Harcourt Arboretum
Oxford Lodge, Nuneham Courtenay, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PX
Harcourt Arboretum is home to over 130 acres of the world’s rare and endangered trees. In 1835, Archbishop Vernon Harcourt commissioned artist and landscape designer William Gilpin to create an eight-acre pinetum and Serpentine Ride in the parkland next to Nuneham House, where the Harcourt family lived. In 1947, the University of Oxford purchased the entire estate and created an arboretum that has grown over time to 130 acres. It was acquired by the Botanic Garden in 1963. It was designed as a place of beauty, to preserve the collection of North American conifers, and to grow trees for which the Oxford Botanic Garden was too small or the soil too alkaline. Our experts travel the globe to find rare trees, collect their seeds and grow them in the Arboretum, ensuring the species survive outside their threatened native habitats. Today, visitors can discover trees from around the world growing alongside tranquil British woodland and open meadows. This includes some of the oldest redwoods in the UK.
More information is available at www.obga.ox.ac.uk/visit-arboretum
Timings & Tours
- Sunday 15 September:
- 10:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:00)
Location & directions
Oxford Lodge, Nuneham Courtenay, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PX
- Contact on day:
- Stephen Dawson
- Telephone number:
- +441865242918
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There is a wheelchair/pushchair route but some paths may be difficult for wheelchair users, particularly if weather has been wet. There is an all-terrain wheelchair available to use (please call ahead to reserve).
Additional information
Self-guided children's trails available.
