Oxford

Try and do an organized tour of the colleges. They can get you into places you cant do on your own- or dont know where to go.

Never stayed in Oxford, always came up from London or where I lived in Reading. But... most or all of the usual sites are easily reached on foot from the town center. So, picking a place in that area should met your needs. Note; The High Street will usually be very crowded on weekends. Oxford is a city of about 100,000, so if you want to take the kids someplace away from the town center, cab fare won't be oppressive.

Just start walkinganywhere in Oxford. It is such a fantastic city for a stroll. Be sure to look up and see the gargoyles.

The T.I. runs walking tours that get you into the colleges. If it rains the Ashmolean is a fab museum even the kids might lke. I stayed in one of the colleges booked through http://universityrooms.co.uk/ but not sure that would work for a family.

I think the Christchurch School has familiar Harry Potter sites they might enjoy. The church Lewis Carroll attended also has has Alice in Wonderland figures carved into the woodwork (predates Carroll's work). The TI could probably point you toward a tour oriented toward fans of those stories. Here's a resource but doesn't mention either of those. http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/England/oxford.htm

We went to Oxford as a day trip from London. We loved touring a college when the dining hall was all set up for lunch-like something in a movie-long tables with individual small lamps and coal fires burning. Visited the church where Shakespeare was a godparent at a christening. Had lunch at a pub that was a favorite of writers and poets. The Alice In Wonderland Shop was really neat with so many gifts to stock up on and bring home. Unfortunately we missed seeing the Ashmolean Museum because it is closed on Monday and that was the day we were there. So keep that in mind.

The beginning of September we will be making our second trip to Oxford. This time, as last, we will be staying outside of Oxford in a village. There is a bus that takes you into the city, and that's what we will do. I'm not sure of places to stay within Oxford, but a village could be an option for you too.

I would consider "punting" on the canal there. You can easily rent your own boat and punt yourself around. Would be fun for your kids, because they could steer the boat. It's fun, cheap, and relaxing.

Hi Jodi, During my visit to Oxford I found the BEST attraction is the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford: Anthropology and World Archaeology
www.prm.ox.ac.uk It is very interesting and kid friendly. My favorite was the shrunken heads and shrunken monkey heads. There are also swords, guns, costumes from around the world. I hope you enjoy as much as I did! Have a great trip!

If you can find a tour that takes you into the collecges, there is a lot of interesting stuff. One of the colleges has an all wooden chapel built into one of their ancient rooms, and there are deer in Magdelaine college park, among other unexpected sights.

I second the motion for punting! Lots of fun for kids. The Oxford Daily Guide tells you where and when: http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/guide/punting.htm You should also check out what's on at the Bodleian Library. It sounds counter-intuitive, but they might have a cool exhibit. Last time I was there, the temporary show was all about maps, with lots of drawings and painting of monsters and curious beings that were imagined to live in exotic places like Florida. It would have been great for tweens! Going up Carfax Tower is wonderful - gives you a view out over the city's "dreaming spires." Delightful, and would be great for kids. You can find info on it here (with lots of other choices of things to do, as well): http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/guide/visit/visit.html And an offbeat suggestion - children's theatre. There's frequently a show on for kids. What a great window into the culture, and fun way to spend an afternoon!

Hi Jodi,
if any of your group are into the Lord of the Rings there is a Tolkein tour which goes by his family home, where he taught, the pub where he and the Inklings (CS Lewis etc) met and discussd thier writing and where he is buried. Steve.