Overview

Oxford Botanic Garden is the UK's oldest Botanic Garden, with over 5,000 different types of plant from around the world. The gardens are on level ground and step free, however, some of the greenhouse areas are very tight on space and may not be accessible for some wheelchair users or people with mobility aids. A really lovely place to visit.

Transport & Parking

The Gardens are just off the High Street, directly opposite Magdalen College with its tall tower. The nearest train station is Oxford, which is about a 25 minute walk away. There are buses that you can take from the train station that stop close by. I took a taxi which dropped me off outside the main entrance which has a short flight of steps with handrail. However there is a step free entrance from Rose Lane.

Access

There is a step free entrance next to an archway, see photo, and the door was wide open when I visited. From there you walk through a small ticket office and gift shop. There is a reduced height section at the counter, but no hearing loop available. This is also the exit. Once through you are in the Walled Garden. The garden is laid out with flower beds and borders, with hard gravel paths. Visitors are also able to able to walk on the grass. Some of the paths are narrow or the plants sometimes have encroached the pathway. In the Walled Garden I found plenty of bench seating with back support and arms. Note the only accessible toilet in the gardens is located in this area. I spent most of my time very happily in the Walled Garden as there is so much to see and its a lovely space to sit and relax. The Lower Gardens I spent very little time in and didn't get very far as due to the lack of seating I find it quite difficult to walk with my crutch without frequent stops, and to be honest gave up hoping I would find some seating and went back to the walled garden. This is a totally personal view. There are also some glasshouses, that run down one side of the gardens. The Conservatory is step free and spacious and there is some bench seating without back support or arms. There are two groups of glasshouses. The one nearest to the ticket office/ toilets has a step free entrance, with with manual doors, by the Carnivorous Plants. There is a long narrow corridor with small, individual greenhouse rooms leading off from it. You can choose to going into an individual room or continue along the corridor. The first room is for Carnivorous Plants with a narrow door and cobblestone. Next is the Water Lily House with a central main pond, tight corners and grating on the floor. The third room is Plants that Changed the World. The fourth room is the Cloud Forest/ Fernery which had a slippery wet floor when I visited so I didn't feel safe going inside. The final room is the Alpine House which is narrow, at the end of it is a single step down with no handrail. the alternative is to retrace your steps back to the step free entrance to exit, and given that the corridor is narrow, if it is busy it may be a bit tricky to navigate. Please note that there are no seating in the glasshouse. There is another glasshouse with the Rain Forest House and the Arid House. I didn't visit these so unable to comment.

Toilets

The accessible toilet is in a block with other toilets. The toilet does not require a radar key and is kept unlocked during opening hours. The toilet is spacious, with plenty of handrails but no emergency cord. It was clean but the floor was wet round the sink area and in front of the toilet. I have scored this section with a four, and marked it down as there is only one accessible toilet for the entire garden, as what happens if it is out of order? All the toilets are in one area of the garden and therefore not convenient for people who have bladder or bowel impairments. Also given that the gardens are the type of place you could happily spend all day in more toilets for everyone would be appreciated.

Staff

I had very little contact with the staff apart from purchasing my ticket and going to the information desk and picking up a map. However, what I did have was very welcoming and helpful.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Please note that the gardens do not have a restaurant. Currently there is a Jericho Coffee Traders pop up cafe selling drinks and cakes. However, you are welcome to bring food with you into the gardens to picnic. It would be appreciated if the gardens could add a hand rail at the exit of the glasshouse, to assist those with mobility disabilities who can manage the step to navigate this easier. I visited the Gardens on their birthday and there were some events taking place. The gardens are beautiful, very well maintained and have interesting sections. I loved the medicinal plant collection. This is place you could happily go and spend a few hours, strolling about and sitting down relaxing. part of the gardens border the River Cherwell so you can walk along the riverside path and see the punts go by. Don't forget to look out for the Cheshire Cat statue hiding in one of the trees in the Walled Garden. It's also somewhere you could return to time and time again.

Photos