Things to do in Oxford in July?

RandallFlagg

My daughter is going to her first festival in the summer, Truck Festival near Oxford. As we have to take her and a friend there and we're not overly happy being so far away from her so we are going to have a weekend in Oxford in late July so we can be on hand if needed.

Been before, just once many years ago for a work meeting and jolly at the Four Pillars hotel (Oxford Spires). May well book up to stay there again.

We will have our 14 year old son with us so will be looking for things to do Sat/.Sun.Any ideas? (apart from wandering around pretending to be Inspector Morse)

not_the_dj

The Natural History and Ashmolean are worth a visit.

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/72931000/jpg/_72931274_img_5237.jpg

randella

I've been to two Trucks myself, it's very civilised.  Your daughter should have a good time, it's quite a gentle introduction

richh

Boat trips are good fun - Salter's Steamers.  Blenheim Palace is good as well - but maybe less so for a 14 year old lad though.

Don't miss the Headington Shark!

It depends what your son is interested in really.

RandallFlagg

Thanks, the boat trip looks a deffo, shame the wildlife one isn't running in July as that would have been good.

RandallFlagg

richh said:

Boat trips are good fun - Salter's Steamers.  Blenheim Palace is good as well - but maybe less so for a 14 year old lad though.

Don't miss the Headington Shark!

It depends what your son is interested in really.

Stunt scootering at the local skate park, playing XBOX Live and being a bit shouty and rude to other players seem to be his main pre-occupations 

RandallFlagg

Agreed on the Shark, will keep that a surprise for them.

RandallFlagg

randella said:

I've been to two Trucks myself, it's very civilised.  Your daughter should have a good time, it's quite a gentle introduction

OK thanks @randella she's only 16! (going on 20)

Bridgehouse

I'd recommend sampling some of the local coffee houses and being rather shocked at how much you can actually spend on a drink.

Failing that, dress up as a 'town' or 'gown' type, goad the others and see how long it takes you to end up in the JR...

Sporky

not_the_dj said:

The Natural History 

Some quite interesting stuff in a magnificent building. Really nice ironwork ceiling. I tend to forget to look at the exhibits, which is odd, because dinosaurs are literally my jam.

randella

RandallFlagg said:

randella said:

I've been to two Trucks myself, it's very civilised.  Your daughter should have a good time, it's quite a gentle introduction

OK thanks @randella she's only 16! (going on 20)

No worries - it's a fairly diverse mix of aging hippies, youth in their twenties, and all points in between like me and my friends who can't be arsed with Glastonbury-sized shenanigans.  I think quite a few younger kids go as it's relatively benign.

As for Oxford, even if you're not a fan of Morse there are some cracking pubs which appeared regularly in the series - the Eagle and Child (aka the Bird and Baby) on St. Giles, the King's Arms at the top of the Broad.  They'll probably be thronged in July mind - I grew up in Oxfordshire and I can't believe how busy the town's got.

My personal favourite was a place slightly out west of the city, at the top of Port Meadow on the Thames in a village called Godstow, called the Trout Inn.  I think the grub's a mixed bag so I won't recommend it, but there's a reason they always filmed there as the beer garden has to be about one of the nicest in the county for a sundowner.

EricTheWeary

not_the_dj said:

The Natural History and Ashmolean are worth a visit.

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/72931000/jpg/_72931274_img_5237.jpg

Sporky said:

not_the_dj said:

The Natural History 

Some quite interesting stuff in a magnificent building. Really nice ironwork ceiling. I tend to forget to look at the exhibits, which is odd, because dinosaurs are literally my jam.

We went around Oxford with my son when he was about 15 and he enjoyed those quite a bit, particularly the Ashmolean. We went to some chain Japanese place for lunch which he liked a lot. We even quite liked the bus ride, Oxford has the best park and ride system I've ever been on. I think he thought watching all the foreign tourists was reasonably interesting and we found some samurai stuff in an art gallery ( which he was interested in at the time). Quite a lot of free stuff to see in the city centre,some of the colleges have paid for tours if you want to go all Morse. 
Last time we mooched about the covered market ( which is interesting as these things go) and ate pasteis de nata in a cafe there. Quite a lot of time was taken up trying to find a useable public loo though   We stayed at the Oxford camp site which is small and very hidden. Handily across the road from a park and ride. I'm sure it's no Four Pillars but if you wanted to join in the festival spirit...

boogieman

Don't attempt to park in Oxford unless you're happy to set up a second mortgage. The park and ride is the best option. 

RandallFlagg

boogieman said:

Don't attempt to park in Oxford unless you're happy to set up a second mortgage. The park and ride is the best option. 

Ok, noted!

Handsome_Chris

Or park at mine and get the train from Bicester Village to Oxford. Actually​ very painless.

monofin

At the rear of the natural history museum is the Pitts river museum. Lots of stuff for your son like shrunken heads etc

octatonic

Serve your betters.

JohnPerry

Dinner at Sojo, Chinese restaurant of national acclaim. Fantastic grub

EricTheWeary

monofin said:

At the rear of the natural history museum is the Pitts river museum. Lots of stuff for your son like shrunken heads etc

That's the one I meant. It is the must see/ do even if I couldn't remember what it was called. 

RandallFlagg

monofin said:

At the rear of the natural history museum is the Pitts river museum. Lots of stuff for your son like shrunken heads etc

Ah OK - thanks

sweepy

There is the O2 in Cowley Rd, along with The Bullingdon, so possibly some live music, also Cowley rd has PMT and some very nice places to eat