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THE UNIVERSITY PARKS, OXFORD

31 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeHeritage
Public accessDogs welcome31 ha

About THE UNIVERSITY PARKS, OXFORD

The Oxford University Parks, commonly referred to locally as the University Parks, or just The Parks, is a large parkland area slightly northeast of the city centre in Oxford, England. The park is bounded to the east by the River Cherwell, though a small plot of land called Mesopotamia sits between the upper and lower levels of the river. To the north of the parks are Norham Gardens and Lady Margaret Hall, to the west the Parks Road, and the Science Area on South Parks Road to the south.

Read more on Wikipedia →
ParkGrade II listed park and garden

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦51+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Magpie
  • Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • 🐕Dogs welcome
ParkingToilets

Best for

11 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Robin +48 more · last seen 2026; Lowland fens — specialist fen birds and passage waders

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, Robin +48 more · last seen 2026; Lowland fens priority habitat

Free

Heritage

Historic site with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Willow Emerald Damselfly, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker +86 more · last seen 2026; Lowland fens — fen dragonflies and rare invertebrates

Free

Family friendly

toilets

Free

Cycling

Named cycling route nearby: NCN 51

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

21 signed routes nearby · 54 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Oxford Green Belt WayWalking route87 km
Named routeLength 87 kmRegional walking route
Oxfordshire WayWalking route110 km

a traverse of Oxfordshire from the Cotswolds to the Chilterns

Named routeRef OWLength 110 kmRegional walking route
Boundary PatrolWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Sandpit WalkWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Northwood TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Lamb and Flag Passagepublic footpath · 76 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 76 mSurface paving_stonesPath type: footway
Kings Mill Lanepublic footpath · 28 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 28 mSurface concretePath type: service
Edgeway Roadpublic footpath · 5 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 5 mSurface fine_gravelPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

145 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network Route 5Cycling route
Named routeRef 5National Cycle Network
Cotswold Line Cycle Route (under development)Cycling route
Named routeRef 442National Cycle Network
Route 8Cycling route
Named routeRef 8Local cycle route
Route 8aCycling route
Named routeRef 8aLocal cycle route
Route 9Cycling route
Named routeRef 9Local cycle route
Route 3aCycling route
Named routeRef 3aLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

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