Garden / River edge / Since 1621
Oxford
Botanic Garden.
The oldest botanic garden in Britain: a compact journey through medicinal beds, ornamental planting and seven climates beside the Cherwell.01 / Why it earns the time
Small enough
to notice things.
The Garden sits at the end of the High Street, immediately beside Magdalen Bridge and the lower Cherwell. It is easy to treat it as an add-on, but its scale is part of its strength: the historic walls, river edge and glasshouses can form a complete visit without consuming the day.
Allow 90 minutes for a first visit. Give it two hours if you want to slow down in the glasshouses or sketch, photograph and read the interpretation.
02 / A route through the Garden
Three spaces.
Seven climates.
01The Walled Garden
The oldest part of the Garden, dating from 1621, with formal taxonomic beds, the Literary Garden and the Medicinal Collection.
02The Lower Garden
Ornamental collections beside Christ Church Meadow and the Cherwell, including the Rock Garden, Herbaceous Border and Plants That Changed the World.
03The Glasshouses
Seven display glasshouses move from tropical jungle and swamp to desert and alpine environments.
03 / Plan the visit
Tickets,
time and access.
Admission
- Adult
- £9.00
- Student, alumni or 65+
- £7.20
- Disabled visitor including carer
- £1.00
- Under 16 with paying family member
- Free
- Oxford University staff and students
- Free with valid ID
Online transactions carry a £1 booking fee.
Buy official tickets ↗Seasonal hours
- March–April
- 10:00–17:00Last entry 16:00
- May–August
- 10:00–18:00Last entry 17:00
- September–October
- 10:00–17:00Last entry 16:00
- November–February
- 10:00–16:00Last entry 15:00
Access & facilities
The site is wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair can be booked in advance through the Ticket Office on 01865 610 300.
Accessible toilets and changing facilities are available.
Only assistance dogs are permitted.
Address
Rose Lane, Oxford, OX1 4AZ
04 / Make a half-day of it
Garden first.
Cherwell next.
The Magdalen Bridge punt station is immediately beside the Garden. Visit the plants while you are fresh, then hire a punt when the light softens—or reverse the order on a hot day.
Open the punting guide →