In Oxford the Head of the River Public House is situated on the river front and has a large pub garden with many seats and patio umbrellas. The food is good and the beer is even better. On a summers day this is a very special place to spend an hour or so in the sun. If you are unfortunate enough to visit on a rainy day the interior of the pub is a fine place to eat and drink.

The Oxford River Thames Walk

Now this is important. The bridge over the stream by the side of the Head of the River Public House is hard to find. It is behind the pub. There are no sign posts. Walk into the small car park at the rear of the pub and head towards the pub's kitchen access and bins. It looks like you are in the wrong place. Keep walking around the back of the pub and you will find the bridge and the gated access point to Christ Church Meadow and the River Thames walk

You can walk up the tree-lined avenue back to the Christ Church Cathedral but my advice would be to walk along the main riverbank as far as the wooden footbridge. You may be lucky to see canoeists, tourists in punts and the oxford boat team enjoying the water. Follow the path to the left along the smaller attractive winding river Cherwell (pronounced 'Charwell'). It will take you to the University of Oxford Botanical Garden. You will pass by some cricket pitches on your right on the other side of the river. On your left the large grass area used to be used to graze cattle.

Be careful if you go for a pleasant summers evenings walk as this can lead to a frantic search for a way out of Christ Church Meadow. The gates close at 9 pm and you will be locked in. At the end of the path near the back of the Oxford University Botanical Garden there is a large ornamental gate that leads into Rose Lane. Go through the gate. At the end of the lane before you meet the main road turn right. Walk through the hedged garden of the Botanical garden to find the small wooden entrance door that leads to the ticket office.

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