Thursday, 25 February 2010

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford

Approx time: 1 hour
Paths: gravel
Points of interest: open areas, picnics, trees, wildlife, birds, scenery, river
Amenities: very limited parking in Oxford city centre, no toilets but cafes close by
Grading: suitable for all pushchairs
Weather: Good for all seasons
Warning: open water along most of the walk
Enter Christ Church Meadow from the west side through the memorial garden from St Aldate’s. These are the only gates wide enough for pushchairs to get through. Walk through the gardens and past Christ Church College on your left. This is a circular walk first following the boundary of Christ Church and Merton College, followed by the river Cherwell and then the River Thames and back to the memorial gardens.

Depending on the time of year there may be sports being played on the college sports field, rowing on the river and cattle grazing on the meadow.

The Oxford Botanical Gardens can be accessed from the Rose Lane Gate, but you have to pay to enter (you will have to fold down the pushchair to get through Rose Lane Gate). The Colleges are open most days to the visiting public but again you have to pay to enter.