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Magdalen College, Oxford – Bodleian Library loop from Sandford-on-Thames

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Magdalen College, Oxford – Bodleian Library loop from Sandford-on-Thames

Easy

5.0

(3)

riders

Magdalen College, Oxford – Bodleian Library loop from Sandford-on-Thames

00:38

10.6km

60m

Cycling

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 18, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 4.77 km for 65 m

After 6.46 km for 103 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.60 km

Barracks Lane Path

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Scenic stretch of level cycling through woods and alongside golf course.

Tip by

3.60 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

4.80 km

Magdalen College, Oxford

Highlight • Historical Site

Magdalen College Is the largest college here

Tip by

5.69 km

Bodleian Library

Highlight • Monument

The library contains every book published in the United Kingdom.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.85 km

Radcliffe Camera

Highlight • Historical Site

Famous library with dome

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.87 km

Oxford University Historic Center

Highlight • Cycleway

Don't forget to climb the churchtower, stunning views!

Tip by

6.52 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

10.6 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.77 km

2.35 km

1.80 km

474 m

105 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

9.57 km

543 m

427 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Weather

Thursday 16 July

28°C

12°C

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Magdalen College, Oxford – Bodleian Library loop from Sandford-on-Thames

Barracks Lane Path

BrewDog Oxford

Danby Gateway, Oxford Botanic Garden

Magdalen College, Oxford

Bodleian Library

Radcliffe Camera

Oxford University Historic Center

Punting from Magdalen Bridge

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