Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hit-the-museums">Hit the museums</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="664" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Ashmolean_Museum_in_July_2014-1000x664.jpg" alt="Ashmolean Museum kids rainy day activity" class="wp-image-150460" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Ashmolean_Museum_in_July_2014-1000x664.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Ashmolean_Museum_in_July_2014-800x531.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Ashmolean_Museum_in_July_2014-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Ashmolean_Museum_in_July_2014-791x525.jpg 791w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Ashmolean_Museum_in_July_2014.jpg 1003w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Oxford’s <a href="https://www.ashmolean.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashmolean</a> is a real crowd pleaser; there’s regular family workshops (try your hand at printmaking with nature on 20 Sept), drawing stations and dress-up aplenty. Try a kids trail around the galleries, featuring exhibits they can actually touch for once, or have them design their own coin in the money gallery to stop them begging for more pocket money. The new artful encounters card game is perfect for some good old fashioned family rivalry too – guess the height of objects around the museum and the winner collects all the cards. The café and family lunch room mean you don’t need to leave the building for eats and they even supply free nappies if you ask at The Welcome Desk. </p>



<p>Across town at the <a href="https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pitt Rivers Museum</a> there’s a drop-in family activity corner every Sat from 12pm-3pm for free crafts, family activities or storytelling. Take them around the colourful Hawaiian art and landscape exhibition while you’re there to feel a little more like you’re on a tropical island rather than a very soggy one.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/PITTRIVERS.jpg" alt="Pitt Rivers kids rainy day activities" class="wp-image-183048" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/PITTRIVERS.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/PITTRIVERS-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/PITTRIVERS-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/PITTRIVERS-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A hop over the Bucks border, the <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/roald-dahl-museum-story-centre/">Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre</a> in Great Missenden has really stepped up its activity game lately and they’re all phizz-whizzing fun. There’s <a href="https://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/event/twits-storytelling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weekend storytelling</a> with truly Oscar-worthy staff performances as my toddler and I can attest (they’re doing a run on <em>The Twits</em> at the moment) and if it’s only lightly drizzling get your wellies on for a <a href="https://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/event/fantastic-mr-fox/">Roald Dahl Ramble</a> around local nature spots – they’re inspired by Dahl’s tales and finish with free cake for all and steaming hot coffee for you.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Roald-Dahl-Museum319-e1713452937523.jpg" alt="Roald Dahl Museum rainy day kids activity" class="wp-image-159521"/></figure>



<p>Older kids will enjoy the <a href="https://www.discoverbucksmuseum.org/whats-on/beyond-the-stars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beyond The Stars Exhibition</a> at the <a href="https://www.discoverbucksmuseum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Discover Bucks Museum</a> in Aylesbury; it’s a sci-fi extravaganza featuring props from TV shows such as <em>Doctor Who</em> as well as model spaceships, robots and aliens. It’ll transport their minds to another galaxy and they can learn the ropes of how special effects work – a future career path, perhaps? </p>



<p>Speaking of all things weird and wonderful, <a href="https://rrm.co.uk/event/unnatural-selection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unnatural Selection</a> at the <a href="https://rrm.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">River &amp; Rowing Museum </a>in Henley showcases fantastical animal drawings by local artist Izzy Smith that will tickle the imagination – think the kind of hybrid animals that a seven-year-old dreams of. The museum is closing permanently on Sep 21, so go along and show them some love. Stop by <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/hart-street-tavern-henley-oxfordshire/">Hart Street Tavern</a> afterwards for a top-notch kids lunch for under £10.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-break-a-leg">Break a leg</h2>



<p>Or hope that the cast of <em>Riverdance</em> don’t – it’s back for its 30th anniversary tour and thundering onto the stage at <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/riverdance-30-the-new-generation/new-theatre-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The New Oxford Theatre</a> today&nbsp;and this PM, and at <a href="http://atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aylesbury Waterside Theatre</a> from Mon 10 &#8211; Wed 12 Nov. Ignore any complaints that Irish dancing isn’t cool – this lot literally tap dance through fire in front of your eyes and the beats and reels are electric.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you’re planning ahead for rainy days to come (because they will), <em>Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show</em> rolls up to the <a href="https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/peppa-pigs-big-family-show" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Oxford Playhouse</a> from Tue 28 &#8211; Wed 29 Oct, having already popped by <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/peppa-pigs-big-family-show/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/">Aylesbury Waterside</a> for shows on Tue 21-Wed 22 October. It’s all set around the arrival of new baby Evie with plenty of music and interaction to make your own piglets squeal, in a good way. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="561" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Cirque-Eloize-ID-Relaoded-1000x561.png" alt="Cirque Eloize ID Realoded" class="wp-image-195551" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Cirque-Eloize-ID-Relaoded-1000x561.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Cirque-Eloize-ID-Relaoded-800x448.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Cirque-Eloize-ID-Relaoded-400x224.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Cirque-Eloize-ID-Relaoded.png 1288w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@cirqueeloize</figcaption></figure>



