Things to do this summer in Oxford and beyond

Sun’s out, screens off! Things to do this summer in Oxford and beyond!

We’ve hit that sweet spot where the days stretch on, the weather’s behaving, and Oxfordshire is begging to be explored. However, if planning feels like a chore or your energy levels are somewhere between “nap” and “hibernate”, fear not—we’ve created some adventure shortcuts to make it easier.

Even better, all the recommended adventures listed below are accessible by bus, making them easy to get to whether you’re wrangling kids or sneaking off solo. Plus, you can take advantage of discounted group bus tickets for just £15 throughout the summer holidays, making it more affordable to travel with others.

Tours, trains and vintage cars

If you’re heading to Didcot this summer, you can enjoy the full steam engine experience at Didcot Railway Centre. Throughout the season, you can board unlimited vintage trains, get hands-on in the signalling centre and descend into a WWII air raid shelter. Plus, if you buy a ticket for 16^th August, you’ll get to meet the marmalade-loving bear himself, Paddington. Tickets cost £20.50 for adults, £13.00 for children, and £60 for a family of four, but discounts are available if you buy a mobile app bus ticket with App Benefits.

Meanwhile, Cholsey and Wallingford Railway is serving up a fish and chip supper aboard the Wallingford Fryer on 9th August, and if you miss this, you could always board one of their Cream Tea trains, which are running on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August.

The Italian Automotive Car Show is coming to Millets Farm on Saturday 16^th August, showcasing over 100 years of Automotive History. There’ll also be an artisan market selling locally made goods as well as plenty of free attractions onsite, including a children’s play area, animal walkway, and Phoebe Woods, so there’ll be something to do even if you’re not interested in vintage cars.

Money saving tips: From 21st July to 30th August, you can purchase CityZone & CountryZone group day tickets for up to five people at a reduced rate of £15, available via the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel mobile app. These tickets are valid across all local services, offering an affordable way to travel together throughout the area.

Plus, you can enjoy 20% off entry to Didcot Railway Centre with App Benefits when you purchase a mobile app bus ticket.

Public transport: Most of the suggestions above are within walking distance from Carfax Tower, served by a large number of local Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services, except for:

• Cholsey and Wallingford Railway Centre: Located near the Wallingford Lidl stop and served by the 33A bus from Didcot.
• Millets Farm: Located by the Millets Farm stop and served by the X15 bus.
• Didcot Railway Centre: Served by several buses, including the X2 and X32 buses from Oxford, the 33 bus from Abingdon, the X34 bus from Newbury, the X35 bus from Grove & Wantage, and the X36 bus between Kingsgrove, Wantage, Grove and Nobel Park.

You can plan your journey to any of these destinations by using the online Journey Planner available here. Simply insert your current location into the planner, and your most suitable bus journey will be calculated for you.

Fetes and festivals

Wallingford Bunkfest is a free-access community festival that’s grown from a small marquee in a pub car park 21 years ago to filling venues throughout the town, on the River Thames and on the bunk line. Expect a singing train, arts and crafts, live poetry, musical boat trips, food stalls, and much more. Wallingford BunkFest runs from 29th to 31st August, and it’s suitable for all ages.

The ever-popular Foodies Festival Oxford is coming to Oxford’s South Park this year, featuring family entertainment, live music, workshops, competitions, and artisan stalls. Plus, the kids can get stuck in at the Kidzone with hands-on cookery classes, bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, and giant garden games. The Foodies Festival takes place from the 23rd to the 25th of August, and tickets cost £23 for adults, £5 for children (aged under 12 years), and £49 for families (two adults plus two children).

There’s even more food at the Dine’n’Devour Food & Drink Festival, which returns to Broad Street from Friday 15^th August to Sunday 17^th August with a mouth-watering array of food, drink and artisan stalls to browse and buy from. Better still, Dine’n’Devour is free to attend, and dogs are welcome.

Fancy a festival of high-quality music? The Oxford Piano Festival takes place in the last week of July and features nine days of masterclasses and concerts from the world’s top names in piano, such as Isata Kanneh-Mason and Víkingur Ólafsson. Observer tickets provide access to all the festival events and the opportunity to meet with the performers, professors and piano festival participants.

