The Carfax tower to the Botanical Gardens via Christ Church.

The Carfax in Oxford marks the historic heart of the city, where four major roads—Cornmarket Street, Queen Street, High Street, and St Aldate’s—converge. Its name comes from the Latin quadrifurcus, meaning “four-forked,” a nod to this ancient crossroads.

Towering above the junction is the Carfax Tower, all that remains of the 12th-century St Martin’s Church, once Oxford’s official city church. The tower offers panoramic views over the city’s rooftops and spires and is a popular landmark for both locals and visitors. Surrounded by shops, cafés, and buskers, the Carfax remains a vibrant meeting point and a symbolic centre of Oxford life. For a fee you can go to the top of the tower. Be warned the winding staircases are narrow and steep but there are passing points on the way up.

Directions:

Cross over Cornmarket Street and walk along the High St. to the Crossing. Cross over the High Street into St. Aldate’s walking southwards past Christ Church on your left.

Directions:

Cross over the high st. and walk along St. Aldgates

Tucked away on Alfred Street just off the High Street, The Bear Inn is one of Oxford’s oldest pubs, dating back to the 13th century. Renowned for its low ceilings, timber-framed charm, and cozy atmosphere, the pub is especially famous for its unique collection of over 4,500 snippets of neckties, donated by patrons from around the world since the 1950s. Whether you’re after a pint of traditional ale or a taste of local history, The Bear offers a quintessentially English pub experience in the heart of Oxford.

Tom Tower is one of Oxford’s most iconic landmarks. Seen from the street, it gives a sense of entering another world, marking the threshold between the city and the historic heart of Christ Church.

Tom Tower is the grand main entrance to Christ Church in Oxford, located on St Aldate’s Street. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, and built between 1681 and 1682. The tower is named after the great bell it houses, known as Great Tom. This bell weighs over six tons and originally came from Osney Abbey, a former monastery in Oxford.

Every night at 9:05 pm, Great Tom rings 101 times to commemorate the original 101 students of Christ Church. The time is based on “Oxford time,” which is five minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time — a tradition the college still keeps today.

Architecturally, Tom Tower is a striking blend of medieval and Baroque styles. The base of the tower is part of the original medieval gatehouse, while the upper section, including the octagonal lantern and spire, was added by Wren. It creates an imposing yet elegant transition from the bustling street outside to the peaceful college grounds within.

Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford is one of the most unusual and historically significant cathedrals in England because it serves a dual role: it is both the cathedral for the Diocese of Oxford and the chapel for Christ Church College. This combination is unique in the Church of England.

The cathedral dates back to the 12th century and was originally part of St Frideswide’s Priory, a religious house named after Oxford’s patron saint. When King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in the 1530s, he re-founded the college and elevated the priory church to cathedral status in 1546. That’s how it became both a college chapel and a cathedral.

Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford is one of the most unusual and historically significant cathedrals in England because it serves a dual role: it is both the cathedral for the Diocese of Oxford and the chapel for Christ Church College. This combination is unique in the Church of England.

A view of broad walk taken near St. Aldgate’s

Broad Walk is a long, partly tree-lined path that runs along the northern edge of Christ Church Meadow. Entering from St Aldate’s, the path opens out into a wide, peaceful avenue.

As you walk along Broad Walk, you’ll have the grand walls and buildings of Christ Church to your left and the open green expanse of the Meadow to your right. On a clear day, you can often see the towers of Merton College and Magdalen College rising in the distance. It’s a favourite route for walkers, joggers, and students heading into town.

The path has a calm, almost timeless feel to it. Despite being so close to the busy centre of Oxford, Broad Walk feels quiet and spacious, offering one of the most scenic approaches to the city’s colleges and riverside walks. It’s also a lovely route leading towards the Botanic Garden.

The Visitor Centre also houses a well-stocked gift shop with souvenirs, books, and themed items linked to Christ Church’s connections with Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. Visitors can also access the nearby Christ Church Picture Gallery, which holds an exceptional collection of Old Master artworks—entry to this is ticketed separately, with discounts for those who’ve already purchased a main admission ticket.

A self-guided multimedia tour is the most popular option, granting access to Christ Church College, the impressive Great Hall, Tom Quad, the Cloisters, and the Cathedral. For those who prefer a more in-depth experience, guided tours are also available, including shorter 40-minute college tours, longer 60-minute college and cathedral tours, and special themed tours focusing on architecture or stained glass.

The Meadow Building at Christ Church, Oxford, was built between 1862 and 1866 to provide accommodation for undergraduates. Designed by the Irish architect Sir Thomas Deane in the Venetian Gothic style championed by John Ruskin, it faces south across Christ Church Meadow, with striking views along Broad Walk and down Poplar Walk towards the River Thames. Although initially regarded as less desirable than the older quads of the college, it later became notable both for its architecture and for its literary associations, including a mention in Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited.

Today, the Meadow Building serves as the main entrance for paying visitors to Christ Church, while still housing some student rooms, most now updated with modern facilities. Its location beside Christ Church Meadow makes it one of the most picturesque parts of the college, linking the historic core to Oxford’s most famous green space. The building is Grade II listed, reflecting its architectural and cultural importance.

Broadwalk past the meadow building looking toward the botanical garden.

Leaving the Meadow Building behind you, the gravel path carries you forward with Christ Church Meadow opening wide to your right, while to your left lies Merton Field, a flat green expanse long associated with both college life and local history. It was here in 1783 that James Sadler launched the first hot-air balloon ascent in England — a moment of scientific daring played out on the quiet grass beside Broad Walk.

Quiet waters of the Cherwell by Broad Walk

The River Cherwell runs gently alongside the southern end of Broad Walk, marking the edge of Christ Church Meadow. At this point it’s a quiet, tree-lined stretch of water, often dotted with punts and rowing boats from nearby Magdalen and the boathouses upstream. The river bends softly around the meadow, separating it from the Botanic Garden and the college grounds beyond, so as you walk along Broad Walk you get both the open sweep of the meadow to one side and the calm presence of the Cherwell close by.

Directions:

Turn left into ‘Christchurch meadow walk’.

Directions:

Make your way through the wrought iron gate. It closes at 9pm

The rose garden with a view of Magdalen tower in the background

The rose garden near Oxford’s Botanic Garden is a quiet spot where colourful blooms and fragrant petals create a peaceful escape.

Directions:

Turn right at the high street.

Directions:

Turn right into the Botanical gardens and head towards the ticket office.

Leads to the ticket office

Oxford Botanic Garden, founded in 1621, is the oldest botanic garden in the UK and one of the oldest in the world. Set beside the River Cherwell, it offers a tranquil retreat in the heart of the city, with carefully designed glasshouses, ornamental borders, and themed plant collections that showcase rare and exotic species. The garden has long been a place of learning and inspiration, used by scientists, writers, and artists alike — Lewis Carroll, for instance, is said to have drawn inspiration here when writing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Today, it remains both a centre for plant research and conservation and a peaceful green space for visitors to enjoy.

We hope you enjoyed the walk and can now enjoy the Botanical gardens.

Please feel free to contact me with any feedback.