<p>Teens meanwhile will get their thrills from <em><a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/wycombe-swan-theatre/en-GB/event/dance/cirque-loize-id-reloaded-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Cirque Éloize: iDRELOADED </a></em>(Wycombe Swan, 26–27 Sept). BMX tricks, aerial acrobatics and jaw-dropping stunts set to urban beats will inspire their next fair weather trip to the skate park, although best not try these tricks at home. For more theatrics, Muddy’s <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/autumn-guide-2025-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/">autumn art and culture guide</a> has heaps of inspo for kids too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-some-ski-practice-in">Get some ski practice in</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1094" height="1358" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Snozone-MK-skiing.png" alt="Snozone MK skiing rainy day kids acitivity" class="wp-image-195553" style="aspect-ratio:4/3;object-fit:cover" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Snozone-MK-skiing.png 1094w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Snozone-MK-skiing-644x800.png 644w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Snozone-MK-skiing-806x1000.png 806w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Snozone-MK-skiing-322x400.png 322w" sizes="(max-width: 1094px) 100vw, 1094px" /></figure>



<p>Whether they’re doing pizza turns or parallels, or trying a board master, <a href="https://snozoneuk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Snozone</a> in Milton Keynes turns a rainy day into a snowy one. Wrap up warm (the white stuff’s real) but otherwise you can hire your kit and there’s a Sno Academy for kids on Sat and Sun morning if they’re taking things seriously. If not, a family sledging session is a blast. Get the feeling back in your fingers at the very on-brand Alpine Kitchen afterwards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-escape-the-rain">Escape the rain</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Exit-sign-escape-rooms-unsplash.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-195566" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Exit-sign-escape-rooms-unsplash.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Exit-sign-escape-rooms-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Exit-sign-escape-rooms-unsplash-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Exit-sign-escape-rooms-unsplash-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Literally, at an Escape Room. <a href="https://escapehunt.com/uk/oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Escape Hunt Oxford</a> sets brainteasers for kids from 8+ and following the clues works especially well as a gang. <a href="https://escapehunt.com/uk/oxford/games/alice-in-puzzleland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Alice in Puzzleland </a>challenges you to save the Mad Hatter in 60 minutes and you never know, you might have a small Jonathan Creek in your midst to crack the case. It’s located at the top of The Westgate so you might also snatch half an hour or so of retail therapy afterwards while everyone calms down.</p>



<p>It’s only right that Bletchley in Bucks (of WWII code-breaking fame) also has its own Escape Room, the aptly named <a href="https://cipherescape.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Cipher</a>. Take your tiny sleuths and historians (from 10 years old up) back to the 1940s to defuse some bombs, decode enemy messages and save the British navy, among other missions. All in a rainy day’s work. And for teens, the clunkily named <a href="https://www.escapefromtheroom.co.uk/high-wycombe/high-wycombe-home1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Escape From The Room</a> in High Wycombe promises to be better than it sounds. <a href="https://www.escapefromtheroom.co.uk/high-wycombe/new-game-operation-sealion">Operation Sea Lion</a> is the newest challenge and it’s also WWII themed, likely to tie in with the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. This one transports you to 1940s Paris where you’ll be tasked with finding secret intel left by the French resistance and “changing the course of history”. No biggie. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pass-the-popcorn">Pass the popcorn</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Ultimate-Picture-Palace-Oxford.jpg" alt="The Ultimate Picture Palace Oxford rainy day kids activities" class="wp-image-195557" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Ultimate-Picture-Palace-Oxford.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Ultimate-Picture-Palace-Oxford-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/The-Ultimate-Picture-Palace-Oxford-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Forget paying double figures for syrupy coke and pick n&#8217; mix at the cinema giants; the indie locals make going to the flicks a real treat. Take <a href="https://uppcinema.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Oxford’s Ultimate Picture Palace</a>, where you can load up on the city’s finest ice cream from <a href="https://www.gdcafe.com/web/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">G&amp;Ds </a>and grab a wine from nearby suppliers <a href="https://grapemindsdrinkalike.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grape Minds</a>. The <a href="https://uppcinema.com/kino-kids-cinema-club/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kino Kids Cinema Club </a>runs every other Sun and shows films old and new for those aged 5-11 – it’s just £4 for children and £6 for adults and you can bring your own picnic to save some moolah.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In Chipping Norton, budding mousekeeters can get bums on seats for the Disney Junior Cinema Club at <a href="https://thelivingroomcinemachippy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Living Room Cinema</a> (they show the latest kids releases too). If you have a baby or toddler up to 18 months in tow, <a href="https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/cinema-bambino" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cinema Bambino</a> at <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/chippy-theatre-oxfordshire-anniversary-schedule/">Chipping Norton Theatre</a> gives you a chance to see a film you might actually like in the company of other parents who don’t care if your little one goes off, and the lights are slightly up so you can change their bum/ hand out snacks should the need arise. And for kids who have trouble sitting still through a film, <a href="https://banbury.thelight.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Light</a> in Banbury also has a climbing wall in the complex with early bird weekend sessions at the very random time of 10:10am for under a tenner.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lastly in Bucks, you can’t go wrong at <a href="https://www.everymancinema.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Everyman</a>. Head for the <a href="https://www.everymancinema.com/venues-list/g01rl-everyman-marlow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marlow</a> or <a href="https://www.everymancinema.com/venues-list/x06sk-everyman-gerrards-cross/">Gerrard’s Cross</a> cinemas to hide behind the cushy pillows while you watch 30th anniversary screenings of Jumanji this autumn. You probably won’t want to play any rainy day board games after that…</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="http://Why museums are brilliant for noisy, curious, can’t-sit-still kids">Why museums are brilliant for can’t-sit-still kids</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/best-family-activities-oxfordshire/">15 brilliant family things to do in Oxfordshire</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/16-best-family-things-to-do-in-buckinghamshire/">17+ brilliant family things to do in Buckinghamshire</a></li>
</ul>


5 things to do with the family to dodge the showers

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