Autumn suits Oxford. The colleges turn golden, the museums come into their own and, for October half term, the city fills its calendar with exhibitions, performances and family activities.
From detectives and dinosaurs to potions and Halloween adventures, here’s our guide to spending October half term in Oxford.
This October half term, The Story Museum is turning its attention to mysteries, detectives and curious minds.
On 27 October, The Mystery of The Story Museum invites trainee detectives aged seven and over to help crack the case in an interactive, board-game-style murder mystery. Families can examine evidence, inspect footage and interrogate suspects as the story unfolds.
On 29 October, Crime Scene Science puts young forensic scientists to work with hands-on experiments and clues, while Little Miss Marple: Muddle at the Vicarage brings mystery-solving, storytelling and live music together on 30 October for younger sleuths aged four and over.
There’s more detective work to be done in the museum itself, with the Mystery Academy: School for Young Detectives waiting to be explored in the Treasure Chamber.
Just along the road from The Store, the Ashmolean is always worth a visit, but there’s an extra reason to stop by over half term.
On 30 and 31 October, the museum is hosting free Halloween-inspired family workshops in its Atrium. Drop in between 11am and 3pm to make your own monster before heading off to explore the galleries.
For budding artists aged eight and over, Let’s Draw Together offers the chance to go behind the scenes in the Western Art Print Room, with free bookable sessions taking place from 27 to 30 October.
A short walk from The Store, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History is home to some of the city’s most family-friendly collections.
Come for the dinosaurs and the Oxford Dodo, then discover rocks, minerals, insects and fossils beneath the museum’s spectacular neo-Gothic roof.
From 24 October, younger visitors can pick up a Bat Trackers Trail and hunt for bats hiding around the museum, while Sparkle, Shine and Rock offers a free, hands-on introduction to the colourful world of rocks and minerals during half term.
Next door, the Pitt Rivers Museum adds several more floors of curious objects and discoveries from around the world.
Oxford and storytelling have always gone hand in hand, and the Bodleian Libraries are offering a family-friendly way to discover some of that history this half term.
On 28 October, the Children’s Literature Tour takes families through Oxford’s historic streets and university buildings while exploring the stories and writers connected to the city.
Recommended for children aged seven and over, the tour includes some of Oxford’s most famous literary connections and finishes with entry to the Divinity School.
For something suitably atmospheric around Halloween, head to Oxford Castle & Prison.
Ghost Fest returns from 23 to 31 October, bringing a suitably spooky programme to one of Oxford’s most historic sites.
From 25 to 31 October, the family-friendly Potion Making Experience invites children to solve clues, uncover magical ingredients and create their own drinkable potion with Merlin’s apprentice – all within the surroundings of a medieval crypt.
You can also climb St George’s Tower, descend underground and discover stories from almost 1,000 years of Oxford history.
Beyond the organised activities, half term is a good excuse to explore Oxford itself.
Discover the city of Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland, look for places associated with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, or seek out familiar locations from the Harry Potter films.
The Covered Market makes a useful stop along the way – particularly when something sweet is required.
For a day beyond the city centre, Blenheim Palace is around half an hour from Oxford and particularly impressive in autumn.
From 24 October to 1 November, Haunted Half Term takes over the Walled Garden with a programme of family activities. Meet snakes, tarantulas and other creepy creatures with ZooLab, listen to witchy tales and try your hand at circus skills.
For something after dark, the separately ticketed Halloween trail runs from 22 October to 1 November, transforming the palace grounds with lights, installations and suitably spooky surprises.
One of the pleasures of a family break in Oxford is how little time you need to spend getting from one place to another.
From The Store on Broad Street, the Ashmolean is just along the road, the Museum of Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museum are a short walk away, and Oxford’s colleges, shops, restaurants and historic sights unfold in almost every direction.
Spend the day exploring, then come back to Broad Street and make yourself at home.
