Do you want to change from the Thames Path in London? So try the Oxford Thames Path walk. This circular walk takes you on a gentle stroll alongside the River Thames from Oxford, coming back by the field of Port Meadow. This walk is ideal for anyone wanting some fresh countryside air without going far from civilisation.
I wanted to visit the Oxford Christmas Market, but also experience the beauty of the countryside near the town. So I jumped on my Outdooractive app and planned a circular walk following the Thames Path and coming back via a field to arrive just a stroll away from the said Christmas Market. Check at the end of this article for a bonus on the Market.
Logistics of the Oxford Thames Path Walk
- Distance:6.6 miles (10.62 km)
- Ascent: 36 ft (8 m)
- Highest Point: 210 ft (64 m)
- Lowest Point: 184 ft (56 m)
- Walking Estimate: 2 hours and 35 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- How to get there:
- Direct trains from Paddington or Marylebone to Oxford. The journey takes approximately 1 hour with the fast train and 1 hour and 30 minutes with the slow train
- It is a circular walk so you can buy a day return ticket.
- Please note that Chiltern Railway requires that you book a seat to guarantee your access to the train.
- What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear
- Backpack
- Snacks
- Packed lunch if you are not planning on stopping at a pub for lunch
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day. Please note that as you are walking on the banks of the Thames, the path can get muddy, so don’t forget to pack your gaiters
- Headcover, sunscreen and sunglasses if you are going on a bright day
- Additional Information
- There are no public toilets on this walk
- This is a stile-free walk
- Dog-friendly walk
- Where to eat and drink:
- The Trout Inn, Godstow
- Oxford Retreat Pub, Oxford
Highlights of the Oxford Thames Path Walk
- Oxford
- River Thames
- Godstow Hamlet
- Godstow Abbey and Nunnery ruins
- Wolvercote Village
- Port Meadow
- Oxford Christmas Market
A Little Bit of History
Our walk starts in the town of Oxford. Originally a Saxon settlement, the town’s importance rapidly grew thanks to its perfect location at the junction of the River Thames and the River Cherwell. Oxford then fell under Danes’ domination in the tenth century, before being conquered by the Normans. The town proliferated under the reign of King Henry II however it was devasted by the sweating sickness epidemic in 1517. The town played an important role during the English Civil War, as King Charles I found shelter in Oxford after he was expelled from London.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the town developed massively thanks to the construction of the Oxford Canal and the opening of the rail route from Oxford to London. Industries such as car manufacturing and printing started to develop in the same period, contributing to the town’s economic success. However, they declined rapidly during the 1970s, leaving education and tourism as the main sectors of employment.
Oxford is well known for its University. Established circa 1096, it is the oldest University in the English-speaking world. The University is composed of colleges offering a wide range of courses from languages to medicine, biology to fine art. It enrols an average of 3,500 new students every year and ranks number 1 in both The Complete and The Times publications for 2023.
The Oxford Thames Path Walk
So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk!
The Thames Path in Oxford
When you come out of the train station, get to the main road and turn right onto Botley Road. Walk under the bridge and you find the signpost to the Thames Path a little bit further down on your right. Go down to the Thames Path, which is pretty much residential on this part of the walk.
As you continue walking alongside the Thames Path, the path becomes a bit more foresty (and bushy!). The houses leave space for a different kind of accommodation which are the houseboats.
The path then terminates as you get to the end of a small island in the middle of the Thames. Take the bridge on your left and join the towpath on the border of the River Thames. On the right, you can enjoy an obstacle-free view of the River Thames and a meadow on the other bank, where we will be walking through on our way back.
As you get further away from the town, you start seeing poneys grazing on the opposite bank.
Continue walking and you can see the ruins of an Abbey away. This means you are getting closer to the end of the Oxford Thames Path.
Related Content: Best River Thames Walks Near London
Godstow
At about 2.5 miles (4 km) from Oxford on the banks of the Thames, you find the hamlet of Godstow. Its 3 main landmarks are :
- The ruins of the Godstow Abbey and Nunnery
- A stone bridge
- The Trout Inn Public House
Godstow Abbey
The Godstow Nunnery was founded around 1115 by Ediva of Winchester. After it became an Abbey in honour of St. Mary and St. John the Baptist, she became the first abbess. It was the house of a striving community of Benedictines, with courts, cloisters and gardens.
The Abbey became (in)famous when King Henry I’s mistress, Rosamund Clifford, retired to Godstow Abbey after her relationship with the King ended in 1176. She died at the Abbey a few years later and her tomb was laid in the choir of the Church until 1778 when it was moved to the cemetery.
