Families at the Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden is a great place to visit with little ones. Ask at the Ticket Office to borrow a trail or Explorer Backpack. Come and join us for one of our family-friendly events to learn about the wonders of the plant world, and get involved in crafting activities.
Trails
Winter Wonders trail: suitable for children aged 5 to 9
Garden Eye Spy trail: suitable for the very young
Book to visit the Gardens
Botanic backpacks
Our family-friendly backpacks will open up a world of exploration and investigation during your visit. There are usually two differently themed backpacks filled with hands-on equipment and suggestions for activities. Backpacks can be signed out without charge from the Ticket Office on a first come, first served basis, and can be used for the duration of your visit.
Build A Plant! (aimed at children aged 4 to 6)
Can you travel around the Garden finding all the parts you need in order to build a plant? Find roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits on your travels.
Get Growing! (aimed at children aged 6 to 9)
Can you find unusual examples of plants as you explore? Take a trip into a tropical rainforest and a desperately dry desert!
Map and online guide
Access and facilities
- From Easter to the end of September, a pop-up café next to the river serves hot and cold drinks, as well as cakes and snacks
- Picnics are welcome, but please take away any waste
- Baby-changing facilities are available in the disabled toilet
- The Garden and Glasshouses are accessible for wheelchairs and buggies. However, at busy times you are welcome to park buggies outside the Glasshouses
- Children’s scooters can be parked by the Ticket Office
- The Ticket Office has a range of pocket-money gifts for children to choose from
- Children are welcome to collect fallen leaves, petals etc from the ground, but please don’t pick anything from the plants.
- The river Cherwell runs along the side of the Garden, and there are several ponds both outside and in the Glasshouses
- The Garden contains nearly 5,000 different plants; please make sure that children do not put any plants in their mouths, and please wash hands before eating
- If visiting with children with additional needs, please look at our online access guide for more information