The city of Oxford is only a 50-minute-train ride from London, and a beautiful town to visit for a day trip! We took our two toddlers in their double stroller; aside from the issue of an extremely overbooked train, it went well.

Oxford University Campus: Thankfully, the friend we traveled with read up on the campus and buildings in advance, so he served as our personal tour guide. There are tons of walking tour options around the university, as well. For us, with our young kids, committing to a guided tour can be challenging because of their mealtimes and fluctuating moods. So it helps us to know in advance the exact spots we wanted to visit (i.e., where Harry Potter movie scenes were filmed).

City center with shops and restaurants: There was a decent selection of places to shop and eat! Our kids favorite is the chain restaurant, Tortilla, where they happen to love the cheese quesadillas, guacamole, and beef brisket. Chains might not always be the go-to for travellers, but for our young kids, going to a tried and tested place works for to make our trips more efficient!

Bicester Village: Oxford is also a 20-minute train ride from Bicester Village, a high-end shopping outlet with dozens of designer brands at discounted prices. That being said, my kids can only tolerate shopping for a certain amount of time. Thankfully, they have a small playground area, as well as a several dining options, including a Pret a Manger and a crepe stand which they enjoy the food from!