Oxford Botanic Garden

The Oxford Botanic Garden was founded in 1621 and is the oldest botanic garden in Britain. It sits at the bottom of the High Street beside the River Cherwell, close to Magdalen Bridge, and it is enclosed by old stone walls and a handsome arched gateway. Within the walls the Walled Garden holds plant families laid out in order, and outside the walls the Lower Garden has herbaceous borders, a water garden and a collection of glasshouses. The glasshouses cover plants from tropical rainforests, the Mediterranean, deserts and wet lowlands, and the Lily House is notable for its giant water lilies. Many visitors also enjoy the view of the Magdalen tower from the river bank beside the garden.

The garden has a literary side too. Tolkien was fond of the garden, and a large pine tree near the walls is associated with him. Philip Pullman used the garden in His Dark Materials, and a bench in the garden is known to fans as the place where two worlds meet. The botanic collection also has an academic role, supporting teaching and research at the university, so labels are thorough and the planting is unusually varied for such a small site.

Seasonal change makes the garden worth a second visit. Spring brings bulbs and blossom, summer has herbaceous borders and tender plants set outside, and autumn gives the colour of leaves and fruit. In winter the glasshouses are warm and humid, which makes the garden a good choice on a cold day. Admission is charged, with discounts for some groups, and opening hours vary by season, so check the venue page before you go.

Combine the garden with the open space beside it. Christ Church Meadow, a broad grass field, is reached from the nearby gate and has a gravel path that loops around the meadow beside the river, ideal for a stroll after your visit. The meadow is free and open all day. In the summer you can watch rowers and, if you like, hire a punt from the boathouse near Magdalen Bridge. A morning in the garden and the meadow gives a slower side of Oxford than the busy central lanes.

To organise the visit, enter by the main gate and walk first through the Walled Garden, where the plant families are grouped in beds in the old arrangement. Then step out to the Lower Garden for the borders, the ponds and the fine view of the river, and finish in the glasshouses, starting in the cooler house and moving to the tropical Palm House, where the air is warm and damp. Labels give common and Latin names, and staff and volunteers are happy to answer questions.

There is a cafe in the garden and benches throughout for a pause. Dogs are not usually allowed, and bicycles must be left outside. Photography is welcome, and early morning light gives a calm and uncrowded scene. In winter the garden is quieter and opening hours are shorter, but the glasshouses keep the visit worthwhile, and snowdrops and early bulbs give a surprising amount of colour in the first months of the year.