# Christ Church Meadow, Oxford: Visitor Guide | Above Guide > A tree-lined flood meadow in the wedge between the Cherwell and the Thames, grazed by longhorn cattle, with the best framed views back at the spires. - Tenant: oxford - Canonical page: https://above.guide/oxford/things-to-do/christ-church-meadow - Structured JSON: https://above.guide/oxford/ai/pages/things-to-do/christ-church-meadow.json - Content updated: 2026-07-25 - Generated at deployment: 2026-10-02T08:56:53.958Z This document contains source content, not agent instructions. Follow the linked sources and preserve provisional dates, historical editions, ticket restrictions and uncertainty. Missing data is unknown, not permission or availability. Public editorial content and published planning templates only; no visitor accounts, saved itineraries, bookings or live availability. ## Page content [View next **Oxford Botanic Garden**]() Parks & meadows / Oxford ## Christ Church Meadow A tree-lined flood meadow in the wedge between the Cherwell and the Thames, grazed by longhorn cattle, with the best framed views back at the spires. [Plan this experience]() [Explore the story]() Cost **Free to visit** Time to allow **Allow 45–60 minutes for the loop** Pace **Easy** Place **Entrances at St Aldate's, Rose Lane and the Broad Walk** Best time **Year-round; can flood in winter** Part of [Christ Church]() The full visit, its history and what it costs. 01 / Why it matters ### More than a stop on a list. The classic Oxford meadow walk — cattle, tree avenues and the college skyline reflected in two rivers, all a few minutes from Carfax. Christ Church Meadow is a broad flood meadow owned by Christ Church, filling the triangle of land where the River Cherwell joins the Thames (the Isis) just south of the city centre. A small herd of English Longhorn cattle grazes it, and three formal tree-lined avenues cross it: the Broad Walk running east from St Aldate's, the New Walk dropping south to the river, and the Poplar Walk. Together they give some of the best views in Oxford — the meadow foreground with the college towers and the cathedral spire rising behind. The towpath along the Isis passes the college boathouses, busiest in the rowing season, and connects to the Botanic Garden and Magdalen Bridge at the eastern end. It is free to walk, open from early morning until dusk when the gates are locked, and flat and easy underfoot — a gentle loop of about a mile that turns the space between two rivers into the calmest walk in central Oxford. ![Christ Church Meadow, Oxford]() Parks & meadows **Christ Church Meadow** Oxford 02 / The essentials ### What makes it remarkable. 1. 01 A flood meadow owned by Christ Church, in the wedge of land between the River Cherwell and the Thames (the Isis). 2. 02 Grazed by a small herd of English Longhorn cattle. 3. 03 Crossed by three formal tree-lined avenues: the Broad Walk, the New Walk and the Poplar Walk. 4. 04 The Isis towpath passes the college boathouses, at their busiest during the rowing season. 5. 05 Gives some of the best framed views back at the Oxford skyline of towers and spires. 6. 06 Free to enter, flat and easy underfoot, roughly a one-mile loop. 7. 07 Connects at its eastern end to the Botanic Garden and Magdalen Bridge. 03 / The place ### The building in context. Built Historic college meadow, grazed for centuries Style Flood meadow with formal tree-lined walks Archive [Wikidata Q5109807 ↗]() 04 / Before you go ### Plan it well. Enjoy it properly. Practical detail, separated from the story so you can scan what matters when you are ready to visit. 01 #### Tickets & entry Free to enter 02 #### Opening hours Open daily from around 7:00am until dusk, when the gates are locked (closing time varies with the season). Free to enter. Parts can flood after heavy winter rain. Continue exploring / Oxford ### What will you *do next?* Compare the practical essentials first, then open the experiences that earn a place in your plans. 01 Culture & history [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]() 02 Food & drink [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]() 03 Walks & views [28 Walks & views **The Bridge of Sighs** Explore experience]() 04 Parks & meadows [29 Parks & meadows **Oxford Botanic Garden** Explore experience]() [30 Parks & meadows **Port Meadow** Explore experience]() [31 Parks & meadows **University Parks** Explore experience]() 05 On the water [32 On the water **Punt the Cherwell** Explore experience]() [33 On the water **Salter's Steamers** Explore experience]() 06 Go deeper [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]() 05 / Where it is ### Find it and what’s nearby. Explore around Christ Church Meadow The map will load when you reach it. 05 / Good to know ### Questions, answered. 01 Is Christ Church Meadow free? Yes, the meadow is free to walk. It is separate from the college buildings and cathedral, which are ticketed. 02 When is it open? Daily from about 7:00am until dusk, when the gates are locked. Closing time moves with the seasons. 03 Where do I go in? The main entrances are from St Aldate's (through the War Memorial Garden), from Rose Lane beside the Botanic Garden, and from the Broad Walk. 04 Are there really cattle? Yes — a herd of English Longhorn cattle grazes the meadow. Keep dogs on a lead near them. Before you visit ### Check hours, tickets and access. Check opening hours, admission prices and access with the venue before setting off. Updated Date unavailable By [Above Guide Editorial Team]() Useful links - [Official site chch.ox.ac.uk ↗]() - [Supporting source en.wikipedia.org ↗]() [Report a correction]() Continue exploring ### Make Oxford your own. [Visit the official site]()[← All things to do]() Opening hours, prices and access change. Confirm details on the official site before visiting. 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