Ready, steady, elf-seek!

Hop on board for a magical elf trail with one of our City Sightseeing Oxford bus tours from 18th December to 4th January.

Along the way, hop off to track down our five cheeky elves: Curio, Artur, Twinkle Toes, Scout, and Fable. Each has a riddle to share, and every answer unlocks a word. Piece them together to reveal a secret festive sentence.

Once you’ve cracked the riddles, head to Elf Headquarters at the Visitor Information Point on High Street or to Carfax Tower, where some of our elves have also set up camp, to collect your reward.

Other little treats along the way

Looking for a pitstop? We know that all weary elf-seekers need some fuel while they search, so our trail partners are offering the following discounts when you show them your activity map.

The Ashmolean: Free babyccino with any hot drink  

The Story Museum: 10% discount in the café 

Information for Parents/Carers

Elf trail dates:

• Trail runs: Thursday 18th December 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026 (inclusive)
• Closed dates: 25th & 26th December 2025, and 1st January 2026
• Tickets & cost: Tickets can be purchased online (add to your tour) or via ticket sellers. There are no additional costs for the trail.
• Parental supervision: Essential throughout the trail, as this is a (s)elf-led activity.

Trail partner opening hours:

• Ashmolean Museum: Closed on 24th, 25th, 26th December and 1st January
• The Story Museum: Closed on 25th & 26th December. Open on 24th December with reduced hours: 10:00 – 13:30
• Modern Art Oxford: Closed on 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 29th, 31st December and 1st January

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