The botanic gardens here aren't huge, but they're fun and relaxing. There are some nice strolls…read morearound the grounds, plus interesting greenhouses with a large variety of flowers and greenery to enjoy. The admission is slightly steep for what you get, but worth at least one visit.

Lovely. This…read moregarden is charmingly well laid-out and really genuinely inviting. The gift shop is full of lovely little items and there is a cafe. The feel in the gardens is really restful. That having been said, the plants are well-labelled and the displays are really informative.

The Didcot Railway Centre is a railway museum and heritage railway engineering centre, based in a…read moreformer engine shed at Didcot. It became the home of the Great Western Society in 1967, and has since developed into a fully-fledged heritage railway attraction. As the name suggests, the focus is on the heritage of the Great Western Railway (GWR), one of the 'Big Four' railways companies nationalised into British Railways in 1948. Didcot is an appropriate location as the junction of the original Great Western Main Line from London to Bristol with its branch to Oxford and Birmingham. The showpiece of the centre is the original 1932 railway shed and associated workshops. There is also an elevated coaling stage from the original yard. Around this, the centre has added two short demonstration lines for trains to run on, complete with replica stations, which provide short rides behind steam engines (mostly at weekends and school holidays - check website for details and also for special event days). Entry tickets provide for unlimited numbers of rides, however. Of particular interest is the display of the broad-gauge line (7'01/4") originally chosen by Brunel for the Great Western in 1840, but which was gradually replaced in the 19th century by standard gauge track. This comprises an original transhipment shed, used to move goods from broad to standard gauge trains, and a length of broad gauge and mixed-gauge track. The collection of locomotives includes a number of 4-6-0 Great Western express and mixed traffic engines, some steam and diesel shunters, a GWR railcar from 1940, and the GWR-commissioned gas turbine locomotive 18000, built in 1949. There are also replicas of two broad gauge locomotives, the 2-2-2 Firefly and the 4-2-2 Iron Duke. There is also a varied collection of coaching stock, including a functioning autocar of the type used on branch lines. The site has a small museum, shop selling souvenirs, two second-hand bookshops supporting specific aspects of the society's work, and a cafeteria serving light meals, beverages and snacks (including excellent choice of home-made cakes). Access is via a subway tunnel from Didcot station (18 steps), with parking in the station car park. Despite the steps, the site welcomes visitors with physical, sensory and learning disabilities and guided tours, booked in advance, can be provided - see website for details. The site itself has concrete walkways but the nature of the site means not all areas have level access. It makes for a great day out for rail fans of all ages.

There are many things to see on a large site including short rides on two stretches of track. It…read moreisn't quite like a heritage railway or a conventional museum but it is a bit of all those things and more. Plenty to see and a good cafe as well.

So this place is very small! Not bad, just small. Think almost the opposite of Ashmolean in terms…read moreof scale. There is a gallery for local exhibitions and upstairs is historic town hall. I just came out of the current exhibit, which is the work of a local man who died young as a result of his disability. Very touching that the town puts on local work to look at local artists and such. Nice little cafe, gift shop, and friendly folks who know city very well.

This museum tells the history of Oxford from the first river crossing through to the 20th century…read more I don't find it as interesting as the other museums in Oxford but maybe that is because I was brought up near Oxford and knew a lot of the history anyway, or maybe it is because I've only ever been in it whilst in the company of small children who have a tendency to rush round and not let you read all the notices. It does have things to keep the children interested just not quite as many exciting things as the Pitt rivers and Natural History museum. They often have children's activities and events on but you do sometimes have to pay for these (the other musuems just ask for donations). The nearest toilets are in the Town Hall next door - which also has a cute cafe hidden away in its depths.

Well, lawks. We visited the Chiltern Open Air Museum last April and, as I assume it's still there,…read moreit's about time this review got finished. So here goes. Bottom line: This is a great place for kids and families, or simply for a stroll around the many buildings very interesting buildings that are reconstructed here. The museum takes old buildings of all sorts -- agricultural, industrial, pre-war, post-war, etc. -- and rebuilds them on this one site. Walking through the streets is like stepping back in time, as you pass a toll house to find a dairy farm and then, around the corner, a prefabricated war-era bungalow with an air force hut (replete with gas mask and war-time air navigation maps!). There are activities for kids of all ages, various little stalls selling home-made this-and-that, and a (slightly pricey) little cafe for tea, cakes, and sandwiches. Highlights for us included the prefab house (with outdoor bomb shelter), toll house (where the kids learned how to knit), and the lambs and shire horse ponies. This is a gem of a museum where families can wile away a few hours in the sunshine. Certainly worth visiting if you're in the area.

