Find great ideas for days out with kids in Oxfordshire and the best family friendly events happening summer 2024. The Oxfordshire summer holiday activities guide is packed full with big family days out or smaller, local ideas.  From Banbury to Faringdon and Wallingford to Thame, we’ve got it all.  If you’re working and need a little childcare then check out the summer holiday camps in Oxfordshire guide.

There are great summer what’s on guides too if you want to explore further in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

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High Lodge Farm Sunflower Field

The spectacular PYO Sunflower field at High Lodge Farm will re-open this August 2024. Enjoy the beautiful sight of these gorgeous blooms, meander through the wildflower field and chilll out with an ice cream while the kids leap around on the hay bales.  Entry is only £1 and donated to a local charity and PYO sunflower stems £1.  Don’t forget to bring your secateurs

What’s On In Oxfordshire Summer 2024

Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids in Oxfordshire

Find out where to pick your own strawberries and raspberries in Oxfordshire

Adventure Days at Tumblestone Hollow (Stonor, near Henley)

Step into a storybook and discover the treetop adventure playground, Tumblestone Hollow at Stonor Park (near Henley on Thames). For those with an adventurous spirit you can climb up a spiral of steps  to the top look-out deck, crawl through tunnels, scramble along a netted tube or along bridges and there’s plenty for little kids too.

Millets Maize Maze (Frilford) 20th July – 3rd September

Opening from the 20th July – 3rd September, Millets Farm annual Maize Maze event will be back for another summer of fun! A puzzling fun park with lots of games to play within 3 maize mazes, 3 woodlands and a fort maze… plus go-karts, family games and lots more to explore!

OxTrail 2024 discover 138 arge and mini ox sculptures on display across Oxfordshire. £1.99 app

Oxfordshire’s first-ever art sculpture trail raising funds for Sobell House Hospice started on 6th July and runs through until 29th August.

• Summer Geocache Trail at Harcourt Arboretum (Sutton Courtney) all summer
• Adventure Play at Blenheim Palace (Woodstock)
• Riverside Festival (Charlbury) 20th – 21st July FREE

Summer on the Farm at Hogshaw Farm (easy reach from Bicester & Thame) 22nd July – 1st September

From bug hunts and nature trails, to tractor rides and water play, you won’t be short of things to do at Hogshaw Farm

Fairytale Festival at Fairytale Farm (near Chipping Norton) 25th July – 2nd September

Step into a magical world at Fairytale Farm! Join us for the enchanting Fairytale Festival, where dreams come alive and adventures await. From interactive storytelling to a have a go puppet show, trail games & challenges and so much more.

• Summer of Play at Basildon Park (near Pangbourne) 25th July – 3rd September
• OPA Play & Activity Day (Eynsham) 26th July FREE

Knight School at Oxford Castle & Prison (Oxford) Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun from 27th July – 30th August

Don your armour, sharpen your sword and prepare to set out on a quest. Head to Oxford Castle & Prison Castleyard for medieval weapons training, hobby-horse jousting and archery – all under the supervision of the Castle’s knights!

• OPA Play & Activity Day (Carterton) 26th July FREE

Summer Family Activities at Cogges (Witney) 27th July – 2nd September

Get ready for your summer hay-cation at Cogges Manor Farm, open every day! Meet the friendly animals and explore 17 acres of grounds, adventure play and zip wire. Look out for children’s crafts and activities, scavenger hunts and more over the holidays. Join the fun at a teddy bears picnic (17 & 18 August), or get stuck in with Giant Junk Modelling for August bank holiday weekend (24 & 25)

• Summer willow weaving at Harcourt Arboretum (Sutton Courtney) 29th July
• OPA Play & Activity Day (Bicester) 29th July FREE
• Banbury People’s Park Play Day (Banbury) 31st July FREE
• Here Comes The Sun family day at Harcourt Arboretum (Sutton Courtney) 31st July
• OPA Play & Activity Day (Witney) 1st August FREE

• OPA Play & Activity Day (Faringdon) 2nd August FREE
• Summer Saturday Specials at Roves Farm (Sevenhampton) 3rd, 17th, 24th August

Willowbrook Farm Mini Festival (Hampton Gay) 3rd August

Willowbrook Farm are combining their Open Day with a festival twist. Enjoy the festival favourites – Kay Smith’s African Drumming, AbduRaheem Scott’s Archery, Hassen Rasool’s Storytelling & more alongside learning all about goats from the Willowbrook Farmers AND a special appearance by the Harness Goat Society. Activities: African Drumming, Tajweed, Storytelling, Archery, Wool Work, Goat Walking, Bouncy Castle, Bushcraft, Name It Youth Workshop, Arts & Crafts, Farm Tour/Talk, Animal Petting

• OPA Play & Activity Day (Upper Heyford) 3rd August FREE
• OPA Play & Activity Day (Berinsfield) 6th August FREE
• Folksy Theatre outdoors at Millets Farm (Frilford) 7th + 8th August
• Cogges Beer & Cider Festival (Witney) 10th August – family friendly
• OPA Play & Activity Day (Henley) 13th August FREE
• The Big Feastival 23rd – 25th August
• Henley Summerfest (Henley) 24th August
• Foodies Festival (Oxford) 24th – 26th August
• Faeries & Folklore family day at Harcourt Arboretum (Sutton Courtney) 28th August

Bunkfest (Wallingford) 30th August – 1st September FREE

BunkFest is a free-access community festival providing a unique, family friendly celebration with something for everyone. Set on the banks for the river Thames in Wallingford. The festival has evolved to become less folk-music orientated and more of a community event showcasing broad-appeal musical talent from around the world and includes children’s entertainment.

