Oxford Botanic Garden
About
The Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Britain, founded in 1621, and it packs an extraordinary amount of beauty into a compact riverside site. The walled garden contains the systematic beds — plants arranged by family in the original 17th-century layout — plus borders of medicinal and culinary herbs. The glasshouses range from tropical rainforest to arid desert. The garden sits at the east end of the High Street, right by Magdalen Bridge, with the Cherwell flowing past its walls. In summer, the herbaceous borders are stunning. In winter, the glasshouses are a warm, fragrant refuge. The bench by the river where Philip Pullman placed the ending of His Dark Materials is signposted for fans. The Harcourt Arboretum, a few miles south of Oxford in Nuneham Courtenay, is part of the same institution and worth a visit for its bluebell woods in spring and its autumn colour. The main botanic garden is small enough to see in an hour, but it's the kind of place where you keep finding reasons to linger. A peaceful antidote to the bustle of the High Street just outside the gate.
https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/ 01865 286690
Tickets & Pricing
Adult £6.50, Concessions £5.60, Under 16s free.
Opening Times
Daily 10:00-17:00 (Mar-Oct), 10:00-16:00 (Nov-Feb).
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