There are lots of magical Christmas events happening across Oxfordshire from Banbury to Abingdon and Witney to Thame.  Find great family friendly events in our 2024 guide to what’s on for kids over the Christmas holidays. Travel a little further and find out great events for kids in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire too. Click on any of the links in red for more details.

What’s On For Kids Oxfordshire Christmas Event Summary Guides 2024

WHERE TO VISIT SANTA

PANTOS & FESTIVE FAMILY THEATRE

CHRISTMAS LIGHT TRAILS

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON EVENTS

CHRISTMAS ICE SKATING

CHRISTMAS MARKETS & FAIRS

SPOTLIGHT – RIDGEWAY ADVENTURES

Ridgeway Adventures in South Oxfordshire offer adventure activities and target sports from axe and knife throwing to archery, archery tag, crossbow shooting, airsoft shooting and a laser maze heist experience.

Family Friendly Christmas Events in Oxfordshire 2024

Christmas at Fairytale Farm (near Chipping Norton)

Immerse yourself in the timless charm of Charle’s Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Fairytale Farm.   The Christmas experiences incluees everything from acosy Santa’s Grotto, an enchanting Fairytale Castle walk-through to dazzling Christmas illuminations.

Science Oxford Family Days (Oxford)  

Explore, discover and play in the Exploration Zone, wrap up and follow the trails on a wintery woodland walk. Children and grown-ups alike have fun experimenting with interactive exhibits in the Exploration Zone, where you can create and test flying designs at the Air Table, marvel at momentum with spinning discs at the Turntable, and try to beat the Scarf-shooter. Mini-engineers can build a giant magnetic ball run, or test what’s hot and what’s not with the Curious Camera. Brainiacs can solve puzzles, light up circuits and get the cogs whirring with our fun, mind-melting activities.  It’s such a fun place to visit for kids and grown ups, check out my review of Science Oxford Centre Family Days.

Christmas at Cogges (Witney)

Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas at Cogges, and meet Father Christmas and his elves in Santa’s Grotto, with story time and a gift for every child. As dusk approaches, visit for the ‘Later’ session where the Festive Light Trail brings magic to the grounds, and some surprises!

Steam into Christmas and help Santa find his missing reindeer at Didcot Railway Centre

Kids, there’s been a disaster! Santa’s reindeer have all escaped and are lost at Didcot Railway Centre – you know that he needs them to deliver all the presents on Christmas Eve.  Can you help him find them? Explore the unique collection of Great Western Railway steam locomotives, carriages, wagons, buildings and small artefacts at the 21 acre museum set around the original 1932 engine shed whilst you locate all of the reindeer stations.

Neverland in the Palace at Blenheim Palace (Woodstock)

Explore Blenheim Palace on a  swashbuckling adventure in Neverland, a place bursting with magic and make believe. Follow Tinkerbell through the State rooms as she sprinkles fairy dust over baubles and Christmas trees, wander through a moonlit London skyline and onto the Mermaid Lagoon.

Christmas Experience at Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park 

Father Christmas is visiting Hogshaw Farm again this year! He’ll be flying in to spend time with you and your family, hear your Christmas wishes and check on his reserve team of reindeer.

Christmas Experience at Roves Farm

Meet Santa in his Grotto at Roves Farm, choose a gift in the Toy Shop & mix up a treat for Rudolph at the Reindeer Food Station. Enjoy the party atmosphere at the live Elf Show and get stuck into some paper crafts to take home   (Sevenhampton)

Christmas Trail at Oxford Castle & Prison (Oxford)

Santa is coming to town! meet Father Christmas and enjoy some fun festive activities at Oxford Castle & Prison.

Christmas at Basildon Park (Lower Basildon)

Starting from 16 November, immerse yourself in a wonderland of beautifully adorned trees, garlands, and twinkling fairy lights, all inspired by classic Christmas films.

Bunkers Hill Christmas Reindeer Trail

A lovely little festive reindeer trail held at Bunkers Hill Nursery with all proceeds raised going to charity.

Meet the Reindeer at Appleton Christmas Barn (Appleton, near Oxford & Abingdon)

For many local families buying their Christmas tree and meeting the farm’s two reindeer has become a festive tradition.

•  Museum of Oxford (Oxford) tbc
• Christmas at Beale Park tbc
• Natural History Museum (Oxford) tbc

Oxfordshire Christmas Events by Day 2024

• Christmas Night Light at The Story Museum (Oxford) 15th Nov

Christmas Market & Activies at East Challow Village Hall Craft Market 16th Nov

The event will run from 2-5pm and will include a free soft play corner for up to 5s, the opportunity to take your family photos with Santa for £3 per child and a wide range of stalls.

• Thomley Christmas Market (Worminghall, near Wheatley) 23rd Nov
• Bicester Christmas Lights Switch On Event (Bicester) 30th November FREE
• Build the Museum Christmas Tree at Banbury Museum (Banbury) 1st Dec
• Sprouts Dance About Discos at Millets Farm 19th – 20th Dec

Festive Craft Event (East Challow, near Wantage) 21st Dec

A fun afternoon full of festive activities and crafts! Including hot chocolate cone making, biscuit decorating, card and gift tag designing, candle crafting and a story with Santa.

• Christmas baubles workshop at Banbury Museum (Banbury) 22st Dec
• Christmas Elves Workshops at Millets Farm 21st – 22nd Dec
• Make a Woolly Gonk  workshop at Banbury Museum (Banbury) 23rd Dec
• Stealers of Stories children’s theatre at Millets Farm 29th – 30th Dec
• Brick Madness at Banbury Museum (Banbury) 30th Dec

Lots of family friendly Christmas events still to be announced, everything below here still to be updated, please check back soon.

Masters Builders Club Christmas themed  brick building workshop (Henley and Dorchester on Thames) tbc

• Finding The Light at Florence Park with light sculptures, lanters & lasers (Oxford) tbc
• Son Et Lumiere light and sound project (Oxford) tbc
• Diwali Glow (Oxford) 18th Nov tbc
• Rose Hill workshops and lantern parade (Oxford) 18th Nov tbc
• Finding The Light at Florence Park with DJ laser show (Oxford) 18th Nov tbc
• Cutteslowe Light Trail (Oxford) 18th Nov tbfc
• Save The North Star family interactive walking tour (Oxford) tbc
• Lantern making workshop at The Market Tap (Oxford) 19th Nov tbc
• Dickensan Evening at the Vale & Downland Museum (Wantage) tbc
• Christmas Family Fun Day with the Hedgehog Club (near Witney) tbc
• Didcot Festive Market (Didcot) tbc
• St Mary’s Church Christmas Tree Festival (Kidlington) 14th – 15th Dec
• Christmas family forest days at Hill End (Farmoor) 20th + 21st Dec
• Oxfordshire Museum (Woodstock) tbc