Hinksey is the park I tend to forget about and every time we go to the outdoor pool I think - why…read moredon't we come here more often? The answer is that we live on the other side of the city and Oxford has so many lovely green spaces. On the other hand Hinksey is just outside the centre of Oxford and has things the other parks don't have. There is a small children's play area, a lake on which there used to be pedalos for hire, a lake on which you sometimes see people sailing their radio controlled boats, tennis courts, fishing and the outdoor swimming pool. The paddling pool has been replaced by a free fountain / water feature play area. I've not been to this one at the right time of year but the one in Abingdon is great fun. Remember the fun of running under the hose in the garden? Fountain play areas recreate that experience. I've just looked at the city council website to check out the details for this park and I found out that it is a "Green Flag" winner. I've heard of different coloured flags being awarded to beaches but I didn't know there were flags for parks - I can feel myself just about to waste half an hour looking up other "green flag" parks to see if my other favorite places have won anything. (And I've found out from the website there are fresh water sponges and zebra mussels in the park - who'd have thought it!)

This is as good a park as any, and it's a lovely haven of green and fun. If you live in central…read moreOxford, there are plenty of nearer parks, but if you're young at heart or have kids, and if it's a warm day, this is definitely the place to be. Why? Water! There's a 'Splash' water feature, open from 10am-8pm May to September, but sometimes earlier in the year if it's warm enough. The outdoor swimming pool is brilliant: it's heated, free for under-17s and surrounded by sun-loungers. It's like being on holiday: sun, water and ice-cream, yet only a short drive from home. There's also tennis, fishing and a lake with a myriad of interesting birds (still waiting to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher!) and underwater life. A word of warning: if, like me, you enjoy evening walks with friends or a four-legged companion, watch out because although the park's always open (unlike the University Parks for example), there's no way to get a car in after a certain time. This changes throughout the year, the earliest being aroudn 5pm in winter, I think. Definitely worth checking, but not a disaster if it's shut, as there's plenty of parking nearby.

As parks go, this one is quite wonderful. Loads of open space, running and bicycle track, exercise…read morestations, and such. There are a great many benches for just sitting and enjoying the sounds, sights, and smells of nature. Sunsets are a special treat here, as the main slope of the park runs toward town away west. It's a beautiful sight, even with the construction cranes in silhouette. Grab a picnic bag or a take out pizza and a few pints, and head there on your next visit to the area. You'll not regret it!

South Park is great for lazing around in summer, picnics, meeting friends and, most importantly,…read morefor building enormous snowmen and snow sculptures in winter. I spent a very happy afteroon here one February building snow slides on the slopes and crunching through frozen leaves. It's surprisingly large despite being surrounded by roads, and although you can always hear the traffic in the background, it's still quite a peaceful experience. The worst bit is that it's quite hard to find an exit as they're quite spaced out, and it has a reputation for not being good for women walking through at night. I've never heard of anything bad happening, but it's worth bearing in mind.

If you are like me and live up the unfashionable end of Cowley road near the city arms....but still…read morewant to go for a jog or play some footie everyonce and while with out having to go down the sloped fields of south park. Then you will be pleased to hear your in luck. Southfields park, located directly behind cowley road has numerous sport fields, enclosed play areas and basketball/5side court. With the approach of summer, i would suggest to check it out...it may make your day

I love parks, so I love finding new ones in Oxford. Of course this isn't new, but it's one of the…read morelesser known areas, especially as it's so close to the open South Parks. Ignore the ominous hedges and gates and take a step into this great little place. You can pop in during a lunch break and share your sarnie with the curious little birds who hop around begging for crumbs. If you're in a hurry, try avoiding the traffic and noise of the city by walking through the park and connecting to other parks (try the Mesopotamia concrete path to University Parks). If you have the time, the best thing to do is to just stroll through the trees, enjoying the glimpses of buildings like the magnificent Islamic Instutute and Headington Hill Hall - the 19th century mansion whose private gardens used to be situated in the park. There's all manner of unusual trees and plants, which I find interesting even though I have no idea what they are. Look out for the tree near the Marston Road entrance that has been struck by lightning but is still stubbornly spewing out branches. It's much nicer than South Parks - even the occasional bits of graffiti are hippie style peace and love words. It's free, it's pretty, it's good to chill out in.

I wanted to buy Russian Coats with "Oxford Uni" written on them. Can't get them here. I should have…read moregone to "University Parkas." Oxford is full of gorgeous and stunning and legendary Parks. University Parks may not be my favourite, but it is the one within the closest walking distance of most of the colleges of Oxford University, and it's a wonderful place to relax and play football... And to look at the flowers like I did when I was a little kid, as you can see from the picture.

