Guide: best places to picnic in Oxfordshire
April 11, 2025
Oxfordshire, a region renowned for its picturesque landscapes and rich history, offers countless opportunities for picnicking and outdoor recreation. Whether you're a local or a tourist, our compilation of the best picnic spots in Oxfordshire will provide you with an unforgettable experience surrounded by nature. From sprawling, vibrant parks to tranquil botanical gardens, each of these places has its own unique charm and atmosphere. In this guide, we'll introduce you to five unique locations that are perfect for a family picnic, a romantic rendezvous or simply a moment of relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Prepare your picnic basket and set off with us on a journey through some of Oxfordshire's most beautiful green corners!
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City parks perfect for a family picnic
Let's start our picnic adventure with two remarkable city parks that offer the perfect conditions for family outdoor recreation.
Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park is a sprawling green space that impresses with its diversity and wealth of attractions. With an impressive rating of 4.6, this park is a true paradise for families looking for the perfect picnic spot. Its great advantage is its spaciousness - you'll find plenty of secluded spots where you can spread out a blanket and enjoy a meal in nature.
The park offers not only beautiful scenery, but also numerous amenities. You'll find children's playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts and even a miniature train that runs on Sundays during the summer season. This makes Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park the perfect place for a day trip. After a picnic, you can stroll through the beautiful alleys, observing a variety of flora and fauna - from bumblebees and butterflies to swans and hares.
It's worth mentioning the small refreshment point in the park, where you can buy ice cream or cold drinks, although prices can be a bit higher than outside the park. Therefore, we recommend bringing your own provisions for a picnic. The park is easily accessible and offers inexpensive parking spaces, which is a plus for families coming from far away.
The other great place for a family picnic is Shotover Country Park, which also boasts a high rating of 4.7. This country park, located right next to the BMW headquarters and the highway leading to downtown Oxford, offers a very different kind of experience than Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park.
Shotover Country Park is a true oasis of wilderness. The park is famous for its many hiking trails that lead through scenic forests and meadows. This is an ideal place for families who enjoy active recreation and want to combine a picnic with a short hike or nature observation. It is worth remembering that bicycling is prohibited in the park, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on your preference.
One of the biggest attractions of Shotover Country Park is the opportunity to observe wildlife. Many visitors have been lucky enough to encounter Muntjac deer here, which can be observed at close range. This is an unforgettable experience, especially for the little ones.
Comparing the two parks, Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park offer more facilities and attractions for children, while Shotover Country Park is a better choice for nature lovers and quieter recreation. Both places are easily accessible and offer free parking, which is a big plus for visitors.
Whichever park you choose for your picnic, be sure to bring a blanket, snacks and drinks. It's also a good idea to stock up on insect repellent and UV sunscreen, especially on sunny days. Both parks are open year-round, but the best season for picnics is, of course, spring and summer, when the weather is conducive to spending time outdoors.
Gardens and meadows -. A picnic surrounded by history
Let's now move on to places that combine natural charms with Oxfordshire's rich history. These locations not only offer ideal picnic facilities, but also the opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this historic region.
Oxford Botanic Garden is a true gem among Oxfordshire picnic spots. Established in 1621, this oldest botanic garden in the UK offers an extraordinary experience for nature and history lovers. With a rating of 4.5, this garden is a favorite of locals and tourists alike.
The botanical garden is the perfect place for a quiet, intimate picnic. You can spread a blanket among the carefully designed flower beds, enjoying the sight and smell of exotic plants. What distinguishes the Oxford Botanic Garden is the extraordinary diversity of flora - from species typical of the British Isles to plants from distant corners of the world. Of particular interest is the collection of insectivorous plants in one of the greenhouses and the Greek garden.
It is worth remembering that admission to the garden is charged (£5.45 per adult, children under 5 enter for free), but this price includes the opportunity to use all the attractions of the garden. The garden is not too crowded, especially on weekdays, making it an ideal place for a quiet picnic and contemplation of nature.
Christ Church Meadow is another place that combines the charms of nature with Oxford's rich history. Located in the heart of the city, this expansive meadow offers remarkable views of the historic buildings of Christ Church College. With a rating of 4.6, it is one of the most popular picnic spots in Oxfordshire.
Christ Church Meadow is an ideal picnic spot for those who want to combine outdoor recreation with sightseeing. After your picnic, you can take a walk along the Cherwell River or admire the architecture of the surrounding colleges. It's also a great place to observe Oxford student life.
Comparing the two places, Oxford Botanic Garden offers a more intimate and orderly setting, perfect for plant lovers and quiet relaxation. Christ Church Meadow, on the other hand, is a spacious place, perfect for larger groups and families with children who want to combine a picnic with physical activity.
It is worth noting that both places have some restrictions. The Oxford Botanic Garden has an admission fee and may be closed at certain times. Christ Church Meadow, while open to the public, can sometimes be crowded, especially on weekends and during the tourist season.
Regardless of your choice, both sites offer an unforgettable picnic experience in the heart of historic Oxford. Be sure to bring a blanket, snacks and a camera - the views here are truly remarkable!
Wildlife and space - a picnic away from the hustle and bustle of the city
At the end of our guide to the best picnic spots in Oxfordshire, we'll introduce you to a location that offers a truly natural experience, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Port Meadow is a sprawling meadow of more than 130 acres, located on the banks of the Thames River. With an impressive 4.7 rating, it is one of the most highly regarded picnic spots in the region. Port Meadow is distinguished by its natural, almost wild character, making it an ideal place for nature lovers and peace and quiet.
What makes Port Meadow special is its remarkable history and status. The meadow has remained unchanged since medieval times and is one of the oldest common pastures in England. This makes picnicking here feel like a time traveler, experiencing a landscape that has changed little over the centuries.
Port Meadow offers wide open spaces, perfect for spreading out a blanket and enjoying a picnic overlooking the tranquil waters of the Thames. On warm days, you may even see people swimming in the river or relaxing on its banks. This is a great place for a family picnic, where children have plenty of space to play and adults can enjoy the tranquility and beautiful views.
One of the biggest attractions of Port Meadow is the opportunity to observe wildlife. You can often find horses and cattle grazing in the meadow, which adds a unique rural charm to the place. It's also a bird lover's paradise - many species of water and meadow birds can be seen here.
Port Meadow is also an ideal place for those who like to combine a picnic with other outdoor activities. Here you can stroll along the riverbank, watch the boats crossing the Thames, or take a longer hike to nearby villages such as Wolvercote and Godstow.
It's worth mentioning that Port Meadow is accessible year-round and there is no entrance fee, making it a great option for those looking for a budget picnic spot. However, due to its natural nature, it lacks typical amenities such as benches or picnic tables, so it's worth bringing everything you need with you.
Comparing Port Meadow with previously discussed places such as Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park or Oxford Botanic Garden, you'll find that it offers a very different experience. While city parks and botanical gardens provide orderly spaces and numerous amenities, Port Meadow attracts with its natural, almost wild character.
Port Meadow is an ideal choice for those who appreciate space, tranquility and proximity to nature. It's a place where you can truly get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a picnic in the midst of almost untouched nature. At the same time, its proximity to the center of Oxford makes it easily accessible to locals and tourists alike.
All in all, Oxfordshire offers an incredible variety of picnic spots, from tidy city parks to historic gardens to wild meadows. Whether you're looking for a family picnic spot with plenty of activities, a quiet corner to contemplate nature, or a space for active recreation, you're sure to find the perfect spot for you in Oxfordshire. Remember to always respect nature and leave your picnic spot in the condition you found it, so we can all enjoy these beautiful places for years to come.
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