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It has never been ploughed, and grazing rights held by the Freemen of Oxford and the Commoners of Wolvercote go back to before the Norman Conquest — the meadow is recorded in the Domesday survey of 1086. The result is an unusually ancient, unimproved grassland: horses and cattle wander freely across it, curlews and lapwings nest in the tussocks, and in winter the low ground floods and, in hard years, freezes for skating.\n\nIt is best treated as a walk rather than a destination. A riverside path runs the length of the meadow past moored narrowboats, the ruins of Godstow Abbey and two of Oxford's finest riverside pubs — The Perch at Binsey and The Trout at Wolvercote. 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It is open common land with no admission charge and no closing time." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are there really wild horses?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The horses and cattle are not wild but are owned by commoners who graze them on the meadow. Keep your distance and keep dogs under control around them." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I get there?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The usual entrances are off Walton Well Road (near Jericho) and Aristotle Lane in north Oxford, both a short walk or cycle from the centre." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I walk to a pub?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — the riverside path leads north to The Trout Inn at Wolvercote and a branch reaches The Perch at Binsey, both classic Thames-side pubs." } } ] } ] } ], "editorialMarkdown": "[View next **University Parks**]()\n\nParks & meadows / Oxford\n\n## Port Meadow\n\nA vast, never-ploughed common beside the Thames, grazed by free-roaming horses and cattle for over a thousand years.\n\n[Plan this experience]()\n\n[Explore the story]()\n\nCost **Free to visit**\n\nTime to allow **Allow 1–2 hours for a riverside walk**\n\nPace **Easy**\n\nPlace **Off Walton Well Road or Aristotle Lane, north-west Oxford**\n\nBest time **Year-round; floods in winter, driest in summer**\n\n01 / Why it matters\n\n### More than a stop on a list.\n\nThe wildest, most open green space within walking distance of the centre — a thousand-year-old common where the city gives way to river, sky and grazing horses.\n\nPort Meadow is roughly 440 acres of open common on the western edge of Oxford, running north along the Thames towards Wolvercote. It has never been ploughed, and grazing rights held by the Freemen of Oxford and the Commoners of Wolvercote go back to before the Norman Conquest — the meadow is recorded in the Domesday survey of 1086. The result is an unusually ancient, unimproved grassland: horses and cattle wander freely across it, curlews and lapwings nest in the tussocks, and in winter the low ground floods and, in hard years, freezes for skating. It is best treated as a walk rather than a destination. A riverside path runs the length of the meadow past moored narrowboats, the ruins of Godstow Abbey and two of Oxford's finest riverside pubs — The Perch at Binsey and The Trout at Wolvercote. There are no gates, no admission and no closing time; there is also no lighting and no hard path across the middle, so stout footwear and daylight are the sensible defaults.\n\n![Port Meadow, Oxford]()\n\nParks & meadows **Port Meadow** Oxford\n\n02 / The essentials\n\n### What makes it remarkable.\n\n1. 01\n\n Roughly 440 acres (178 hectares) of open common on the western edge of Oxford, beside the River Thames.\n2. 02\n\n Has never been ploughed — one of the oldest continuously grazed pastures in Britain.\n3. 03\n\n Grazing rights held by the Freemen of Oxford and the Commoners of Wolvercote; the meadow appears in the Domesday Book of 1086.\n4. 04\n\n Grazed year-round by free-roaming horses and cattle.\n5. 05\n\n A Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with Bronze Age and Iron Age remains beneath the turf.\n6. 06\n\n The riverside path leads to Godstow Abbey ruins and the historic Trout Inn and Perch pubs.\n7. 07\n\n Floods most winters and, in hard frosts, has historically been used for skating.\n\n03 / The place\n\n### The building in context.\n\nA story written in stone since **1086**.\n\nBuilt\n\nGrazed common land since before the Norman Conquest; recorded in the Domesday Book, 1086\n\nStyle\n\nAncient unimproved floodplain grassland\n\nListing\n\nSSSI / Scheduled Monument\n\nArchive\n\n[Wikidata Q2103599 ↗]()\n\n04 / Before you go\n\n### Plan it well.