Christ Church Meadow, Oxford

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View from the meadow, looking across the sports fields towards Christ Church Cathedral.

View from the path by the River Cherwell across to Christ Church.

Christ Church Meadow is a famous water-meadow, and popular walking and picnic spot in Oxford, England.

Approximately triangular in shape it is bounded by the River Thames (the stretch through Oxford being known as the Isis), the River Cherwell, and Christ Church. It provides access to many of the college boat houses which are on an island at the confluence of the two rivers. The lower sections of the meadow, close to the Thames, are grazed by cattle, while the upper sections have sports fields.

Christ Church Meadow is owned by Christ Church, and is therefore private property, but access is permitted during the day. Access starts very early to allow rowers access to the boathouses.

James Sadler made the first ascent in a balloon by an Englishman from the Meadow on 4 October 1784. The balloon rose to a height of around 3,600 feet and landed six miles away near the village of Wood Eaton near Islip to the north-east of Oxford. A plaque notes the event.