Ahead of the summer, the accolade was given by GO Outdoors, based on search volume, Google reviews, and attraction popularity.

The museum, which opened in 1860 and contains over seven million specimens, scored 9.18 out of 10.

Last year, it was visited more than 877,000 times, with the museum’s collection and architecture receiving praise from TripAdvisor reviewers.

Second place went to Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was visited over 390,000 times last year.

The cathedral is noted for its café, gift shop, and its appearance in the Harry Potter films.

The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire came third, scoring 8.69 out of 10.

The arboretum features 25,000 trees and over 400 memorials, with visitors able to enjoy its calming and spotless grounds for free.

Natalie Wolfenden, an outdoor expert at GO Outdoors, commented: “The UK has an abundance of places to visit and activities to take part in.

“From walks in the Lake District to heritage sites, there is plenty on offer – and lots to do for free!”

The list of top free family day outs also includes Manchester Museum, Windsor Great Park, and the V&A East Storehouse.

The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford also made it into the top 10.

Bicester Avenue Garden Centre is celebrating the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a limited-edition menu.

The floral-themed afternoon tea, available from May 18 to May 24, features botanical-inspired sweet and savoury treats.

The menu includes sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and botanical-inspired sweet treats.

Rebecca Gurnett, group events manager at Blue Diamond Group, said: “RHS Chelsea Flower Show is one of the cherished highlights of our year and we’re delighted to celebrate the event with our customers.

“Our limited-edition afternoon tea captures the magic of Chelsea and the flavours of spring.

“We can’t to share it with you.”

Guests can enjoy a mini fruit meringue nest, carrot and vanilla mascarpone cupcake, raspberry crème brûlée toadstool tart, and a chocolate marquise ‘plant pot’ topped with chocolate soil.

Sandwich options include tuna and cucumber, Coronation chicken, ham and mustard, egg mayonnaise, and cheese and pickle.

Warm scones are served with clotted cream and raspberry preserve.

The afternoon tea is available at select Blue Diamond garden centres, including Bicester Avenue.

Blue Diamond Group returns to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year after winning its first gold medal and the Tree of the Show award for the Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’.

The Chelsea Flower Show runs from May 19 to 23 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. Bookings can be made online.

Russell and Bromley

Earlier in 2026, the business announced all but three of its 36 stores were at risk as they had not been bought in a rescue deal.

Next snapped up the luxury footwear business from administration in a rescue deal, but the future of most of the brand’s stores and 440 staff remained uncertain.

The store at the Oxford Westgate shopping centre closed in April

WHSmith in Oxford Station (Image: Newsquest)

TG Jones

Fears are growing for the future of UK Oxford’s TG Jones store after its owner reportedly drew up plans that could see up to 100 of its 480 branches close across the UK.

The Retail Gazette said the private equity firm is said to be preparing a major restructuring in a bid to avoid the chain’s potential collapse.

Claires’ at the Westgate in Oxford. (Image: Newsquest)

Claire’s Accessories

In April this year Claire’s has shut all its 154 high street shops across the UK and Ireland.

Administrators for the fashion accessories chain said that around 1,300 workers will be made redundant as a result.

At the end of last month both the Witney store and the Oxford store were closed for good.

READ MORE: New cycle lane in Oxfordshire town brandished ‘laughable’ by residents

The Longwall Beefeater in Cowley (Image: Oxford Mail)

Beefeaters and Brewers Fayre

Whitbread, which owns the Premier Inn hotel chain, has unveiled plans to shed around 3,800 roles in the UK and Ireland.

This will see it phase out its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants as it redraws its five-year business plan in the wake of tax increases.

The Beefeaters in Oxfordshire are the Longwall in Cowley, the restaurant serving Kidlington near the airport, and the Applecart Beefeater next to the Premier Inn at Didcot.

River Island (Image: PA)

River Island

The brand’s bosses said the closures of 33 stores were part of a radical restructuring plan in a bid to reverse recent heavy losses due to a slump in trading.

The Oxford store closed on Sunday, January 18, while the Didcot shop shut permanently on Saturday, January 31.

Lloyds bank in Lancashire (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Lloyds Bank

Lloyds bank is set to close its Didcot branch in June, driven by a shift towards digital banking and declining in-branch visits.

The bank is set to close over 150 branches between early 2026 and March 2027, with most of these primarily concentrated in Birmingham,

The Lloyds Banking Group also runs Lloyds, Halifax and the Bank of Scotland.

Cancer Research UK in Banbury (Image: Google Maps)

Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK recently announced plans to close 88 of its charity shops by May 2026 as part of a restructuring to streamline operations and protect funding.

The charity aims to maintain around 320 high-performing shops and plans to open 12 new ‘superstores’ by 2028.

The closures include the store on Parsons Street, in Banbury.

NatWest in Abingdon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

NatWest

Following a move to online banking and less in person customers, NatWest is set to close 32 branches from May 12, 2027.

The branch in Market Place, Abingdon and Manorsfield Road, Bicester, have been affected with closures occurring last year.

Following these closures community pop up centres will be established to provide customers with help.

GAME, Poundland, New Look, Franco Manca, William Hill, Topps Tiles, Santander and The Original Factory Shop have all announced store closures recently.

However, no Oxford branches are affected yet.