Families in search of a fun-filled adventure for children in Oxford can enjoy the city’s must-see spots with a twist this summer, thanks to City Sightseeing Oxford’s Explorer’s Passport Trail.
The hop-on, hop-off adventure tasks youngsters to collect stamps from five locations in the city, which feature on the route of the 20-stop tour, which takes in key sites such as the Bodleian Library, Ashmolean Museum and Christ Church Cathedral.
Designed for children aged two to eight, the trail begins when families collect a passport from one of three city centre locations or a City Sightseeing Oxford ticket seller.
Stamps are collected by taking part in a range of simple activities near Oxford’s most iconic locations, with children receiving an Oxford Explorer’s Certificate once they have collected all five stamps.
The trail forms part of City Sightseeing Oxford’s drive to encourage more locals to explore the city’s rich heritage. It also complements the tour bus operator’s record-low family ticket offer, allowing two adults and up to three children to enjoy a tour for just £49.
Clarisse Garcia, Retail and Tourism Manager at City Sightseeing Oxford, said: “Summer represents our busiest time as families take advantage of the holidays and good weather to explore the hidden gems on their doorstep.
“Equally, we welcome many national and international visitors onto our award-winning tours, which showcase the very best of Oxford in a fun and informative way.
“Our Oxford Explorer’s Passport Trail adds another layer of excitement for children and families this summer, and we encourage parents and carers to get involved by taking advantage of our one-off reduced family ticket offer.”
The launch of the Explorer’s Passport Trail follows City Sightseeing Oxford’s recognition as the world’s leading open-top bus tour operator at a global industry event in Portugal this month.
Its team scooped the City Sightseeing Worldwide Operator of the Year award, beating cities such as London, Madrid, Toronto, New Orleans and Dubai.
In a further boost, City Sightseeing Oxford has also retained its Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme accreditation from VisitEngland for another year, as well as being awarded TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice award for 2025, placing it in the top 10 per cent of tourist attractions worldwide.
Tourists can collect their Explorer Passport from City Sightseeing Oxford’s Visitor Information Point on High Street, Gloucester Green Travel Shop, Carfax Tower or from one of the city centre’s ticket sellers.
The trail launches on Friday, 25 July, and will last through the summer. Families with dogs are able to bring their four-legged friends on each City Sightseeing Oxford tour too.
