Oxford Attractions

Dodos and Dinosaurs

Advantages: Interesting history, building and contents especially if combined with a visit to Pitt rivers museum
Disadvantages: No refreshments and lack of tourist guide information

For a child the University Museum of Natural Science can be a source of fascination or of nightmares. Initially for me it was the latter. I much preferred to visit the University Parks which are adjacent to the museum and run up and down Rainbow Bridge or feed the ducks rather than enter the tomb like building housing “skellingtons”. As I grew older the fascinating contents of the Pitt rivers museum which is accessed through the University ...
...the scary monster bit to discover the millions of more interesting exhibits in the Pitt Rivers collection. On reflection it seems strange to think that I was scared of dinosaur skeletons but not worried in the slightest of the far more frightening “shrunken heads” and other equally barbaric exhibits in the Pitt Rivers collection. My own children, however, are of a new generation and preferred dinosaurs to ducks any day. The University ...

Freespirit 26.02.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Oxford)

A choo-choo and a Ho-Ho-Ho all in one!

Advantages: Get to see Thomas and Santa, a good day out
Disadvantages: Pretty dirty place, queues

...which takes place through selected days in December, so if you want to go and see Santa as well as Thomas, you've got a bit of a wait I'm afraid! Okay, the Railway Centre itself can be reached from the M4 (Junction 13) and the A34, or off the M40. First Great Western Trains also stop directly at the centre, and you can also catch buses from Oxford to get there, so it is pretty easy to find. We found from the website that we had to pre-book tickets ...
...For more information on the Thomas Days Out, and what they offer all year round, see their website which is www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk. It is worth checking the website regularly as I think Thomas only comes a few times a year, so keep an eye out! Thank you for reading :) ...

mummy2harry 11.01.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Days Out with Thomas at Didcot Railway Centre, Oxfordshire

Ancient Meadows with Archaic Rules

Advantages: A pleasant place to stroll near the river in the centre of Oxford.
Disadvantages: Its not particularly interesting.

Christ Church Meadow is one of the two green spaces near the centre of Oxford open to the public, the other being the Parks: the University owns both. In all honesty neither are what you would call tourist attractions and the only reason I am writing about it at all is because Ciao have listed it under gardens to visit. However, if you are visiting Oxford it provides a pleasant escape from the traffic and bustle of the city centre, perhaps for a ...
...There are several entrances to Christ Church Meadows: from St. Aldates through the war memorial garden with its colourful herbaceous border, from cobbled Merton St., or from the top of High St., opposite Magdalen college via Rose Lane. Whichever entrance you choose you will be greeted by a set of rules which make the byelaws of the University Parks pale into insignificance: “The meadow keepers and constables are hereby instructed to prevent ...

Freespirit 22.04.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Christ Church Meadow (Oxford)

Cricket Trees and some more Grass

Advantages: Nice place if you like trees and cricket
Disadvantages: nothing much for children and no refreshments etc

...reflect the formality of the University which owns them. It is a large area of grass, specimen trees and shrubs which is criss crossed with equally formal gravel paths. It is bordered to the north by Norham Gardens which forms the southern boundary of what is probably the most select area of Oxford, to the south by the university Science area, to the east by the river Cherwell and to the west by railings which, on Sunday afternoons in summer, become ...
...doubt the matronly wives of University dons strolled through the Parks on their way to shop and at weekends it would have been the perfect place to promenade. Today, however, the Parks are a place one passes through on the way to somewhere else – more interesting. A shortcut from Lady Margaret Hall to town or en-route for a pleasant walk to Wolfson or Marston. Or they are a place where students or workers from the Science area sunbathe between ...

Freespirit 03.05.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of University Parks (Oxford)

Oxford Castle Unlocked - NOT VALUE FOR MONEY

Advantages: Can't think of any
Disadvantages: £7.25 to see very little

The price now is £7.25. It is way too expensive for what it is. I felt really robbed! The guide was completely ignorant of English history and how it fits in with the castle (tower). It was painful! It was raining so the top of the tower was closed. The mound was also closed because of the rain. It rains and half of the attaction is out of bounds??? The crypt is tiny with very little of interest. The audio/video guide system was not working. I was ...

George69w 01.06.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Unlocked Oxford Castle