Stanford in the Vale

This village has a playground, a pub and a village shop. The playground is next to the pre-school, which is signposted throughout the village, and can be found on this map. 

There is plenty of parking and equipment for children of all ages. 

If you fancy an ice cream, there's a village shop. Map.

Wantage Manor Road Park and Splash Park. 

We visited this playground after school, so it was practically empty. The children really enjoyed having the splash area to themselves. 

It  is quite easy to find this playground; it is the first left after the school entrance on Manor Road. You can find it on the map here. 

You can find almost everything here and there's even a loo. The park speaks of faded grandeur - a defunct clock, an obviously once impressive water fountain, a bandstand. It is still a handsome playground though, and great care is taken over the grounds. 

The car park is quite large - you shouldn't have too much trouble parking. 

Hinksey Swimming Pool and Splash Park

I can't believe it took us so long to get here! Whilst the parking leaves a lot to be desired - there really isn't very much of it, the machines were out of action and we had to call the automated machine to pay; additionally, opposite the parking bays is a stream, so a bit of a recipe for disaster if you have a child liable to go running off - the recreation ground really is lovely. 

There are a lot of ways you can get into Hinksey, here is a map so you can work out the best way for you. 

There is a playground off the main road and a playing field behind it and abutting the parking area. We didn't visit the playground but we did go to the splash park and the swimming pool. 

We were in the swimming pool for a good 1.5 hours. It wasn't a hot day and that was probably a blessing as I imagine it can probably get quite busy here. There is a cafe, but as we went on a Sunday it closed before we got to use it. The pool is heated and the facilities - shower, toilets, changing - are as you'd expect for a popular pool. 

We had a really nice afternoon here and will probably go again before the end of the hols. 


Pics


Lake and tennis courts

Really lovely splash park

Info

Bridge, below. If your little one likes trains, the Didcot- Oxford train goes by here. 

Very close by

South Oxford Adventure Playground

I quite fancy Oxford River Cruises, just up the road.