If you love dancing, then take a look at Oxford’s Summer Dance Festival’s action-packed programme. The festival is a month-long city-wide celebration of various forms of dance performances, workshops, and community events with an eclectic array of performing arts on offer from aerial dancing to parkour. It’s free to attend and takes place at various location around the city.

Oxford Lindy Hoppers have unveiled a fun programme for their annual Oxford Lindy Exchange. Taking place from 11^th to 13^th July, the lineup includes vintage jazz, swing, and blues bands, taster sessions, and picnics. The festival is not for complete beginners though, but if you’d like to give Lindy Hop a go, they also run classes in the city.

And finally, Oxford Festival of Arts’ theme this year is Magnificent Oxford, running throughout July with an eclectic array of activities, including an Indie Book Fair, Tudor sword fighting, falconry displays, historical canal walks, and Swing music. 

Money saving tips: From 21st July to 30th August, you can purchase CityZone and CountryZone group day tickets for up to five people at a reduced rate of £15, available via the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel mobile app. These tickets are valid across all local services, offering an affordable way to travel together throughout the area.

Plus, you can enjoy discounts at a number of retailers and attractions in Oxford city centre with App Benefits when you purchase a mobile app bus ticket.

Public transport: Most of the summer suggestions above are within walking distance from Carfax Tower, served by a large number of local Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services, except for:

• Wallingford Bunkfest: Located near the Wallingford Marketplace stop served by the X40 River Rapids bus from Oxford and the 33 bus from Abingdon.
• Foodies Festival: Located near the St Clements South Park bus stop and served by the number 8 bus.
• Oxford Summer Dance Festival (Headington Hill events only): Also located near the St Clements South Park bus stop and served by the number 8 bus.

You can plan your journey to any of these destinations by using the online Journey Planner available here. Simply insert your current location into the planner, and your most suitable bus journey will be calculated for you.

Plays and films

Shakespeare heads outside (as he does every summer) in Oxford, with Oxford Castle and Prison hosting Twelfth Night between 23^rd June and 5^th July, followed by Much Ado About Nothing from 7th July to 2nd August, and The Merry Wives of Windsor from 4^th to 16^th August.

Meanwhile, Oxford University Parks will also be hosting Twelfth Night between 15th and 26th July, with a Saturday matinee at 14:30 on 19th July. Tickets cost £16 per person, with a group deal of “buy 6 and get the 7th ticket free.”

Further out in the ‘burbs, Creation Theatre is staging its rendition of Midsummer Night’s Dream will be taking place between 16^th July and 16th August at Wolfson College Sports Ground.  It takes place under a tent too, so you won’t need to shelter under a brolly if the heavens decide to open.

For a fun family-friendly show, you could head to Dorchester Abbey for Dorchester Amateur Dramatics Society’s rendition of Robin Hood and His Merry Men.  Watch as the noble Robin of Locksley tries to win back his estate and beloved Maid Marion from the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham and find out if love wins the day. Robin Hood runs from 10^th to 12^th July and tickets cost £12 for adults and £6 for children plus small booking fee.

A brand-new musical adaptation of Robin Hood will also be running at Millets Farm on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st August. Aimed at 4–9-year-olds, the open-air show includes live music, puppetry, and abundant silliness. The show lasts approximately one hour, but there are plenty of other activities on-site to suit all ages, including a maize maze, play area, animal walkway, old-fashioned fairground rides, garden centre, and cafes.

Back indoors, the Oxford Playhouse is hosting a season of fun adventures tailored just for little ones. The lineup begins with The History of Almost Everything, which runs from 25th to 26th July, featuring free performances and lots of crafting fun for families.

Alternatively, you could run as fast as you can to grab some tickets for The Gingerbread Man, a tasty little adventure for ages 3+, featuring puppetry, live action, and an abundance of humour.

Dinosaur World Live takes place from 5th to 7th July, inviting brave little explorers to take part in a pre-historic adventure with the opportunity to meet a dinosaur afterwards.

Finally, The Koala Who Could, a chuckle-out-loud Australian outback adventure story about embracing change, takes to the stage on Saturday 9th August.

