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Iffley Lock – Folly Bridge loop from Oxford

Routes

Running trails & routes

Iffley Lock – Folly Bridge loop from Oxford

Moderate

5.0

(7)

454

runners

Iffley Lock – Folly Bridge loop from Oxford

01:07

10.8km

50m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: March 23, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

939 m

Carfax Tower

Highlight • Historical Site

Carfax Tower is all that remains of St Martin's Church, which was the official church of Oxford from 1122 until 1896, when it was demolished to make more room for the traffic. Upon climbing the 99 steps to the top of the Tower, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Oxford’s skyline. It costs £3 to enter the tower.

Tip by

1.46 km

Christ Church Meadow

Highlight • Natural

The meadow is a lovely open space at Christ Church college. It is a surprisingly peaceful spot in the heart of the city and a haven for wildlife – it's even used to graze rare English longhorn cows. The meadow has been used as a recreational site for centuries and in 1784, it even became the location of one of the earliest balloon flights in England.

Tip by

3.37 km

Danby Gateway, Oxford Botanic Garden

Highlight • Monument

Oxford Botanic Garden was founded in 1621 as the first botanic garden in the UK. It is part of the University of Oxford and contains over 5,000 different plant species. This makes it one of the most diverse yet compact collections of plants in the world and includes representatives from over 90% of the higher plant families. The Botanic Garden has been a rich source of inspiration. In the 1860s, this is where Charles Lutwidge Dodgson took the Liddell sisters, inspiring the stories that became Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. See if you can find the grinning Cheshire Cat, tucked away in the Literary Woodland in the Walled Garden. Equally, the author JRR Tolkien spent much time here, in particular in the company of the late great Austrian pine tree (Pinus nigra), whose twisting branches is said have resembled the 'ents' in his 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Perhaps most poignantly, in Philip Pullman's brilliant 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, the protagonists Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry meet between their respective parallel worlds on a bench in the back of the garden. At the end of the novels, they promise to sit on the bench for an hour at noon on Midsummer's day every year to feel each other's presence. Just behind their bench, you will find a stainless steel sculpture by the sculptor Julian Warren, depicting the ‘daemons’ of the novels.

Tip by

3.48 km

Punting from Magdalen Bridge

Highlight • River

Punting has been a quintessential Oxford experience since Victorian times. What better way to while away glorious summer days punting with friends along the River Cherwell? But be prepared for a steep learning curve on learning to punt. Please note that according to a tradition dating back from before 1880 - and in contrast to the other place - in Oxford the proper way to punt is from inside the boat rather than from on top of the box and to propel the punt with the box end facing forwards.

The punting station just below Magdalen Bridge dates back to 1911 and is currently one of three places in Oxford where punts, rowing boats and pedalos are available for hire. You can punt north towards Parson's Pleasure or south towards Folly Bridge on the River Isis (as the Thames is known locally). The southern route will bring you to where mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson set out on boating trip with the young Alice Liddell in 1862, and told her the stories that became "Alice in Wonderland". The northern route is perhaps a more tranquil option and will eventually bring you to further refreshments found at the Cherwell Boathouse and Victoria Arms along the river Cherwell.

Tip by

6.86 km

Iffley Lock

Highlight • River

Watch canal boats navigate up and down the river at the picturesque Iffley Lock.

Tip by

9.16 km

Folly Island

Highlight • Structure

Interesting development on a small island in the middle of the Thames. Quirky buildings and architecture to be seen.

Tip by

9.24 km

Folly Bridge

Highlight • River

Oxford comes from Oxenaforda, meaning "ford of the oxen". Folly Bridge was constructed in 1825-7 at what is thought to be the original site of the ford over which oxen could be driven across the Isis river, derived from "Tamesis", the ancient name for the Thames.

Today, Folly Bridge is one of the main entry points to the city, overlooking the Head of the River pub and further downstream the Oxford University College boat houses on the banks.

Tip by

10.8 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.11 km

2.86 km

1.62 km

100 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

4.85 km

4.15 km

1.69 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Sunday 17 May

13°C

6°C

83 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Iffley Lock – Folly Bridge loop from Oxford

Carfax Tower

Christ Church Meadow

Danby Gateway, Oxford Botanic Garden

Punting from Magdalen Bridge

Iffley Lock

Folly Island

Folly Bridge

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