\nEnjoy it properly.\n\nPractical detail, separated from the story so you can scan what matters when you are ready to visit.\n\n01\n\n#### Tickets & entry\n\nFree — open common land, no admission\n\n02\n\n#### Opening hours\n\nOpen at all times. Unlit and unfenced common land — best visited in daylight. The lower ground floods in winter and can be impassable after heavy rain.\n\nContinue exploring / Oxford\n\n### What will you\n*do next?*\n\nCompare the practical essentials first, then open the experiences that earn a place in your plans.\n\n01 Culture & history\n\n [01 Culture & history **Bate Collection of Musical Instruments** Explore experience]() [02 Culture & history **Bodleian Library guided tour** Explore experience]() [03 Culture & history **Christ Church** Explore experience]() [04 Culture & history **Christ Church Cathedral** Explore experience]() [05 Culture & history **History of Science Museum** Explore experience]() [06 Culture & history **Oxford Castle** Explore experience]() [07 Culture & history **Oxford University Museum of Natural History** Explore experience]() [08 Culture & history **Pitt Rivers Museum** Explore experience]() [09 Culture & history **Sheldonian Theatre** Explore experience]() [10 Culture & history **Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities** Explore experience]() [11 Culture & history **The Ashmolean Museum** Explore experience]() [12 Culture & history **The Radcliffe Camera** Explore experience]() [13 Culture & history **The Weston Library** Explore experience]() [14 Culture & history **University Church of St Mary the Virgin** Explore experience]()\n\n02 Food & drink\n\n [15 Food & drink **Head of the River** Explore experience]() [16 Food & drink **Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons** Explore experience]() [17 Food & drink **Oxford Covered Market** Explore experience]() [18 Food & drink **The Bear Inn** Explore experience]() [19 Food & drink **The Chequers** Explore experience]() [20 Food & drink **The Eagle and Child** Explore experience]() [21 Food & drink **The King’s Arms** Explore experience]() [22 Food & drink **The Lamb & Flag** Explore experience]() [23 Food & drink **The Perch** Explore experience]() [24 Food & drink **The Trout Inn** Explore experience]() [25 Food & drink **The Turf Tavern** Explore experience]() [26 Food & drink **The White Horse** Explore experience]() [27 Food & drink **Westgate Oxford** Explore experience]()\n\n03 Walks & views\n\n [28 Walks & views **The Bridge of Sighs** Explore experience]()\n\n04 Parks & meadows\n\n [29 Parks & meadows **Christ Church Meadow** Explore experience]() [30 Parks & meadows **Oxford Botanic Garden** Explore experience]() [31 Parks & meadows **University Parks** Explore experience]()\n\n05 On the water\n\n [32 On the water **Punt the Cherwell** Explore experience]() [33 On the water **Salter's Steamers** Explore experience]()\n\n06 Go deeper\n\n[43 Colleges All the colleges **Every Oxford college** Open the college guide]()[Food & drink / a story **The nine oldest pubs** Walk the timeline]()[Plan / Itinerary builder **Build your Oxford day** Start planning]()\n\n05 / Where it is\n\n### Find it\nand what’s nearby.\n\nExplore around Port Meadow\n\n The map will load when you reach it.\n\n05 / Good to know\n\n### Questions,\nanswered.\n\n01 Is Port Meadow free to visit?\n\nYes. It is open common land with no admission charge and no closing time.\n\n02 Are there really wild horses?\n\nThe horses and cattle are not wild but are owned by commoners who graze them on the meadow. Keep your distance and keep dogs under control around them.\n\n03 How do I get there?\n\nThe usual entrances are off Walton Well Road (near Jericho) and Aristotle Lane in north Oxford, both a short walk or cycle from the centre.\n\n04 Can I walk to a pub?\n\nYes — the riverside path leads north to The Trout Inn at Wolvercote and a branch reaches The Perch at Binsey, both classic Thames-side pubs.\n\nBefore you visit\n\n### Check hours, tickets and access.\n\nCheck opening hours, admission prices and access with the venue before setting off.\n\nUpdated\n\nDate unavailable\n\nBy\n\n[Above Guide Editorial Team]()\n\nUseful links\n\n- [Official site oxford.gov.uk ↗]()\n- [Supporting source en.wikipedia.org ↗]()\n\n[Report a correction]()\n\nContinue exploring\n\n### Make Oxford\nyour own.\n\n[Visit the official site]()[← All things to do]()\n\nOpening hours, prices and access change. Confirm details on the official site before visiting.\n\nFiled under Green space / River / Walking / Free / Wildlife" }