Oxford's riverside pubs, stretch by stretch

Oxford has two rivers and a canal, and some of its best-loved pubs sit right beside them. Several are easiest to reach on foot, along the towpath or across a meadow, which is half the reason to go. This guide works upstream to downstream on the Thames (the Isis, as it is called through Oxford), then turns to the Cherwell.

One thing applies throughout: these are working pubs with hours that change by season, and some shorten them in poor weather. Check opening times before you travel, and book ahead if you want to eat at a busy time.

The northern Thames: Port Meadow, Binsey and Godstow

The stretch north of the city, along the edge of Port Meadow, is the most rural part of the river in Oxford. The Thames Path National Trail runs north along the Binsey bank of the river, with Port Meadow across the water, to Godstow, and Oxford City Council notes that the section between Osney and Wolvercote is more rural than the paths further south and can be muddy in winter. Port Meadow is a natural floodplain, so after heavy rain expect standing water and heed any closure signs.

The Trout Inn, Lower Wolvercote

The Trout Inn stands beside Godstow Bridge on Godstow Road, directly on the Thames. The building is Grade II listed and mainly 17th century, with 18th-century alterations, and its riverside terrace looks over the water and the weir. It is well known to readers of Colin Dexter: the Trout features in the Inspector Morse stories and their television follow-on, Lewis, and Dexter himself was a regular.

On foot, the Trout is the natural end point of a walk up the Thames Path from Medley, with Port Meadow across the river. Visit Thames publishes a five-mile Port Meadow circuit that follows the Thames Path to Godstow and returns along the Oxford Canal towpath from Wolvercote to Jericho. It can also be reached by road, and CAMRA lists parking and disabled access, though it is worth asking the pub directly about access needs.

The Perch, Binsey

The Perch is at the end of Binsey Lane, a few minutes' walk from the river and Port Meadow. The main building is thatched, Grade II listed and 17th century in origin, and the pub is known for its large garden. Like most of Binsey, it is owned by Christ Church. It has had a difficult history with fire, most recently in 2007, and reopened in 2008. Lewis Carroll is said to have been a visitor.

The Thames Path passes near Binsey on the way to Godstow, so the Perch and the Trout pair well on the same outing. You can also drive or cycle down Binsey Lane from the Botley Road.

The Plough, Wolvercote

The Plough, Wolvercote is not on the Thames itself. It overlooks Wolvercote Green and the Oxford Canal, so it sits on the canal leg of the Port Meadow circuit rather than the river leg. It is a traditional former Morrell's inn, and CAMRA records the same licensee running it for more than 30 years. It does not open every day of the week.

Through the city: Osney and Folly Bridge

The Punter, Osney Island

The Punter is on South Street, on Osney Island in west Oxford. It opened in 1871, originally as the Waterman (later the Waterman's Arms), and took its current name after a refurbishment in 2010. The river is just across the street from its covered terrace, and CAMRA notes that the Thames Path runs past the front door, so it is an easy stop on a walk to Port Meadow or Folly Bridge. From 2020 the Punter ran a fully vegetarian and vegan menu, but meat dishes returned in early 2026 and recent reviews describe a menu for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. If you are choosing it for plant-based food, check the current menu first.

The Head of the River, Folly Bridge

The Head of the River, on St Aldate's at Folly Bridge, is a Fuller's pub in a warehouse built in 1827. It became a pub in 1977, reopened after a refurbishment in 2024, has a large riverside terrace and also offers rooms. Salter's Steamers, across the bridge, runs boat hire and river trips from the same spot.

Downstream: the Isis Farmhouse at Iffley Lock

The Isis River Farmhouse sits on the towpath just upstream of Iffley Lock. Built as a farmhouse in 1800 and an inn since 1842, it has no road access at all. You walk or cycle along the Thames Path, just over a mile from Folly Bridge or a few hundred yards from Donnington Bridge, cross Iffley Lock from Iffley village, or arrive by boat.

It has a large garden and a long-running Sunday evening gypsy jazz session. Opening is more limited than at most pubs, typically later in the week, and the pub warns that it may close at short notice in poor weather or when quiet. Check its website or social media before walking down.

The Cherwell: the Victoria Arms, Old Marston

The Victoria Arms is on the eastern bank of the Cherwell at the end of Mill Lane, Old Marston. Oxford Preservation Trust bought the building and land in 1959 to save it, and the pub, once a ferryman's cottage, reopened after full renovation in 1986. It is now run by Butcombe. The gardens slope down to the water, and there is mooring for punts, so in summer many visitors arrive by river from the city.

You can drive or walk in along Mill Lane from Old Marston. Oxford Preservation Trust also publishes a three-mile circular walk that starts and finishes at the pub, following the Cherwell south past Wolfson's meadows with an optional extension into University Parks. The Trust warns that the riverside section can be very wet, so boots are sensible outside high summer.

Before you go

• Check opening times before you travel. Several of these pubs close on certain weekdays.
• Riverside paths flood. Oxford City Council advises caution on the Thames Path during flooding, especially at night, and asks cyclists to avoid it when flooded and to dismount at locks.
• The Isis Farmhouse can only be reached on foot, by bike or by boat. Plan your route home before dark.
• If you have access needs, call ahead: towpaths and meadow paths are uneven in places, and facilities vary from pub to pub.

For more places to eat and drink across the city, see our pubs directory and the Oxford town page.

Cover photo: The Perch in Binsey, by Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.