Some ideas for days out.

Many of these are tried and tested by us. Let us know of other ideas. It is advisable to check details beforehand – tell us of any errors.

WITHIN A 6 MILE RADIUS:

Millennium Green Old Oxford Rd Kingston Bagpuize

Small maze, lots of space to run around, human sundial.

Recreation Grounds by John Blandy School

Small Rec. exciting apparatus for young children.

Large Rec. sports field with goal posts etc.

Farmer Gow's Activity Farm, Eaton Road, Appleton, 01865 863472 http://www.farmergows.co.uk

Email:enquiries@farmergows.co.uk Meet the Animals daily ~ 11 am and 2 pm ~ young animals every month, including bottle fed lambs and goat kids, egg collecting and ferret walking. Hold baby chicks, ride toy tractors, collect eggs, walk goats and ferrets, BMX bike track, farm shop, bale climbs - indoor and outdoor, woodland walks, adventure play area with giant sandpit. Indoor and outdoor play and picnic areas.

Open daily until 23 Dec, 10am – 5pm Adult £5.75, OAP/Student £5.25, Child (3-16) £4.75 Under 3 free Family £20.

NOTE: from 1 January 2008 Farmer Gow’s will be at Longcot Road, Fernham, SN7 7PR just off the A420 near Faringdon and within sight of the White Horse at Uffington. Our new telephone number should be ~ 01793 780 555 DIRECTIONS Follow the A420 past Faringdon. Turn LEFT for Fernham (brown tourist attraction sign posts to the White Horse Hill). In Fernham turn RIGHT for Longcot. Farmer Gow's is approximately 3/4 mile from Fernham on the RIGHT.

Alternatively, for a shorter and more scenic route: Follow the A420 past Kingston Bagpuize. Just past the end of the dual carriageway turn LEFT onto the B4508. Follow the B4508 to Farmer Gow's through the villages of Pusey, Gainfield, Hatford, cross the A417 and through Shellingford and Fernham. Farmer Gow's is approximately 3/4 mile past Fernham on the RIGHT. 

Millet’s Farm Frilford, Abingdon Road. Frilford. http://www.milletsfarmcentre.com Farm Shop: 01865 392 200 Open daily. Small play area, farm animals, guinea pigs – Free. In summer Maize Maze and other attractions. May to September: 01865 391086

WITHIN A 12 MILE RADIUS:

MUSEUMS and WILDLIFE PARKS

Hands on! (formerly Curioxity) 1-5 London Place St Clements, Oxford. www.oxtrust.org.uk/handson

Adults £5, Children £3.50, Family Ticket £15 (4 people incl at least one adult). Open: every Saturday and Mon-Sat at half terms and local school holidays 10am-4pm. 01865 728953. Science Birthday Parties on Sundays and after school. Hands-on exhibits - packed with loads of exciting interactive experiments. Recommended age 5-12 years with changing exhibitions.

Museum of Oxford, St Aldates, Oxford, 01865 252 761, www.oxford.gov.uk/museum

local history exhibits and the story of Oxford, reconstructed Oxford interiors, shop, etc

Now entrance Free to galleries Mon closed, Tues-Fri 10am–5pm, Sat-Sun 12 – 5pm.

The Oxford Story, Broad Street, Oxford, 01865 728 822, www.oxfordstory.co.uk every day except Christmas - check times but usually Mon-Fri 10am–4.30pm. Sun 11-4.30. Adults £7.25 Children (5-15) £5.25. Seniors and students £5.95.

Ride in a carriage through models of Oxford’s past with commentary to suit different ages.

University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, 01865 272 950 10-5pm daily. www.oum.ox.ac.uk Dinosaurs, living insects, activities. Free No 1 Family Friendly Museum Awards 2005. Christmas lectures for children.

Pitt Rivers Museum, 01865 270 927, Parks Road, Oxford. Tuesday to Sunday (and Bank Holiday Mondays) 10am - 4.30pm, Mondays 12 - 4.30pm. www.prm.ox.ac.uk

Shrunken heads and other curiosities. Free.