The Abbey was dissolved in November 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII and the building was destroyed, including the tomb of Rosamund Clifford. The estate was given by the king to Sir George Owen, who turned it into a home. It was sold in 1616 to the Walter Family, and during the Civil War, they fortified the house to protect it against the Parliamentarians. However, during the siege of Oxford, the Roundheads led an attack on the house and burned it. After that, the ruins of the site have been used by the locals as a source of bricks and the house has never been inhabited since.
Fun fact: The ruins of the Abbey are used as a backdrop in the movie Mama Mia, Here We Go Again!
You can walk inside the brick wall onto what used to be the Nuns’ inner court as well as inside the ruins of the Church. To have a glimpse at the structure of the stone bridge, you need to cross over Godstow Road. To get back on the train, retrace your steps and cross the bridge leading to the Trout Inn.
Wolvercourt
We are now leaving the Oxford Thames Path to close the loop and get back to Oxford via Port Meadow.
A little bit after the Trout Inn, as you walk on Godstow Road you arrive at the village of Wolvercote. First mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, it was known for raising geese and a goose is still the village’s symbol. The village benefited from the construction of the Oxford Canal between 1774 and 1790 as well as the opening of the Oxford to Rugby rail route. The village’s main activity in the eighteenth century was the production of paper for the University of Oxford. This was made possible thanks to the paper mill powered by water on the Thames. It ceased operating in 1998 and the mill was destroyed in 2004. Nowadays, the village provides a nice countryside lifestyle so close to the town of Oxford.
As you walk through the village, you pass in front of the Wolvercote Baptiste Church, built in 1886. When you get closer to the railway, you find a gate on your right to enter Port Meadow.
Port Meadow
You then set food on the meadow you saw earlier when walking alongside the Oxford Thames Path. The 300 acres (120 ha) of pasture in front of you are used for animal grazing and as recreational grounds.
The legend says that the site has never been ploughed, meaning that you can find a lot of archaeological artefacts from the Bronze Age to the Civil War. It is believed the site was given to the Freeman of Oxford by Alfred the Great for their support in his campaign against the Danes. The Freemans have the right to graze their animals in the meadow free of charge, and this right remains until now.
During WWI, the site was used as a training camp for the Royal Air Force and during WWII as a camp for the soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo also known as the Myracle of Dunkirk.
Nowadays, the site is the ideal spot for walkers, runners and cyclists. During the hot season, people gather on the bank of the Thames for sunbathing and a dip. As the meadow can get flooded, during the cold months, it turns into a gigantic natural ice-skating ring.
Fun fact: On 4th July 1862, Lewis Carol and Reverand Robinson Duckworth were rowing on the River Thames in front of Port Meadow. They were accompanied by three young girls, one being named Alice. To entertain the young ladies, Lewis Carol made up a story which later became Alice in Wonderland
Note: Port Meadow is a typical flood- meadow so check before you go that the path is not flooded – unless you want to bring your ice skates!
Back to Oxford
When you reach the edge of Port Meadow, you find yourself back at the mouth of Castle Mill Stream which we passed by at the start of our walk. From there you have 2 choices:
- You can retrace your steps and get back to Oxford via the Thames Path
- You can divert and turn left when you get to Castle Mill Stream. Further down the path, take right onto Roger Duman Way. There is a paved pedestrian road going behind the student accommodation, following the rail tracks. It is now very pretty, but should the path be muddy on the day, it turns out to be a handy alternative.
You arrive in Oxford near the train station. Take left and pass in front of the Sand Business School to get to the city centre. Continue straight on Hythe Bridge Street and just before the bridge you find a pub called the Oxford Retreat. In a traditional British pub atmosphere, enjoy a Sunday Roast and a cup of mulled wine by the fireplace or in a booth. Please note this pub also has an amazing outdoor seating space. It’s perfect for when the sun is out.
Bon appetit!
Bonus: Should you choose to do this walk near Christmas time, don’t forget to go take a look at the Oxford Christmas Market located on Broad Street.
Related Content: Best Winter Walks Near London
Oxford Thames Path Walk Map
Do you want to do this walk? Simply download the map below by clicking on the download button. If you need extra help uploading it onto your navigation app, please check my step-by-step guide here.
Final Thoughts on the Oxford Thames Path
Where to go next on the Thames Path? There are many days walks accessible from London that you can do alongside the River Thames. Check the below guides and download the maps for free.
Thames Path Walk Hampton Court To Kew – Guide & Map
Thames Path Richmond To Kew: From A Royal Park To Royal Gardens
Walking The Thames Path To Windsor
Thames Path: Belvedere To Greenwich Walk
A Walk Along The Thames In London – 20 Things To See
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