The University Parks are open to everyone and have something for everyone. There's no cycling…read moreallowed, so no risk of being run down by hurried students, and it's surprisingly free from tourists, so the parks are a great place to get away from it all. There are park wardens to make sure people follow the rules, which makes it seem a little less liberating, but they are generally unobtrusive and friendly. They also shut at night, which is probably best safety wise, but is slightly alarming if you are there at closing time and feel you may get locked in! The parks hold rare and tropical flowers and well-cultivated trees and flowerbeds which are home to all sorts of furry and feathered creatures if you just look hard enough. There are well-kept paths for joggers and pushchairs and lots of benches for the more romantic, people who want to eat or read, or just those who feel like watching the world go by. There's a duck pond near the river, where you can watch punters floating by, and sports fields where local cricketers, footballers and ultimate frisbee players train. At some weekends there's an ice cream van near the entrance and during the week there's a great little crepe stand near the Keble Road entrance. The perfect place to escape the city without leaving behind the culture and beauty of Oxford.

We enjoyed a nice visit to the garden. They offer timed tickets you can pre book which makes it…read morequick to get in. There is a large garden you can walk through to see the plants and trees and also some glass houses that contained interesting plants such as poisonous plants, cactus, and more. Most plants were labeled. There were a number of trees and some seating that was in the shade. It was a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours.

What a beautiful place to walk and listen to the birds as you walk your breakfast off…read more Really peaceful and despite not having all the flowers and trees in bloom, it was such a lovely couple hours spent here. I can just imagine what it would be like in summer. I really liked the green houses as well. Our favorite was the rainforest one. A small gift shop at the entrance/exit. The staff was really friendly and helpful but that's just all the people in Oxford so far.

Yes, it's a college with a deer park. Posh or not, it's a lovely little snippet of tranquil…read morecountryside and a good escape from the bustle of Oxford life. Entrance is included in the college entry fee: Adults £4 Concessions: £3 Oxford students/alumni/Oxford residents: free The deer park is basically a big meadow in the North West of Magdalen's grounds. In winter and spring there is a herd of deer there, which have been the subject of poems, works of art and student pranks for years. It's nice to observe animals close up in your own time and space without the pressure that comes from trying to fit everything in at a zoo or the hassle of driving round a safari park. If you look back you can see the dreamy spires of Oxford and Magdalen's Grove Quad; look forward and you can see Magdalen meadow and gardens. In the Civil War, a regiment of the King's army camped here and used the trees for fuel. It used to be a grand display of elm trees, which were subsequently replaced by newer trees after the spread of Dutch elm disease. This is the absolute best place to come if it snows.

If you follow the meadow path round anti-clockwise, you will soon come to the Fellows' Garden…read more Cross a quaint little bridge, which is somewhat spoilt by the noticeable CCTV camera and signs, and you're in a lovely area of unusual plants, tame ducks, moorhens, coots and all manner of garden birds. The first plants were placed by Thomas Hopkins, Bursar of Magdalen, who also helped design the University Parks. There are still some trees surviving from this time, such as the huge redwoods, a poplar, a copper beech and a silver lime. Keep an eye out for fritillaries (pink flowers with a snake-scale pattern on their petals) and for the dog's tooth violets. The best time to visit is Spring, as there are lots of spring-flowering plants. That said, in summer the trees provide pleasant shade and in winter the frost and snow can make everything look exceedingly beautiful. This might not be so interesting for older children, but toddlers will like the tame birds, and it's a great place for a romantic stroll, a catch-up with an old friend or a walk with relatives. I actually like going here on my own at quieter times, as it gives me a chance to take everything in and to get my thoughts together.

I'm no tree expert, but I still find this sort of place fascinating. Everyone knows about the…read moreBotanic Gardens, but this is quite a well-kept secret. It's a shame you have to pay to get in, but it's understandable, as there are some rare and old trees here, and it's very well maintained. I recommend getting a tour, as otherwise it's easy to see things as 'just another tree', and it seems a bit silly paying to wander around what is really an outdoor museum, when you could have the same experience for free if you're really not bothered about the trees. Even if you think you're not interested, you might be surprised. I also recommend going in summer when everything's in full bloom, although it must be interesting to see the changing seasons. Keep an eye out for peacock feathers!

Owned by Oxford University, Harcourt Arboretum is about five or six miles south of Oxford and is a…read morecollection of trees and shrubs open to the public. Some of the collection is very old - massive old trees dating back to mid 19th century. The layout is very informal with lovely open glades and grassy areas between the specimen trees. There are peacocks and bluebells in spring - it can be quite magical. Especially worth a trip to see the rhodedendrons in Spring which are spectacular. Great place for all ages - kids love to run about (in safety). It's free, apart from parking fee which is £3