Days Out
From trampolines to Winston Churchill’s birthplace, Victorian school desks to starling murmurations, you will be amazed by the things you can see in Oxfordshire without climbing into a car.
If you’re looking for family fun, perhaps it’s time to give your group bus ticket an airing; you can let someone else do the driving, while you entertain your loved ones, share snacks and look out of the window. Fairytale Farm is just a ride on the S3 away. For any small train fans, Didcot Railway Centre and their collection of steam engines (sometimes even dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine) is accessed just next to Platform 4 at Didcot station. Alternatively, jump on a quick service to Bicester from Oxford or Oxford Parkway and make the most of the Jump Inc trampolining and inflatable park or the indoor climbing centre Clip n Climb.
While Oxford residents are already within easy walking or cycling distance of several world-class museums, including the Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers, Oxford Museum of Natural History and the History of Science Museum, your historical adventures needn’t end in the city centre. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, is easy to reach by the S3 and S7 bus, or you can cycle from Oxford up the canal and along a designated bike lane all the way; you can even enjoy a 20% discount on entry when you visit car-free. A little further afield, but still easily accessible by bus are Buckingham Old Gaol Museum, Wallingford Museum, the Vale and Downland Museum and the 18-acre heritage farmstead of Cogges Farm, which boasts over 100 years of history and a bevvy of friendly animals.
Getting out into nature is so easy in a city as geographically neat as Oxford. Cycling through the villages of Toot Baldon and Marsh Baldon will bring you to Harcourt Arboretum (also on the X40 route) which boasts not just 25,000 trees but also live peacocks, a sea of bluebells in springtime and the occasional visit from some rare breed pigs. Farmoor Reservoir, reached by the E1 bus, is the home to some rare wildlife and birdlife, and is bordered along one side by a beautiful stretch of The Thames. If birds are your thing, RSPB Otmoor Nature Reserve offers a dazzling view of the starling murmurations in autumn and flocks of beautiful Lapwings, Redshanks, Snipe and others. It’s on the 108 bus route, with a one mile walk from the bus stop, but also just a six mile bike ride from Oxford City Centre.
For a bit of al fresco exercise, you could try Chipping Norton Lido, the Woodstock Open Air Pool, or take a ride along the Cotswold line national cycle route; with a railway station every 10 miles, you can take it in chunks or push yourself to have a proper adventure. Looking to bring your kids along for the ride? Check out these traffic-free cycling routes, or poke around the Little Oxplorers site to find some fun outdoor activities for you and your family.
Tips for getting started
Map it out - For detailed times and directions to the attractions mentioned above, use a journey planning app. Or see our cycling page for help planning a cycling journey.
Grab a bargain - You can get a 20% discount on a whole host of English Heritage places by travelling to them car free.
Get cheaper bus travel - The MyBus Oxfordshire ticket offers passengers daily or weekly travel around the county, covering most routes and operators, for a fixed price of £6.50 or £3.50 a day for under-19s.
Make the most of off-peak travel - Many local train services will be significantly cheaper at weekends, making it a great time to explore a little further from home.
Book your bike onto the train - By reserving a free bike place on Great Western Railway services you will be amazed by how far you can get without a car.
Looking for more ideas? - Good Journey has loads of tips and tricks for car-free travel in Oxford and the surrounding areas.
Related Story
If you’d like to recommend a trip to an Oxfordshire leisure destination you’ve visited by bike, bus or train, let us know.
Updated September 2024