Oxford Botanic Garden

What it’s like

A walk among more than 5,000 plant species, with trail backpacks and a geocache hunt to keep kids hunting for the next thing.

There's over 5,000 plant species packed into the Garden, and the family trails are built to stop that turning into a wander-and-glaze-over situation. Younger kids get an Arboretum Activity Backpack, aimed at ages 3 to 8, and older ones can be handed the Arboretum Adventure Geocache Trail if they're past the age of wanting a backpack full of props and want something that feels more like a proper hunt.

Here's the bit that catches people out: the Botanic Garden and the Harcourt Arboretum are two separate sites, and you need a separate ticket for each. If you fancy both in a day, factor that in before you go, and don't expect to swap a ticket to another date if the weather turns, because they're non-transferrable.

You can buy on the door, no booking needed, though they do recommend booking ahead if you're going on a busy day so you're not turned away at 10am with a picnic and no plan B. Last entry is 4pm, gates shut at 5, so a morning start gives you the fullest run of it. Bring your own food, benches and picnic spots are fair game, and the whole site is wheelchair accessible with one wheelchair available on site if you book it in advance.

Parking is the other faff worth knowing about: there's none at the Botanic Garden itself, so you're looking at St Clement's car park nearby, whereas the Arboretum has free on-site parking with your entrance ticket. If you're coming by train it's a 25-minute walk from Oxford station, or there are buses along St Clements and the High Street.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Ages 3 to 8 with the backpack trail, 8 and up for the geocache hunt

Last entry

4pm (excluding some events)

Booking

In advance recommended during busy periods to guarantee entry

Parking

No on-site parking at Botanic Garden

Wheelchairs

Site fully wheelchair accessible with one wheelchair available for public use

Getting there by bus or train

Oxford train station 25-minute walk

Worth knowing

Friends members enter free with valid membership card

• The Garden and the Arboretum are two separate sites needing two separate tickets
• Tickets can't be transferred to another date, even if the weather turns
• Friends members should bring their membership card or email confirmation, or they'll be asked to buy a day ticket
• Toilets, accessible toilets and changing facilities are open at both sites

Plan your visit

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