Ashmolean Museum 278000 www.ashmolean.org Mon closed, Tues-Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 12–5pm. Closes for St Giles Fair. Egyptian, Greek and Roman treasures. Free.

Abingdon Museum, County Hall, Market Place 01235 523 703 www.abingdon.gov.uk Weekends 10.30am-4pm. Free. Special Exhibitions. Check for bank holiday and roof visits.

Vale and Downland Museum, Church Street, Wantage 01235 771 447 www.wantage.com/museum

Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm (closed on bank holidays). Adults £2.50 or family ticket £7, OAP £2,

Children £1. All tickets valid for 1 year.

Cogges Manor Farm Museum, Church Lane, Witney 01993 772 602 www.cogges.org Cogges Manor Farm is open until Sunday 28 October, 2007. Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 12noon-4pm, last admissions - one hour before closing, closed Mondays, Advent weekend 1 and 2 December, 12noon-4pm. Adults £5.70.Concessions £4.85 Children £2.45 Family £14.50. Audio tour now free on request. Farm animals, demonstrations, nature trail, dressing up and games room.

Cotswold Wildlife Park at Burford 01993 823 006 www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Adults £9.50, Senior citizens and children £7.

Wildlife, adventure playground, miniature railway. Open daily from 10am–3.30pm. Oct to Feb; 10-4.30pm March – Sept.

Oxfordshire Museum, Park St, Woodstock, 01993 811456 www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/the_oxfordshire_museum Tues-Sat 10am-5 pm Sun 2-5pm. email oxon.museum@oxfordshire.gov.uk Free. Interactive exhibits.

Pendon Museum, Long Wittenham, 01865 407 365 www.pendonmuseum.com Adults £5, Children £3, under 7 free. Fam £16 Normal opening times; Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 5.30pm. Please check on events page for additional openings and extended openings. Model railways and villages.

Didcot Railway Centre 01235 817200 www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk Open Sat and Sun all year and daily at holiday periods and some other times (closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day) Weekends and Steamdays 10am-5pm. Other days (also January, February, November & December) 10am-4pm. Enter via Didcot station didrlyc@globalnet.co.uk Admission charge varies depending on event. Less for children. Old engines, railway memorabilia. Thomas the Tank engine trips.

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock - 08700 60 20 80 events@blenheimpalace.com

SPORTS

http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk leisure and culture

Holiday Sport Schemes Ring and reserve, Sports Development Team by telephone on 01235 547646 or by email on sportsdevelopment@whitehorsedc.gov.uk or ring 01235 547646.

Abingdon: Tilsley Park Dunmore Road, Abingdon (01235) 524 524

Email: tilsley.park@whitehorsedc.gov.uk Swimming, badminton etc

Abingdon: White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre Audlett Drive (01235) 540705

Wantage Leisure Centre Portway, Wantage (01235) 766201/2/3

Faringdon Leisure Centre Fernham Road, Faringdon (01367) 241755

Oxford Ice Rink: Oxpens Road, Oxford 01865 467000

Abbey Meadows Children’s Water Park Abbey Meadows,Abingdon. Tel(01235) 520202 ext 544 . For full details on prices and availability please telephone.

Also Pitch and Putt, Heated outdoor pool, Putting and Crazy Golf

Snakes and Ladders, Audlett Drive, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3NJ 01235 522 227 www.snakes-and-ladders.co.uk/abingdon/ email abingdon@snakes-and-ladders.co.uk open 360 days of the year  10am – 6pm (with last entry at 5.15pm) £3.50-£5.50 depending on age of child and time of day, adults £1. Toys to ride on, slides, climbing maze. Age 2 and upwards.

