May is easily one of my favourite months. I love the newfound sunshine and flowers and you can see the world waking up. I love it so much that we even chose to get married last May. This year, we are treated to not one but two bank holidays in May. If you are like me and live around Oxfordshire, or are simply visiting, you are probably trying to make plans for both occasions. Fear not as this blog post is specifically looking at what to do around Oxfordshire for the May bank holiday.
Have a good read through as I am sure there is something for everyone!
What to do around Oxfordshire for the May Bank Holiday: Local Advice
Events around Oxfordshire for the May Bank Holiday (1st and 8th)
- Oxford Artweeks – Running throughout May (from the 6th onwards) is the Oxford Artweeks. This takes place around Oxfordshire and the timings do change based upon your location. Here you have numerous local artists bring their work to the UK’s largest pop-up event. If you are an art lover like me, this could definitely hit the spot. Best of all, it is free to visit.
- May Morning, Oxford – A tradition running back 500 years, the May Morning takes place on the 1st of May. For the main events, you will need to wake up early and head to Magdalen College. The choir sing at sunrise, before the chiming of the church bells. Later in the morning, the streets will usually be busy with brass bands and the traditional Morris dancers. Definitely an unforgettable event if you are in the area!
- Henley Arts Trail – Yet another opportunity to browse and purchase some impressive artwork. The Henley Arts Trail takes place all around the Henley area, going to all of the smaller and unique galleries in the area. This runs from around the 26th of April to the 3rd of May, depending on location. You can find all of the different options here.
- Jousting Tournaments, Blenheim Palace – If you are after action and adventure, whilst also taking in rich history, this one is for you. Here you can imagine that you are back in the Middle Ages and take in all of the spectator sports. There promises to be falconry, archery and even hand-to-hand combat. If that is not for you, take time walking around the gorgeous gardens and palace at Blenheim. It never disappoints.
Events around Oxfordshire for the May Bank Holiday (29th)
- Blenheim Food Festival – Another one at Blenheim, but a very different tone to the last! On the 29th of May, you can feast on a wide-variety of sensational food, including some by celebrity chefs. There is fine dining, street food and even masterclasses. If you are a foodie like me, definitely one for the list.
Walks around Oxfordshire for the May Bank Holiday
If none of those events fit the bill, Oxfordshire offers you some of the best walks in the country. These could be perfect for the May bank holiday and here are some ideas:
- If you absolutely love walking, the Thames Path offers you such a wide variety. Some of my favourite parts are along Henley-on-Thames, either towards Temple Island or to Shiplake. Another favourite of mine is along the stretch of Thames by the Dorchester. There are plenty of pubs there too for a fantastic meal out.
- When I was younger, White Horse Hill in Uffington was a firm favourite. Walk back through time and marvel at the prehistoric landmark. Also come face-to-face with dragons and legends at the fabled place where St. George allegedly slew a fire-breathing monster. This is a perfect place for a picnic and I cannot recommend enough.
- Fans of the Vicar of Dibley and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will know the village of Turville well. Whilst there is not a direct walk here as such, you can scale to the top of the hill where the famous windmill is. The walk is quite steep, but the views are magnificent.
- Warburg Nature Reserve is found just outside of Henley. With breath-taking scenery and biodiversity, this is an incredibly relaxing walk. In the past I have seen multiple butterfly species, skylarks, red kites and even adders here. If you were a fan of Sir David’s Wild Isles, then this could be for you.
- The Ridgeway Walk is another fantastic option for you to get out into the great outdoors. With plenty of different options for you to choose from, the Ridgeway Walk really offers Oxfordshire at its best. West Ilsley is a good option for people wanting to begin. Just make sure that you remember where you parked the car!
Other Attractions around Oxfordshire for the May Bank Holiday
Lastly, we have the best attractions around Oxfordshire that could take your fancy. I know that I’ve probably missed out some great options, but these are the ones that I would personally recommend.
- The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford is filled with archaeological treasures. One thing that stuck out to me on a recent trip is the Totem Pole from North America. It is huge! There are multiple layers here to for you to explore. Just through a door is the Natural History Museum. Fans of Walking with Dinosaurs will recognise some of the animatronics used. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing a skeleton of the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex?
- One of my favourite places in Oxfordshire has to be Costwold Wildlife Park. If you love animals then this is a fun day out for all the family. I absolutely adore coming here; it seems a lot quieter than other zoos and allows you to just take the pace slow whilst exploring. For this one, I would definitely recommend to book in advance! Another good animal place is Crocodiles of the World, which is not too far away.
- On the topic of the Cotswolds, why not explore the area? I would firstly head to Burford, being sure to stop at their lovely garden centre. You could then explore the town before heading on out to the Slaughters or Stowe on the Wold. I could easily spend a day or two exploring this area; there is so much to see and do!
Final Thoughts
I hope that this post has helped you plan what to do around Oxfordshire for the May bank holiday. Whether you end up walking, eating or sight-seeing, I hope that you and your family have the most amazing time. If you ever want to reach out and ask questions about the above, I’d be more than happy to help.
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Other posts that may help you:
- Best Places to see Spring Flowers around Oxfordshire
- Days Out in Southern England
- What to do in Henley on Thames
- Spring Time Around Oxfordshire
Thank you for reading and I hope I have inspired you with a few ideas for what to do around Oxfordshire for the May Bank Holiday! If you have any questions about the items on my list or the area in general, please do get in touch in the comments below.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