A great way to spend a few hours!…read more The museum has got a strange collection of buildings that have been 'collected' from the Chiltern area. There isn't really any theme to the museum other than that - the buildings date from all kind of eras. I'm not sure of the exact amount, but I'd guess there where about 20 buildings, including farm buildings, a school house, a toilet block and a church. The museum has got a small cafe if you need to get some warming soup or a cup of tea, and gift shop selling the usual souvineers (and, rather bizarrely, a Robocop postcard) One warning - as it says on the tin - the museum is 'open air' so if you go on a cold or windy day make sure you are well wrapped up!

The Abingdon Museum is quite a quaint place - upstairs in a strange building opposite the market…read moresquare. There are permanent exhibits about the history of Abingdon (do you know about the bun throwing?) and the MG factory. More interesting are the changing - showcasing everything from different aspects of local history to arts and crafts both historical and modern. The museum isn't large, but they make space for a small cafe where you can get snacks and hot drinks, plus information on local tourist attractions. There are toys and games for kiddies, too, and they obviously play host to school groups on a regular basis. During the summer months you can go up to the roof (the museum is free, but there's a small charge for access to the roof) for an unparalleled view of Abingdon. Oh, and it's where they keep the wireless router for the town - so if you're out and about and want internet access then it's probably the best place to be.

Based in England's grandest free-standing town hall with an open ground floor, Abingdon Museum…read morehouses permanent collections as well as temporary exhibitions. The roof gives a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside, and is also the venue for Abingdon's traditional 'Bun Throwing' ceremonies to mark Royal occasions. One of our Abingdon team's top 5 cultural venues.

This is a wonderful quirky space. Like the attic of your eccentric uncle who travelled widely,…read morebrought back whatever he could carry, then carefully catalogued everything (idiosyncratically) and then left it for you to go through--that is, if your uncle was the entirety of the British empire. Can't say enough. You can spend days here and still be saying "did you see THAT?"

We had a great time exploring the Pitt Rivers Museum! There is SO much on display it's almost hard…read moreto take it all in. If you're an anthropology buff, this is your place. So many neat things to see and everything you can imagine, too many to list. From clothing to masks to weapons to toys all from different cultures and different times. We even saw a Totem Pole! Overall a fascinating place to visit, just wish we'd had more time to explore!

Not only is Sandown Park a proper racetrack w/ horses & jockeys, it also serves as a venue for…read moreweddings, parties & concerts We were lucky enough to catch their Sandown Park Music Nights w/ SPANDAU BALLET I'll just tell you now that Spandau Ballet was incredible & it was amazing being surrounded by 1000s of Brits all singing along to their songs - It Was Gold! I sure hope they come to the US!! The racecourse itself is gorgeous - lush green grass & beautiful scenery, & the stands are situated so that great views are easy to attain. Sound was nice & loud - very crisp & clear Food options are varied & plentiful from basic burger-type choices along the grounds; fish & chips & other hot but still "basic" meals inside the food court & a couple of sit-down restaurants are located upstairs....offering veggie options! Woot! Bars all along the way to keep your thirst quenched & the good times rolling Super easy to get to - right off the train stop so no need to get caught in traffic or having to designate a driver - have that pint or 4! Thanks for the tremendously fantastic night!!

Its free, so it must be tough relying on generosity and grants alone. Only two rooms were open when…read moreI rocked up in early February (not their peak months granted - apparently there are more upstairs in Summer), the rooms were about Victorian England and its history and how self sufficient peasants were, how long Victoria kept on reigning for and the essential shards of roman pottery etc etc etc All felt like a bit of stale wool that I could have dug up on wikipedia, saying that they had put on a really good show in the Art Garden, exhibiting Valentines cards from the past 300 years strongly endorsed and circulated by Shell fuel company (who knew!). The exhibition was well thought out and intricately put together, a really regal effort for such a dainty museum in the middle of nowhere, hence 4 stars and I'd give it a shot on your way home from Blenhiem palace.

This museum is small and tells the story of Woodstock and Oxfordshire. Its claims to fame include…read morethe oldest piece of bread in Britain. It is a small museum but the way things are exhibited has been well thought out with things to touch and do, as well as things to look at in glass cases. There are special exhibitions. I've been to interesting ones on the 1960s, African arts and crafts, paintings of cattle, recycling and local crafts people. There are backpacks for children to borrow and trails for them to follow. In the school holidays there are always special activities and workshops for children. The really great thing about this museum is its garden. It is completely enclosed and so is good for small children. It was landscaped fairly recently and has a lawn, lovely spring flowers, and benches. There are always some statues and often there are special sculpture exhibitions. The cafe is OK but again it is the garden that makes it. There is decking just outside the cafe where you can sit, drink coffee and send your children off to play in the garden. What more could you want? Perhaps you'd like free car parking or regular buses to Oxford? Woodstock has both. The number 20 bus goes every half hour during the week from outside Borders - it is less often on Sundays. Parking is free though if you park on the main streets check how long you are allowed to park for - it may only be an hour or two. There is a free car park with no time limit.