16th December 2025
This Christmas, families and visitors joining a City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off tour will be invited to take part in a magical elf trail across Oxford.
Participants will track down five cheeky elves at selected locations and solve their riddles to reveal a festive sentence. Once completed, they can claim a sweet reward at the City Sightseeing Oxford visitor information point on High Street or at Carfax Tower.
The trail runs from 18th December to 4th January (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day), and has been created by City Sightseeing Oxford, working with attractions across the city, including the Ashmolean Museum, The Story Museum and Modern Art Oxford, to deliver this fun new experience.
Participants can also enjoy a free babyccino with any hot drink at the Ashmolean and a 10% discount at The Story Museum café.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of City Sightseeing Oxford, said: “Brand-new this Christmas, we are excited to launch the elf trail across Oxford for the festive period.
“We are always looking to innovate and offer engaging activities to help families explore Oxford.
“Whether you’re a local family with young children or tourists in Oxford looking for festive experiences in the city, there is something for everyone.
“I’d like to thank our partners for this project, with the brilliant Ashmolean Museum, The Story Museum and Modern Art Oxford all heavily involved to make this a thoroughly enjoyable trail for families.”
Tickets can be added online or via ticket sellers to a City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off tour at no additional cost. Parental supervision is essential throughout the trail as it a self-led activity.
The Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour lasts approximately one hour and takes in Oxford’s famous sights, including the Ashmolean, Christ Church, Magdalen Bridge, Oxford Castle and the Sheldonian Theatre. Commentary is available in 14 languages, with the route including 20 stops.
For more information about the elf trail, please visit: www.citysightseeingoxford.com/elftrail/