It’s not just about the kids, though. If you fancy a strong dose of old-fash ioned schmaltz, then Wallingford’s Corn Exchange is hosting a live screening of the musical romantic comedy An American in Paris on 23rd July. You just might feel tempted to sing along unashamedly to classic hits such as “The Way You Wear Your Hat.”

And finally, how about a film under the night sky? Throughout July, Harwell Campus, as part of their 80th year celebrations, will be hosting the Light Reel Film Festival, which will feature an introduction from a leading scientist and be screened outside in The Quad. Films include Oppenheimer, Interstellar, Wall-E and Mickey 17. Tickets cost a very reasonable £5 and there’s food and drink available onsite.

Money saving tips: From 21st July to 30th August, you can purchase CityZone and CountryZone group day tickets for up to five people at a reduced rate of £15, available via the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel mobile app. These tickets are valid across all local services, offering an affordable way to travel together throughout the area.

Plus, you can enjoy discounts at a number of retailers and attractions in Oxford city centre with App Benefits when you purchase a mobile app bus ticket.

Public transport: Most of the summer suggestions above are within walking distance from Carfax Tower, served by a large number of local Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services, except for:

• Dorchester Abbey: Located near the Dorchester Bypass stop, which is served by the X40 River Rapids bus from Oxford.
• Wallingford Corn Exchange: Located near the St Clements South Park bus stop and served by the number 8 bus.
• Wolfson College Sports Ground: Located near St Margaret’s Road West and served by the number 6 and number 300 buses.
• Millets Farm: Located by the Millets Farm stop and served by the X15 bus.
• Harwell Campus: Also located near the St Clements South Park bus stop and served by the number 8 bus.

You can plan your journey to any of these destinations by using the online Journey Planner available here. Simply insert your current location into the planner, and your most suitable bus journey will be calculated for you.

Movement and music

Mindboggling acrobats from Flip Fabrique hit the stage with Six°, which’ll be performed at the Oxford Playhouse on 28^th July. Five people arrive at an old, abandoned house deep in the forest, guided by a mysterious invitation. However, the group is missing a sixth person. Could it be you? Tickets start at £14 and can be bought online.

By stark contrast, the much-loved classic Sleeping Beauty is performed as a full-length classical ballet with guest dancers from the Croation National Theatre at the Cornerstone in Didcot. Tickets cost and the show runs from Friday 25^th July to Saturday, 26th July.

Choral lovers take note! The accomplished New Zealand Youth Choir (winners of Choir of the World) will be performing at the Sheldonian Theatre on 9^th July, bringing with them a melee of Māori action songs, from emotive spirituals through to music from Samoa.

Just down the road at the Oxford Town Hall, Karl Loxley (he of “The Voice” fame) will be singing Songs from The Stage & Screen, featuring songs from The Greatest Showman, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, The Lion King and many more at Oxford Town Hall. West End, eat your heart out! Songs from Stage & Screen takes place on Friday 29^th August and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Further afield, Dorchester Abbey will be presenting a Moving Music concert on 7th July. The event will feature sing-along songs and welcomes everyone, particularly people with dementia, along with their family, friends, and carers. Admission is on a “pay what you can” basis, and you can choose between an 11:30 or 14:00 concert.

Meanwhile, what better way to introduce the little ones to music than through a Bach to Baby Carnival of the Animals concert at St Michael & All Angels Church on Saturday 19th July? Children will embark on a journey as they meet the dancing elephant, the cuckoo in the wood, the bouncy kangaroo, and others. It’s a place where tots can toddle, wiggle and dance without being hushed.

Money saving tips: From 21st July to 30th August, you can purchase CityZone and CountryZone group day tickets for up to five people at a reduced rate of £15, available via the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel mobile app. These tickets are valid across all local services, offering an affordable way to travel together throughout the area.

Plus, you can enjoy discounts at a number of retailers and attractions in Oxford city centre with App Benefits when you purchase a mobile app bus ticket.

Public transport: Most of the summer suggestions above are within walking distance from Carfax Tower, served by a large number of local Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services, except for:

• Dorchester Abbey: Located near the Dorchester Bypass stop, which is served by the X40 River Rapids bus from Oxford.
• Bach to Baby: Located near the South Parade West bus stop, which is served by the number 300 and number 6 buses.

