Kids, Cows & Clever Minds – We 4 Geniuses on a Family Trip to Oxford

A family trip to Oxford is always a „smart“ decision. And indeed, the university city was worth seeing and totally exciting. Not only for us parents, but especially for the kids, and that surprised us very much, because we imagined it to be drier. In total, we spent four days in the beautiful county of Oxfordshire.

What we experienced in the city itself and the surrounding area couldn't have been more English. Here I'll share some great excursions and show you which college you can visit easily and almost anytime in Oxford. But be warned, in Oxford itself, we often felt quite stupid. It's concentrated human knowledge in an almost tiny place. Wonderful!

01. Arrival in Oxfordshire and Roald Dahl Museum

From Essex, we're heading towards Oxfordshire. Between Colchester and Faringdon, our destination for today, we'll find the small village of Great Missenden about halfway, an hour west of London. In this picturesque place, the famous children's author Roald Dahl wrote many of his stories. The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is located in the middle of the village, just a few steps from Dahl's old home, and is a real highlight for families.

Our daughter loves all his books, so this stop is a big surprise for her. The museum itself is all about Dahl's books and characters, from „Matilda“ to „The BFG.“ Our kids can step into interactive exhibitions browse, invent own stories, design lettering, and in Dahl's Writing hut (recreated!) Take a seat. There are small details to discover everywhere, tiny doors, handwritten notes, old typewriters, and a great deal of imagination.

We're going to listen to a short lecture of about 15 minutes, an excerpt from Matilda, which was mostly presented very theatrically by a staff member. After a small snack in the restaurant and a visit to the museum shop, we'll happily continue on our way to Faringdon.

02. Faringdon, an idyllic small town in the heart of England

Especially when you're on a family trip to Oxford, Faringdon is a great option. A tiny town with about 8,000 inhabitants, located about 30 km south of Oxford. We felt comfortable here because the town is quiet, yet it has a charming little center. There's a direct bus to Oxford, saving you the hassle of parking in the city.

We rented a small vacation apartment in a traffic-calmed district, right next to Tucker Park and just a few minutes' walk from the center. Our kids can ride scooters there, and there's also a bicycle at our accommodation. It's perfect and makes for relaxed afternoons.

Faringdon itself has a lovely center. The market square with old buildings, charming cafes, and traditional pubs gives off a real „English small-town feel“. We are eating at what is probably the best Indonesian restaurant in town (Editor's note: It is, of course, the only one in town) and enjoy wonderful English weather. In fact, it only rained briefly once. By the way, Faringdon is known for its market and the regular market days that have been held here since 1218. Even today, an outdoor market takes place weekly.

03. Oxford – Newton, Hawking, Einstein, Dennis

I've been looking forward to our visit to Oxford for the entire trip. You can't get any smarter than being on the go. And indeed, after several walks through the many libraries of the city, you already feel significantly more intelligent. The city is one big open-air classroom, just much nicer and more relaxed than you might think. Between venerable colleges, cobblestone streets, and green parks, we feel as if we've landed right in the middle of a Harry Potter movie.

Balliol College – founded 1263

There are over 30 colleges in the city that together form Oxford University. Balliol College and Merton College are among the oldest (both from the 13th century) and have produced countless politicians and scientists. We visit Balliol College and can't stop being amazed. Just like in the movies, teaching and learning take place here in these typical, ancient classrooms and lecture halls furnished with dark wood.

The gardens are lovingly laid out, and one can only imagine how the world's brightest students are educated here under pleasant conditions. We stroll leisurely through the garden and enjoy the squirrels that run around everywhere. It is an exciting and impressive feeling to visit such a college, so I would definitely recommend it to you if you find yourself in Oxford. Especially if you are on a family trip to Oxford.

The Bodleian Library – Oxford's Holy Grail for Book Lovers

The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It was founded in 1602 and belongs to the University of Oxford. With over 13 million books and manuscripts, it is the second-largest library in Great Britain (after the British Library in London). That's enough history.

The building itself is a real gem. Of course, we were only allowed to look at it from the outside. Inside, according to Wikipedia, there is the Divinity School hall, which was built in the 15th century. It apparently served as a filming location for the hospital ward in the Harry Potter films. Since I haven't seen any of the movies, I can't confirm it. But the library is worth a visit even from the outside.

By the way, if you are a student at Oxford University, you have to take an oath upon admission. Only then are you allowed to enter the library. You are also not allowed to borrow books here; you must read them there.

The History of Science Museum in Oxford

On our family trip to Oxford, we're discovering many exciting places. One of the most exciting places for the kids was the History of Science Museum. The building itself is history. It's the oldest purpose-built science museum in the world (founded in 1683!).

Inside, one marvel follows another. The kids can participate in a puzzle where they have to answer certain questions, choosing from celestial globes, old telescopes, strange-looking medical devices, and instruments that look like they came straight from a wizard's laboratory. There's even an original of Albert Einstein's blackboard in the museum, though we didn't look at it. It was there in 1931 in Oxford that he explained his theory of relativity.

For families, the museum is a great stop. It's small enough that the children aren't overwhelmed, but exciting enough that they're amazed by everything. Plus, admission is free.

We had a great day in Oxford and the city has become one of my favorites in England, as the size is simply perfect in relation to the sights and shopping options. And despite the students and their hustle and bustle, I can imagine life here is relatively chilled. The visit to Oxford was a great and relaxing day for us on our family trip to Oxford.

04. Roves Farm – Where children beam and wellington boots are mandatory…

…because the weather is bad. But that wasn't the case for us. Overall, on our trip through England, we had wonderful weather except for a very few days. Very atypical for an English summer. Lucky us! And so, on a sunny Sunday, I went with our youngest to the nearby Roves Farm.

The family business has been open to guests since 1992, demonstrating how modern agriculture goes hand in hand with tradition, sustainability, and animal welfare. It's important to know that the farm is actively operated. Therefore, you'll get a great insight into the lives of the farmers and, of course, the animals.

Our daughter got to help brush ponies, be present for goat feeding, and even feed guinea pigs via a sort of fishing pole. It was fun and we spent a wonderful day together. Actually, plan for a full day, from around 9 AM to 5 PM, so that you can also participate in all the activities.

A huge indoor playground rounds off the offerings and ensures lots of fun for the kids even in bad weather. Finally, we stocked up on delicious food, all of which was produced on the farm. Super delicious!

Excursions in Oxfordshire: Tips and Attractions

Conclusion: Family Trip to Oxford

Oxford was great. The city really impressed me, and in November I'll be starting with the first Harry Potter book. Seeing where the greatest scientists taught was a super exciting experience. Not least because of the pompous buildings, which are staged as if in a movie, you could really get a feel for student life here.

But the surrounding countryside and the county of Oxfordshire also left a good and lasting impression on us. It was a great stop on our trip through England 2025. A family trip to Oxford is a great idea, as the kids will have a blast here.

Have you ever been to Oxfordshire, or specifically to the city of Oxford, with children? What did you like best there? What should we see next time we go? What else is missing from my travel report about our family trip to Oxford?

Oxfordshire Photo Gallery

This time there are a few less pictures, as we were only there for four days. 😉