• Birds of Prey at Oxford Castle & Prison (Oxford) 31st August
• Abingdon fireworks & hot air balloon festival (Abingdon) 31st August
• The Beach at Notcutts entertainment and fairground rides (between Oxford & Berinsfield) tbc

Indoor Summer Activities for Kids in Oxfordshire

Science Oxford summer open days (Headington, Oxford) every Saturday

Visit the Science Oxford Centre for a unique family experience every Saturday. Explore, discover and play in hands on science Exploration Zone, pick up an activity sheet and follow the woodland nature trails.

Ride On Time Play Sessions

Imagine a hall filled with the most amazing selection of ride ons.  If you have a toddler who LOVES things with wheels this is the perfect place to be! Suitable for ages 1-5 years.

• Yarnton 24th July
• Banbury 25th July
• Bicester 26th July

• Steam Days at Didcot Railway Centre (Didcot) Wednesday + weekends
• Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Millets Sprouts Playbarn (Frilford) 29th – 31st July
• Summer craft workshops at Banbury Museum (Banbury) select dates 29th July – 2nd September

Master Builders Club Lego Brick Building Session (Cholsey) 29th July

Build a story with LEGO! Master Builders Club will be providing 1000s of LEGO bricks that will transform the museum space into a LEGO fan’s paradise. Sessions are designed as a creative adventure that incorporates a playful learning experience whilst nurturing young minds. Suitable for all abilities of “Brickie” aged 5+.

• Lego Master Builders Club workshop at The Story Museum (Oxford) 3rd +17th August

Spectacular Science at Hocus Pocus Play (Fairford) 2nd August

Hocus Pocus Play have teamed up with Fun Science‘s Diatom Dave to combine sensory play with hands-on science, and they’ve come up with a cracker. The 2 hour session is This session is designed with 2-6 year old’s in mind, though all are welcome.

• Master Builders Club Lego Brick Building Session (Dorchester on Thames) 5th August
• Stories and Songs! An introduction to Opera with Oxford Opera Company at the Museum of Oxford (Oxford) 8th August

Under The Sea Play Day at Hocus Pocus Play (Fairford) 23rd August

Take a dive down deep with at Hocus Pocus Play and go Under The Sea this summer holiday! The Magical Character Company will be bringing a land-loving mermaid to the celebrations for plenty of fun and games!  The character events are always a sell out so advance booking is recommended

• Meet Paddington at Didcot Railway Centre (Didcot) 26th August

Master Builders Club Lego Brick Building Session (Henley) 28th August

Family Theatre, Live Music and Puppets

• Giffords Circus at Stonor Park & Gardens (Stonor, near Henley) 11th – 22nd July
• Rosie & Hugh’s Great Big Adventure at The North Wall (Oxford) 24th – 27th July
• King Arthur a Comedy Legend at Oxford Playhouse (Oxford) 25th – 27th July
• Cillian O’Connor My World of Magic at the Kenton Theatre (Henley) 26th July
• Folksy Theatre outdoors at Millets Farm (Frilford) 7th + 8th August
• A Dragon’s Tale at the Story Museum (Oxford) 13th August
• The Tiger Who Came to Tea at Oxford Playhouse (Oxford) 14th  – 18th August
• Shark in the Park at the Mill Arts Centre (Banbury) 29th August
• Pinocchio at Oxford Playhouse (Oxford) 31st August

Days Out With Kids in Oxfordshire

For family days out around Oxfordshire for under £50 (2 adults plus 2 full paying kids) then check out these top 15 great ideas.

Good Value Days Out in Oxfordshire

Heading into Oxford and explore with the Treasure Hunt Oxford family walking trail. It’s a great way for the whole family to discover Oxford city centre on a day out with kids. Cryptic clues, maps, fascinating facts and you’re sure to discover something new even if you’re local.

A trip to Blenheim Palace is a magical day out.  Prepare to be ‘wowed’ as you catch sight of this magnificent building. There are beautiful walks, pleasure gardens with the new Adventure Playground and a maze as well as the main Palace to explore.

For a walk on the wildside, it’s got to be the Cotswold Wildlife Park.  One of the best family days out in Oxfordshire, you’ll see everything from rhinos on the lawn to cheeky penguins and you might even hear a lion roar.  There’s a great play park there too and all set in the most gorgeous gardens.

Discover somewhere new on a family walk in Oxfordshire.  Try the boardwalk at Hinksey Heights nature trail (and catch a glimpse of the Oxford skyline), wander among the standing stones Millennium sundial in Ardington, spot wildlife on the butterfly walk at Bernwood Forest or delve into Kirtlington Quarry.  All these ideas and much more in my guide to where to go for a walk with kids in Oxfordshire.

Set yourself a challenge this summer, can you complete this A to Z of places to go with kids in Oxfordshire?

Check out our Top 10 things to do with kids in Oxford guide or go wider with the 50 best things to do in Oxfordshire.