Travel Review of The University of Oxford Botanic Garden
Visiting the botanic gardens and arboretum in Oxford, UK
With so many of us looking for interesting places to holiday in the UK I wanted to share some of my favourite beauty spots to visit here in Britain. With each destination chosen for its natural beauty, artistic inspiration or emphasis on leading a healthier, more mindful approach to life. Oxford, affectionately known as the city of dreaming spires, ticks all three boxes! From its museums, galleries and artisan ceramics quarter, to its magical old buildings and manicured academic parks. There is so much to love about Oxford (and Oxfordshire! More on that another time) but for today let’s start with a short travel review for The University of Oxford Botanic Garden.
The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. It’s situated within Oxford city centre, which is nice because it gives you the option of adding a little nature therapy to your city break without having to travel out of town.
The garden was founded in 1621 as a physic garden growing plants for medicinal research. Today it contains over 8,000 different plant species on over 4½ acres. It is one of the most diverse yet compact collections of plants in the world and includes representatives from over 90% of the higher plant families.
Oxford Botanic Garden – Revel In The Beauty Of The Natural World
You can book a day ticket or take a yearly pass, then simply download a map and take self guided trip. Alternatively, you can enrich your visit to the botanic gardens with an organised guided tour. My friend and I payed our visit to the gardens on a sunny mid June weekday afternoon. We chose a self guided tour, and it wasn’t too busy there that day which meant we had plenty of space and time to find our way, meandering among the green aisles, reading the information boards and taking in the ambiance of the garden.
A Garden Guide
- The Glass Houses (Key picks: The Conservatory, Water Lilly House, Carnivorous Plant House, Rainforest House)
- The Walled Gardens (Key picks: Medicinal Plants, Euphorbia Collection, Literary Garden)
- The Lower Gardens (Key Picks: Plants That Changed the World, The Orchard)
- and The Herbarium Room
Mid-meander my friend and I layed down under the apple trees to take a nap and read the new books we’d found earlier that day at Arcadia books at 4. St. Michaels Street. (Another Oxford gem worth visiting!)
Ah yes, a midsummers day siesta in a lush Botanic English garden. It was divine! The soft, cool grass was a welcome retreat and I was grateful to get a little respite from the midday summer sun. A quote from Kobayashi Issa came to my mind.
“In the cherry blossom’s shade there’s no such thing as a stranger.”
It’s a lovely saying, isn’t it?
If you ever find yourself in Oxford be sure to stop by the Botanic Garden, you won’t be disappointed.
P.s Taking some holiday soon? Try my vacation mode meditation for Lonely Planet guides here
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