbnb in Cumnor as a base for lots of reasons (mainly, that we won't have to hide in a tiny bathroom drinking wine out of plastic cups waiting for the kids to fall asleep if we go to a Travelodge! ).

Just off to research when Oxford schools break up...

If you have time, definitely try to fit in a treasure hunt with Huntfun www.huntfun.co.uk/things-to-do-for-kids-families-and-friends/Oxford.php?rfl=DO17
The 30 minute sightseeing river cruises are a really fun way to see the city www.oxfordrivercruises.com/sightseeing-highlights-tour/
South Oxford Adventure Playground is well worth a visit www.soapoxford.org.uk
Atomic Pizza and Atomic Burger are two of my favourite places to take kids to eat but they're not very central.

Cumnor is near me and it’s lovely! Really nice pub if you can persuade the kids that should be part of your itinerary!

Oh really Namechangeforthiscancershit? That's reassuring!

So the Travelodge on Abingdon Rd looks better as it has a restaurant and free parking (thanks for the tip annandale). Works out at £153 for two nights including breakfasts (kids eat free), whereas the 3-bed airbnb is £275 inc the service charge.

Decisions decisions!

If you do decide to book the Travelodge, this pub is really nice and family friendly and quite near by. Your children might also like the Story Museum which is just off St Aldate's, across the road from Christchurch. There's also a branch of G&Ds, a really nice friendly cafe, very close by.

Quick bus into town from the Redbridge hotel or even walkable. You don’t need to bus between museums in oxford, walkable. Definitely do Pitt Rivers - better than main natural h museum. Atomic burger (Cowley road) great for food with kids. Story museum good. My kids loved oxford castle (free entry with Tesco vouchers). We live in oxford. Good play park on Abingdon road on way into town. Also check what’s on at the theatres that week (playhouse, new theatre, burton Taylor all dead centre), we spend a lot of time in them too. Normal stuff, ice rink and new (I hate it) shopping centre. My kids also like the ashmolean and they’ll have free half term stuff on for kids and worth checking the museum of oxford in the town hall - they usually do free half term stuff. Another good place to stay is Abingdon, lots cheaper and 15 mins to the centre of oxford on the bus.

We ate at Browns in the Covered Market- very reasonably priced, although I think it may be open lunchtime, and not teatime. Also, there is a weatherspoons opposite the bus station on George Street.

You could also go up the tower at St Mary's church, and we also found time for a swift afternoon drink at The Bear and the Turf Tavern were kids friendly.

Thanks so much for all your tips - we booked the airbnb in the end! So will be bussing it in from Cumnor. Love the river boat cruise idea if it's dry, and have lots of browser windows open with all the other ideas too

I'm busy looking at maps and planning an itinery now...is it half term yet?!