Oxford
Planning your visit
Address: Worcester Sreet Car Park, Oxford, OX1 2BQ View on Google map
Opening Times: Towpath is open every day
Price: Once you're parked, it won't const you a thing
Toilets: There are toilets at the car park just off Worcester Street
Passing through the lovely countryside of Oxfordshire the Oxford Canal is one of the most scenic waterways and the best place to start your journey is right in the city centre.
You'll be forgiven for not realising the waterway is a canal. It has a rural feel through Worcester College gardens, and with Castle Mill Stream and the River Thames flowing nearby, the area is awash with waterways.
Take the towpath a short walk to the Trap Grounds Town Green and Local Wildlife Site. It's a rare remnant of wild open space along the Oxford Canal between the city centre and the northern suburbs. In 1995 volunteers cleared the ground creating a haven for wildlife. The entrance is on the towpath immediately south of the Frenchay Road canal bridge.
Things to do and see
- Walking and dog walking
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Sightseeing
Places to eat:
- The Oxford Retreat - in a lovely old building by the bridge over the canal
Boat trips:
Wildlife spotting:
The Oxford Canal is a lovely tranquil haven right in the centre of the city, perfect for feeding the ducks. But walk up to the Trap Grounds Town Green and Local Wildlife Site, designated as a 'town green' where people can enjoy watching birds and picking blackberries. It has eight acres of reed beds, ponds, woodland and meadows are is now home to dragonflies, bats, butterflies, lizards and grass snakes, reed warblers, kingfishers and much more.
Getting here
By car - there is a car park just off Worcester Street
By train - Oxford Station is just a five minute walk to the canal towpath
By boat - download our free copy of visitor moorings and services in Oxford