River trips: Salters 7 days a week in season May to September contact for new schedule 01865 243421 or email info@salterssteamers.co.uk

(This service can run late on weekends) starting by Christ Church Meadows and finishes in the picturesque market town of Abingdon www.salterssteamers.co.uk/  Hire of punts, day-boats and other small craft (from Oxford only)

WITHIN A 20 MILE RADIUS:

STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway, Kemble Drive, Swindon Tel: 01793 466646 www.steam-museum.org.uk Every Day – 10.00am to 5 pm Closed 25 and 26 Dec and 1 Jan

Adults - £5.95 each Children 5 to 16 - £3.95 each, Family Ticket (2 Adults and 2 Children) - £15.20, Family Ticket (2 Adults and 3 Children) - £18.30.

Real trains to explore, models of people and hands-on exhibits. Christmas activities.

Roves Farm, Sevenhampton, Near Highworth Swindon. Tel: 01793 763939 Website: www.rovesfarm.co.uk Opening Times vary through year consult website for confirmation 10.30am-5.00pm.  Mar, Sep & Oct. Friday to Sunday inclusive. We are open daily for all the school holidays. Also open for Christmas Activities in December- go to the “Christmas” page for full details.

Adults £5.50, Concessions £5, Children (over 3) £4.50.

Bale tunnel maze, willow maze, tractor and trailer rides, goat racing in school holidays, bottle-feed the kid goats and lambs, toddlers' play area, nature walks.

Oasis Leisure Centre, North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1EP. Tel: 01793 445401
http://www.swindon.gov.uk/index/leisure/placestovisit/oasis.htm

Lagoon pool, three giant water flumes, hydro slide, learner pool, water cannon, elephant slide

Gym, snooker tables, squash courts, indoor bowling green, children’s soft play area.

Living Rain Forest livingrainforest.org Open daily from 10am to 5.15pm (except Dec 24 closes 1 p.m. Closed 25th and 26th December) Adult £6.95, OAP/Student/Concessions £6.30 Children (5 - 14) £4.95 Children (3 - 4) £3.95 Family (2 A + 2 C) £20.75 Take A34 towards Newbury. Exit at East Ilsley and follow the signs to Hampstead Norreys and the Rainforest. Tel. (01635) 202444

Science Museum, Wroughton http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/wroughton/ Not open on daily basis, booking needed: telephone - 01793 846200 or e-mail - enquiries.wroughton@nmsi.ac.uk

See website for special events e.g. Science club for children

Store of large objects from enormous Lockheed Constellation airliner and early computers, to very heavy objects such as the Wood Press (140 tonnes) and early MRI scanners.

FURTHER AFIELD

Roald Dahl Children's Gallery, Bucks County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury 01296 331 441 http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/museum/dahl/index.stm Times vary throughout the year. Closed on Sunday. Hands on activities – extra interest if you enjoy Roald Dahl. Other activities in main museum.

Entrance £4 (free for under 3s, booking is advised.

Birdland – Bourton-on the Water 01451 820480 www.birdland.co.uk

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Chalfont St Giles, Tel. 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk Closed in winter. Open from 31 March. Hands-on activities.

Beale Park Lower Basildon near Reading 0870 777 7160 www.bealepark.co.uk

Wildlife Park, adventure playground.

River and Rowing Museum Henley www.rrm.co.uk 01491 415600. The Museum is open 7 days a week except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day. WINTER (1 September to 30 April) 10am to 5pm SUMMER (1 May to 31 August) 10am to 5.30pm. £3.50 adults, Children (3-16) £2.50. Boat Trips run from the Museum's jetty over the Easter and summer holidays.

Cotswold Farm Park (Rare Breeds), Guiting Power - 01491 850307 www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

Station X - Bletchley Park Mainly for families with older children.

www.bletchleypark.org.uk 01908 6400404 Open daily in season: The opening times are different for weekdays and weekends. Check for details and special events. Free parking at station. Daily ticket is now an annual season ticket - Adults £10, Family £25, concessions £8 and children (12-16) £6; Children under 12 free. (cheaper to book in advance on-line)