A Fun Family Morning at Abbey Meadows, Abingdon

Post written by West Berkshire Family Life

If you are looking for a brilliant (and easy!) day out that's not too far from home, Abbey Meadows in Abingdon has become one of our absolute favourites and this morning's visit reminded us exactly why.

It's only about 30 minutes from Newbury, which makes it a really easy trip, and there's SO much packed into one spot: a fantastic play park, riverside walks, a splash park, an outdoor pool and even a bit of history thrown in. Honestly, you could spend a whole day here and still not run out of things to do.

Getting There & Parking

We usually park near Waitrose, which is paid parking but really handy for the park. It also means we can pop into Waitrose beforehand to grab some picnic goodies and if you're a Waitrose member, don't forget your free take-away coffee while you're there. (bring your own take away mug)

Scooting Past the Ruins

From the car park, it's a lovely little scoot (or walk!) down to the park past the abbey ruins. A fun bit of local history for the kids as you pass: those "ruins" you see dotted around Abbey Gardens aren't actually the remains of the original abbey. They are known as Trendell's Folly, a 19th-century garden feature built to look ancient. That said, some of the stones are genuinely old and are thought to have come from nearby St Helen's Church. The real Abingdon Abbey dates all the way back to the 7th century and was once one of the wealthiest monasteries in the country.

From there, it's over the bridge and past all the ducks which is always a highlight with little ones, who could happily spend twenty minutes just watching the water and ducks.

The Play Park

This play park is one of our favourites in the area. There's a great climbing frame for the more adventurous kids, a smaller, gentler area for little ones who aren't quite ready for the big stuff, a zip wire that's always a hit, and mini trampolines that the kids love. There's honestly so much to do that you could easily lose an hour here without even noticing.

A Walk and Picnic Under the Trees

After a good play, we headed off for a little walk through the park. This stretch of Abingdon is so pretty, with great paths that are flat, buggy-friendly, and perfect for pottering along at toddler pace. We found a lovely spot under a tree for our picnic before heading back to the park for round two.

Splash Park Fun

We finished off our visit at the splash park. It's a fairly simple set-up with no huge structures or fancy features, but sometimes the simplest things are the most fun, and the kids absolutely loved it. Free to use too, which is always a bonus on a warm day out.

Outdoor Pool

We didn't make it to the outdoor swimming pool this time, but it's right there in the same spot — a heated 25m open-air pool with lovely views over the Thames, offering both lane swimming and more relaxed family sessions. We will definitely be back to try it another day. For up-to-date prices and opening times, it's best to check the Better website directly.

Our Verdict

Abbey Meadows really does have a bit of everything. History, a brilliant play park, riverside walks, a splash park and a pool, all within a short stroll of each other. A brilliant half or full day

out for families, and well worth the 30-minute drive from Newbury.

The postcode for Abbey Meadows/Abbey Gardens is OX14 3JE (Abbey Close, Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire). OX14 3JE is the one to use for satnav/parking near Waitrose