Mothering Sunday falls on Sunday 30th March this year, and as part of our competition to mark the occasion, we asked our Daily Info readers their favourite ways to spend time with the mums in their life. While the winners have now been picked, we received some absolutely lovely answers from you all - there are some very lucky mums out there! In fact, we liked them so much we’ve used them as our inspirations for this year’s Mother’s Day Weekend Guide: no two mums are exactly alike, so find the best way to celebrate yours, Oxford-style!
‘My favourite activity with my mum is playing board games with her (often at Thirsty Meeples), particularly anything wordy - Bananagrams, Scrabble, Shenanigrams - we love it all!”
What better way to say “I love you, Mum” than with a tooth-and-nail battle of wits? Thirsty Meeples is an excellent shout for the maternal board game whiz. Grab a coffee (or something stronger) and either knuckle down with one of your favourites, or if you want to try something new, ask the staff, who have a frankly scary encyclopedic knowledge of every game on the shelf. Just give them a couple of pointers (how many are playing, what sort of games you’re into), and they’ll pick your perfect match out.
Does Mum have a killer poker face? If you prefer cards to tiles, the Cape of Good Hope hosts a no risk poker night on Mon 31st - get your chips down and rack up points for the chance to win some very special prizes. Or maybe she’s a general knowledge whiz, in which case a pub quiz could be just what you need - The Gardener’s Arms on Plantation Road hosts their eclectic quiz every Sunday (with some top notch veggie pub grub if you fancy a meal in tow), and the Butcher’s Arms pub quiz in Headington raises the stakes with cash prizes up for grabs.
“My favourite activity to do with my mum is something creative, like painting or crafting.”
A craft night is a lovely, relaxed way to spend quality time with Mum while making a keepsake you can both cherish afterwards. The Pottery Place in Witney is a big favourite of several of the Daily Info team, where you can paint your own mug, plate, figurine and more with your own unique design. It’s a little past the day itself, but Paint and Prosecco on Fri 4th April means you can celebrate Mum with a glass of bubbly and a gift that will really last.
“My favourite thing to do with my mother is spend time painting with her while chatting or enjoying a drink or two! She’s a member of Abingdon Artists and a much better painter than I am, but it’s still a lovely thing to do and time seems to fly.”
It’s always lovely to hear from people who’ve bonded with their mum over a shared passion! Mums looking for a flash of artistic inspiration are sure to appreciate Modern Art Oxford’s latest exhibit, I Find Myself, on the life and times of influential artist Barbara Steveni. Steveni’s work documents not just her eclectic creative process, but her existence as a female artist in a culture that frequently downplayed her contributions. Her filmmaking projects feature her in conversation with other extraordinary women working in her field; take a tour through the gallery and see if it ignites the artist in you - consider booking in for their evening class next month, where you can create etchings inspired by Steveni’s work. And if you’re looking for a drink or two, the newly renovated café is a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds.
“My favourite thing to do with my mum is spending time with just her! Getting a massage from her, play busts games, do her hair or go shopping - I love spending time with my mum!”
Sometimes it’s hard to pick just one thing you’d like to treat Mum to! If Mum prefers Mother’s Day to be more of a whistle stop tour with a little of everything, a great start would be a trip through Oxford with City Sightseeing coaches. For Mother’s Day, the open-top tour bus is offering a 2-for-1 deal to take you all around the city while learning all about its history and the stories behind its iconic landmarks. It’s hop-on, hop-off, so if you fancy a shopping spree, a bite to eat, or just a little bit of exploring, you can pop off and rejoin whenever you feel like it, picking and choosing how you want the day to unfold. Just show proof of an OX1/2/3/4 address when purchasing your ticket and enjoy the ride!
“My favourite activity with my mum is going out for coffee when she comes to visit…we have a special spot. She likes an almond croissant.”
Some mums love nothing more than catching up over a hot brew; for the big day, why not take it to the next level with a sophisticated afternoon tea? Daily Info recently paid a visit to The Alice at the Randolph Hotel for a decadent set of sweets and savouries themed after Alice in Wonderland - you can find our review here! Oxford institution Brown’s offers a classic, champagne or pink champagne version of their afternoon tea, with highlights including their lobster tail brioche roll and their small but perfectly formed blackcurrant Victoria Sandwich. Or if you fancy a spot of culture with your nibbles, the Ashmolean Rooftop Café is the place to be - enjoy homemade scones and artisan macarons while taking in the view, and maybe an exhibition or two
“My favourite activity with my mum is, and always has been, gardening. In the garden, orchard, field, you name it, always surrounded by fresh air, the elements and good vibes. Picking fruit from trees and bushes, tending to flowers and vegetables while chatting lightly about anything and everything.”
Ah, the biggest Mother of all, Mother Nature! Mother’s Day should be spent stopping and smelling the roses, and one of the most picturesque places to do so is Waterperry Gardens, which is offering 50% off entry for all mums wanting to take in the 20 acres of greenery. If she’s looking for gardening inspiration, she’s sure to find it in their beautiful snowdrop and daffodil displays. Or for mums who like to get a bit more hands-on, might we suggest getting stuck in on Oxford City Farm! Their Community Farming and Open Farm Sessions on Fridays and Saturdays give volunteers the chance to take part in some of the farm’s day to day jobs, from gardening to animal care. Try it out this weekend - it may turn into a weekly activity for you both!
“One of my favourite activities to do with my mum is going to the theatre to watch musicals. It’s something we’ve enjoyed together since I was a child and over the years, it has become a special tradition. I love the excitement of stepping into a theatre, waiting for the lights to dim, and watching the story unfold onstage.”
There really is no business like show business! The magic of the theatre is a great gift to share with Mum, and our top ticket (as well as one of our prizes) is Pygmalion at the Oxford Playhouse. As witty, incisive and poignant as it was when it debuted, George Bernard Shaw’s tale of cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle and her phonetics lessons under pompous Professor Henry Higgins remains his most popular and iconic play, here brought to life by the Oxford Theatre Guild.
But if you’re craving something with some song and dance, surprise Mum with seats for Kipps - the new Half a Sixpence Musical at the Chipping Norton Theatre! Based on H.G Wells’ novel, the rags-to-riches tale of orphan Artie Kipps and his rise through Edwardian high society has been adapted by the same creative team that brought you the West End run of Mary Poppins - think a 20th century Oliver! and you’re right on the money.
However you show Mum you care this year, whether big or small, Daily Info wishes you a very happy Mother’s Day. We hope these suggestions have given you some great ideas, and no matter what day of the year, our What’s On page is always packed with things to do across Oxford - so no need to wait until next year to plan your next day out with Mum!