bargain british breaks
Oxford’s cityscape hides inspiring activities for young families
Inspired by Oxford
The beautiful university city has plenty going on to inspire and entertain young families touring within a budget, as Alice Griffin discovers Alice Griffin is a travel writer. Along with her husband, young daughter and dog, she loves touring adventures in their motorhome
manageable scale than somewhere like London. The time was right to set off in ‘Harold’, our cosy home on wheels, and try a city break in a more budgetfriendly way, safe in the knowledge that we could put Isabella to bed in comfort and still enjoy a glass of wine in the shadows of the bright lights.
ibrant, diverse and with a buzz permanently in the air, there is no doubt that cities can be intoxicating places, and in my 20s I thrived on occasional bright-light breaks, soaking up all they had to offer with energy and enthusiasm. However, these days I tend to prefer more peaceful retreats. Aside from age, this is partly due to the arrival of my young daughter. Nowadays, the wonders of a city lose their charm when I find myself trying to keep her occupied, rested and engaged amid the hustle and bustle. Then there is the expense aspect of accommodation and meals out to consider. All-in-all cities have been off my radar for some time now, but what if a city does not feel quite like a city? What if there are activities to keep everyone smiling and even peaceful areas to retreat to? Best of all, what if you have your own accommodation? Suddenly, the idea of a city starts to sparkle again for me. My husband, Scott, and I decided that a weekend in beautiful Oxford might be a wonderful idea. A couple of days to wander the museums and show our six-year-old daughter, Isabella, some of the things she has read about in books, and all on a smaller and more
staying close to the centre I began by searching for a suitable campsite and was surprised to find several that were within public transport distance. However, the very central Oxford Camping and Caravanning Club campsite was too good to ignore, with the Park and Ride bus service outside the door as well as the option to walk into town. Despite being next to a train track the site was relatively quiet and you can’t put a price on being so close to the centre. We arrived late morning on a Friday and, while there was still sunshine before the predicted rain, we didn’t want to waste any time in getting out and about so after a quick lunch in the ’van and a peruse of an Oxford city map, we decided to stroll into town along the river. This is possibly the most endearing thing about Oxford; the easy access to peace when you need a breather from the bustle. You could spend a busy afternoon indulging in one museum after another, yet within minutes be down by the river feeding ducks with nothing but the sound of rowers’ oars gliding through the water. It really is a magical place. We sauntered along, soaking up the wildlife, the boats, the runners and
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“You could spend a busy afternoon in a museum, yet within minutes be by the river feeding ducks”
From left to right River boat cruises give a different view of the city. Wander by the river, watch the oarsmen and feed the ducks. Isabella has it all planned out with the help of her map of Oxford 32 | Summer Special 2014 | www.practicalmotorhome.com
www.practicalmotorhome.com | Summer Special 2014 | 33