An Astonishing Dog Walk in Christ Church Meadow, Oxford

Nestled in the heart of Oxford, Christ Church Meadow is a slice of paradise waiting to be explored. This idyllic spot, surrounded by the iconic spires of Oxford University, is a serene haven for nature enthusiasts and dog lovers alike. A dog walk in Christ Church Meadow is an excellent hike.

Distance	Total Time	Difficulty
3.03 km	00:55	Easy

Whether you’re a local resident or just passing through this historic city, this hidden gem is a must-visit for a leisurely outing with your four-legged companion.

The Christ Church is one of the largest colleges of Oxford University, and the Christ Church Meadow is a Grade 1 landscape included in the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

The Meadow is bordered by the River Thames, providing stunning views. Sunsets are especially beautiful there.

Many movies used the Christ Church as a filming location, perhaps the most famous being Harry Potter movies The Philosopher’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. IMDB lists 16 titles with the site as a filming location!

The site is located near the city centre, making it easily accessible by foot, bicycle, or public transport. If you’re driving, like we did, there is limited on-street parking available nearby, and we used the Westgate car park as it is easy to park and just a few minutes walk from the meadow. The car park postcode is OX1 1TS, and it costs £3.80 for up to 1 hour and £4.80 for 1 to 2 hours. Please check the full price list in the post details table.

You can use Broad Walk, Oxford OX1 1DB, to access the meadow’s main entrance. The entrance itself is on St Aldates, but the address above will take you there if you are using Google Maps.

For this hike, we followed the trail on the Christ Church website.

Don’t forget to check the post notes at the bottom of the page, with maps, a detailed table about the hike and links to everything mentioned in the post.

The Hike

We started our hike at the main entrance and as you step into Christ Church Meadow, you’ll immediately feel the hustle and bustle of city life melt away. The lush greenery and historic surroundings create a serene atmosphere that is perfect for a great dog walk.

After just a few steps into the site, you have the War Memorial Garden and Rose Garden, which is a permanent memorial to the men and women who died in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

The gang progressed a bit further into the meadow where we could see the majestic Christ Church College buildings with its iconic architecture to our left and the Visitor Centre to the right. We took a moment to admire the historic surroundings and imagine the centuries of history that have unfolded here.

The gang then turned right in the path after the Visitor Place. Christ Church Meadow offers a network of well-maintained paths, making exploring the area with your dog easy.

We continued until we got to the river and followed the silverside, passing by the Boathouse Island to see the college boathouses, and then retracing our steps back to the path.

We turned right again, crossing a footbridge and getting to the Cherwell Path. This section is visible in maps of the area as far back as 1578! The path is a parallel drainage ditch for the flood Meadow.

It’s a beautiful section of this trail with many opportunities for great photos, and there were many other doggies around.

After that, we got to the Jubilee Bridge and continued in the path, not crossing the bridge. We could see the sports grounds on the other side of the river and, a little later, the Magdalen School Playing Field.

At this point, we reached the Role Lane, where we could see the Oxford Botanic Garden building, and when we got to the gate, we turned left towards the broad walk and back to the entrance.

Christ Church Meadow in Oxford is a true gem, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s the perfect place for a leisurely dog walk, where you can enjoy scenic views, historic charm, and the tranquillity of nature. It is one of my favourite places in the UK, and the girls really loved the hike.

Cheers

Ademar