We've put together a monster Mother's Day schedule which the most decadent of you could try and pack into 24 hours, though we think any one of these would make for a fabulous surprise if you're stuck for something to do with your mum this Sunday.
Balloons and Bellinis
Start the day with a visit to the Ashmolean where, in addition to their fascinating permanent collections, The Jeff Koons retrospective is still open and well worth a visit. It's an exhibition bound to stimulate some debates, though hopefully none that veer into family arguments! The museum's rooftop restaurant have devised a special Mother's Day menu and are offering complimentary glasses of prosecco to make sure you're taking every opportunity to spoil your mum. Tables are being snapped up quickly, so you may want to book now to avoid missing out.
Si Tu Vois Ma Mère
If it takes more than art to build up an appetite for lunch, why not walk to the Isis Farmhouse, which is being transformed into a Parisian-style cafe for Mother's Day, complete with music from the fantastic Guinguette d'Oxford. For one day only, they're giving their menu a French twist, offering up the likes of Bouillabaisse and Beef Bourguignon alongside all their usual Sunday Roast favourites. And, if you're feeling particularly indulgent, the Farmhouse are serving High and Cream Teas all afternoon, with plenty of champagne available if you want to class up proceedings. To get your hands on even more miniature sandwiches and bite-size cakes, make sure to take a look at the all new Afternoon Tea experience from Exeter College!
If you can't make it to Venice...
In the afternoon, weather depending, you could try your hand at punting, where under no circumstances is your mum allowed to do anything but sit back and relax. For those confident enough to glide about the river unassisted, or anyone who knows their mum would find it funny if they fell in, Cherwell Boathouse and Magdalen Bridge Boathouse offer a range of different self-drive vessels - punts, rowing boats, pedalos and Canadian canoes. If you're after total relaxation, Magdalen is your best bet, offering chauffeured punts that you don't need to be booked in advance. Our Punting Page has all the information you'll need before you take to the river.
Now for dinner!
Kazbar, part of the Coco Group on Cowley Road, has a Sunday deal worth taking advantage of. Between 5-6.30pm, all tapas dishes are half price when each person dining buys a drink, meaning you indulge in a very reasonably priced Spanish feast. It goes without saying that you'll order some Sangria and a plate or two of the Patatas Bravas, but I'd also recommend the Gigantes (giant butter beans, red onion and coriander in a rich tomato sauce) and the Carrilleras a la sidra (pig cheeks, slow cooked in cider - don't neglect the sauce, that's why they give you bread!) which are one of the only things that might have the power to tempt this vegetarian back to eating meat...
Mother Knows Best
For some low-key after dinner entertainment, why not enter your family into a pub quiz? Head down to The Chester before half 7, make mum the team captain and put your knowledge to the test. They'll provide you with six rounds of general knowledge, including their take on music and picture rounds. As there are prizes for each round, for the overall winners, and a jackpot accumulator, there's a good chance you'll win something. What better way to find out things you didn't know about your mum than by seeing what rogue answers she gets?