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Oxford evening activities with teens

Posted by on

Hello,

I will be leading a group of of about 13 teens next summer (16-18 years old) and two other adult chaperones. Looking for evening activities to do with the group. The ideas I have come across are evening song at one of the chapels, a ghost tour or evening punting. I think the evening song might be fun for a few minutes. Not sure if it will hold their attention real long. Will probably already have done a ghost tour in London. The punting looks like fun, and I am am going to push for it, but not sure if I can get my boss (the owner of the company) to pay the cost for 16 people.

Anything else that I am missing that is fun to see or do that would not cost a whole that would be fun for older teens? Unfortunately just can't hang out at a pub.

Thanks for any ideas!

Posted by
14605 posts

The Choral Evensong service would probably last from 30-45 minutes and you'd have to stay for the whole service. You really couldn't get up to leave if the teens got bored. Unless they are in to sacred music I do not think this would be a good choice.

Editing to add: Here is a youtube video of what you might expect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoPrGMaIUoM

Posted by
3843 posts

It might be a good time of day for a guided walk, with focus on history and architecture.
Guided walks around town are led by university students. These leave from the Tourist Information Centre.
Free, except you are expected to tip the university student/guide at the end of the walk.

If you are talking about after dinner, I would think everyone will want a short walk or evensong, and then back to hotel & bed in order to wake up early and begin the next day.
The teens in my family would want to be back in their rooms by 9--10 PM so they could watch TV, text and email their friends back home, and relax in their PJ's.

Posted by
1498 posts

I attended a Shakespeare Comedy presented in the outdoor cloisters of one of the Colleges. OK, the theater types might enjoy that. Some College Sports Games. Some Pubs are Family Friendly and fun for people watching with outdoor seating. They also have some World Class Museums: The free admission Ashmolean has many Ancient Roman and Greek Antiquities and I think they have a real Dodo Bird. With long Summer days, just going for walks can be very entertaining.

Posted by
9123 posts

Where are the teens visiting from?
It’s evensong. 30-40 minutes and well done. Christ Church is gorgeous. The campus was filmed for Harry Potter movies.

Pubs by definition can be focal points of a local community. As this is an educational tour would be beneficial to point out the differences. Pubs are not like American bars. You’ll find families, babies, dogs and occasionally cats. Believe if there are musicians playing they can stay until midnight. https://www.lawble.co.uk/children-in-pubs/

However, best to confirm that with the behind the counter personnel.

I’d negotiate a group rate with the punters who are often college students.

EDIT: A friend reminded of the night time Oxford Castle and Prison tour. Of course, no clue following Covid lockdown, if this has rebooted.

EDIT: Pitts River Museum ( check website for hours and events )

EDIT: https://thirstymeeples.co.uk/pages/events

Posted by
24 posts

Thank you everyone for the ideas. This is a new, personalized tour for a small, student travel company. The main chaperones are two English teachers so there is a bit of a literature theme. I help lead the a trip or so each year. The group is from Michigan. It will be end of June, would love to find a student theater or sports, but I imagine it will be too late for that.

Good info that we can't leave during the evensong. I still think they would be nice to see though. Include with an evening walk perhaps after finding a pub with some music.

Already planning a tour during the day, came across a Tolkein/CS Lewis tour that sounded intriguing, but just a free, regular tour might be an option too. The Ashmolean museum closes at like 5pm except on Fridays I think. Would love to pop into for at least a little while.

I'll see about negotiating a better rate for punting. It looks like there are standard prices to book ahead of time, and with a tour group like this, it is nice to have as much as possible booked ahead of time.

We actually try and have some sort of evening activity for a trip like this as it keeps kids out of trouble. When they already have their friends around, they don't need to go back to rooms to text as much. It will be light out until after 9pm, so I don't think anyone will be going to bed until well after that.

Posted by
150 posts

Years and years ago my husband and I chaperoned student tours for a company called CHA. The days were taken care of by the tour, the evenings were on us. We went to a play in London, river cruise on the Seine, went through cathedrals and churches and ate. Teens always can eat! Museums open in the evening is a great idea.

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