Nature and gardens

If you enjoy having a nose around peoples gardens, then there will be a number of private gardens open to the public via the National Garden Scheme including St Edmund Hall on 14^th July, Merton College Oxford Fellows Garden and North Hinksey town gardens on 20^th July, and Lincoln College and Trinity College on 3^rd August. There’s a small entry free involved (children go for free in many of the gardens) with the proceeds funding various nursing and health charities.

For summer flowers galore, you could head off to Oxford Botanic Garden. At this time of year, the herbaceous border is packed with vivid colours and the water lilies are blooming. Plus, you can join one of their expert-led tours every Sunday and Thursday starting at 14:30 from the Welcome Centre.

Meanwhile, just south of the city, the ever lovely Harcourt Arboretum is hosting a number of family-friendly events including Summer Flower Willow Weaving on  29^th July, Go Wild for Wildlife Family Day on 30^th July, and a Jurassic Plants Family Day on 27^th August.

Saturday’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic, according to University Church, which will be hosting a Teddy Bear’s Picnic on 10^th August. Come armed with picnic blanket, hamper and any favourite teddies for a 12:30 start outside University Park’s Banbury Road entrance.

Located in the heart of East Oxford, Oxford City Farm is a community-led city farm open to visitors every Friday & Saturday from 10:00 – 13:00. They have a packed calendar of activities over summer including goat milking introductions, chicken keeping basics, composting workshops as well as community farming days and a Little Wellies toddler group. See their website for dates.

Want to know how bees see the world? The Snug at Dorchester is running a couple of Bee Awareness sessions on 5^th July and 2^nd August where you’ll have the chance to see inside an active honeybee colony, try out the local  honey and take a jar of Bishops Court Farm Honey home with you. The bee awareness session lasts 2.5 hours, but there’s also plenty to see on the farm, if you’re looking to make an afternoon of it.

Money saving tips: From 21st July to 30th August, you can purchase CityZone and CountryZone group day tickets for up to five people at a reduced rate of £15, available via the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel mobile app. These tickets are valid across all local services, offering an affordable way to travel together throughout the area.

Plus, you can enjoy discounts at a number of retailers and attractions in Oxford city centre with App Benefits when you purchase a mobile app bus ticket.

Public transport: Most of the summer suggestions above are within walking distance from Carfax Tower, served by a large number of local Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services, except for:

• Wheatley Windmill: Located near Wheatley St Mary’s Church bus stop, which is served by the 400 bus.
• Wantage Sack House: Located near the Wantage Market Place bus stop, which is served by the X1 bus.
• North Hinksey Conduit House: Located near the Harcourt Hill Campus stop, which is served by the 400 bus.
• The Medieval Merchants House: Located near the Abingdon High Street bus stop, which is served by a number of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services.

Quirky landmarks and fascinating history

Vertigo sufferers take note! You’ll be climbing three staircases to the top of this fully restored stone tower in Wheatley, but it’s well worth a gander. Wheatley Windmill dates to the 18th century and is just one of two working mills in the county. The windmill will be open for view have a gander at, watch the sails turn (when the wind blows) and enjoy a cup of tea.

It’s not every day you see a house built for storing sacks. But who doesn’t enjoy exploring a compellingly niche topic? If you’re heading to Wantage, be sure to pay a visit to the charming Sack House, once home of the England Sack Company and open on the last Saturdays of the month between May and September.

The 17th century Conduit House in Hinksey once supplied clean drinking water to the city and offers sweeping views of the city. Typically, you’ll only get to see the exterior, but it is open on 25^th July for a special guided tour of its insides. See if you can spot some striking chiselled graffiti date from the 17^th century! It’s close to Hinksey Heights Nature Trail too, so you can pair the visit with a stroll through woodland, reedland and fen.

Carfax Tower stands proudly in the heart of Oxford, a remnant of the 12th-century St Martin’s Church. Once the official city church, most of the structure was removed in 1896 to ease traffic congestion—though the tower still holds centuries of history. Climb the 99 steps to the top and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views across Oxford’s spires, rooftops, and beyond.

