Family Days out in The Cotswolds
By Sarah Wood | Tuesday, 16 April 2024
The Cotswolds is an ideal spot for family outings and get togethers. Special days out with family and friends are difficult to beat so here’s some inspiration for you of things you can see and do with your family. We have split into themes:
Animals
If you love animals don’t miss a visit to Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park. This rare breeds haven has over 50 species of animals to see, an amazing children’s play area, woodland trail and much more.
Welcome to our farm (cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk)
Visit the Cotswold Wildlife Park and get up close with lions, giraffes, rhino and many more animals. With a mini gauge railway, adventure playground and feeding times to enjoy this is a great day out for all the family.
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
Heythrop Zoological Gardens is a private zoo, by appointment only, but offers a very personal upclose experience with animals.
Animal Encounters — Heythrop Zoological Gardens
For younger children fairytale farm is wonderful with Llamas, chickens and pigs to see and pet, adventure playground, Dino Valley with moving dinosaurs, fairytale dell and much more
Water sports
Oxford Wet and Wild water park has an inflatable course on a lake, wetsuits to hire, paddleboards, kayaks lots for all to do age restriction/height on all activities.
Oxford Wet N Wild – Oxfordshires Best Aqua Park and Cafe
Cotswolds Water Park has wild swimming, kayaks, paddleboards all based at lake 86
What do we do | Cotswold Water Park Hire| Lake 86
Sandford Parks Lido is a 50m heated pool in Cheltenham combining heritage and a healthy day out
Sandford Parks Lido Cheltenham
Hire an electric or paddle punt or gondola on the River Thames
Paddle and Electric Punts, Boat Hire, Newbridge, Oxfordshire (oxfordpunts.com)
Windrush Leisure Centre has a 25m swimming pool, a training pool, gym facilities and a cafe
Windrush Leisure Centre | Gym, Swimming Pool & Classes in Merton, London | Better
Country Parks & Country Walks
Sudeley Castle has 10 beautiful award winning gardens to walk around surrounding the historic castle, and a great adventure playground with a zip wire and obstacle course.
Faringdon Folly is a great walk through woodland to the tower at its heart and spectacular view from the top of the folly.
Information about Folly Tower and woodland – Faringdon Folly Tower and Woodland
Chimney Water Meadows Nature Reserve on the banks of the River Thames with 750 acres to explore and three great bird hides to watch the wildlife.
Chimney Meadows | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)
Shotover Country Park with wonderful walks through valleys and hills with far reaching views across South Oxfordshire from the top. Most of the area is SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and a haven for wildlife
Countryside and nature reserves – Shotover Country Park | Oxford City Council
Snelsmore Country Park is heathland and open spaces ideal for a family walk
Snelsmore Common Country Park | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)
Castles and Heritage
The ruins of a hall and dovecote make for a charming day out and picnic with the family
Minster Lovell Hall and Dovecote | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)
North Leigh Roman Villa is considered to be one of the large Roman villas built in 4th century with a fine mosaic tiled floor
North Leigh Roman Villa | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)
Broughton Castle is a private moated manor house owned by Lord and Lady Saye & Sele and has been in the same family since 1447, beautiful grounds to explore
Welcome to Broughton Castle – Broughton Castle
Sudeley Castle has many associations with medieval Kings and is where Katherine Parr, Henry V111’s last wife is buried, exhibitions, castle tours and much more to enjoy
Sudeley Castle & Gardens | Wedding Venue | Historic Attraction | Food
Blenheim Palace
Visit this grand palace renowned as the birthplace of Winston Churchill which sits in 2000 acres of parkland for you to explore.