It’s not typically listed as a top 10 attraction, but The Medieval Merchant’s House is packed with historical interest. Allegedly Abingdon’s oldest dwelling, the house dates to around 1430 and features some interesting 16th-century wall paintings on the first floor. Guided visits are available on selected days over summer, and you can book online.

Money saving tips: From 21st July to 30th August, you can purchase CityZone and CountryZone group day tickets for up to five people at a reduced rate of £15, available via the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel mobile app. These tickets are valid across all local services, offering an affordable way to travel together throughout the area.

Plus, you can enjoy discounts at a number of retailers and attractions in Oxford city centre with App Benefits when you purchase a mobile app bus ticket.

Public transport: Most of the suggestions above are within walking distance from Carfax Tower, served by a large number of local Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services, except for:

• Wheatley Windmill: Located near Wheatley St Mary’s Church bus stop, which is served by the 400 bus.
• Wantage Sack House: Located near the Wantage Market Place bus stop, which is served by the X1 bus.
• North Hinksey Conduit House: Located near the Harcourt Hill Campus stop, which is served by the 400 bus.
• The Medieval Merchants House: Located near the Abingdon High Street bus stop, which is served by a number of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services.

Outdoor fun

For great summer walks, Christchurch Meadow  offers a short, accessible, circular walk past manicured gardens, rivers, flood meadow, wildlife, rowers and the odd punt or two.

Just across the road, Magdalen College has a deer park, riverside walks, a Fellows’ Garden and a water meadow. While there’s an admission fee, discounts are available, and locals go for free. Plus, you can buy combined tickets with the Oxford Botanic Gardens (mentioned earlier) for £15.

Located to the south of the city but walkable from Carfax, Hogacre Common is a 14-acre eco park a stone’s throw from civilisation. Here you’ll find woodland, a wild-flower meadow, a heritage orchard, cafe and community allotment.

Oxford may be landlocked, but there’s plenty of opportunity for messing about on the river. If punting appeals, then head down to The Magdalen Boat House where you could attempt (and potentially succeed) to serenely glide down past Oxford’s Botanic Gardens and through Christ Church College Meadows. And if you’re worried about not appearing serene, you could always hire a chauffeur. Further downstream, Salters Steamers offers motorboats for hire, as well as public boat trips to Iffley Lock, Port Meadow, and Marlow, subject to the weather.

For those looking to take the adventure further, Super Saver tickets are available if you want to combine punting or a boat trip with an open-top bus tour.

Prefer to get your toes wet (but not from punting)? Hinksey Outdoor Pool is a popular choice with pool, beach area for infants and wheelchair users, and a poolside café for aqua fanatics and spectators alike.

Located near Dorchester-on-Thames, the Wet ‘n’ Wild Watersports Centre is also offering open water swimming (in a more natural lakeside setting), as well as paddleboarding, kayaking and an inflatable obstacle course. And if that looks all too energetic, you could just sit and relax at their lakeside café for some coffee and cake. No one needs to know.

Money saving tips: From 21st July to 30th August, you can purchase CityZone and CountryZone group day tickets for up to five people at a reduced rate of £15, available via the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel mobile app. These tickets are valid across all local services, offering an affordable way to travel together throughout the area.

Plus, you can enjoy discounts at a number of retailers and attractions in Oxford city centre with App Benefits when you purchase a mobile app bus ticket.

Public transport: Most of the summer suggestions above are within walking distance from Carfax Tower, served by a large number of local Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel bus services, except for:

• Magdalen College and Boat House: Located near the Queen’s Lane West  and Queens Lane bus stops served by a number of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services.
• Wet’n’Wild Watersports Centre: Located near the Dorchester Bypass stop, which is served by the X40 River Rapids bus from Oxford.
• Hinksey Outdoor Pool: Located nearNew Hinksey Lake Street bus stop, which is served by a number of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services.
• Millets Farm: Located by the Millets Farm stop and served by the X15 bus

Planning your trip to Oxford?

Visiting Oxford and the surrounding area can be an enriching experience, but with so much to see and do, it’s good to plan your trip to make sure you’re not missing out. To get the most from your visit, consider choosing activities that match your interests. Need some help with planning the itinerary of your trip to Oxford? The Oxford Visitor Information Point colleagues can help – simply pop into our shop on the high street or give us a ring on +44 (0)1865 790522.