Amenities

Allotments

The Osney St Thomas & New Botley Allotment Association (http://www.westoxfordallotments.org/) has two sites in west Oxford: Twenty Pound Meadow (immediately across the Botley Road from the island, OX2 0BT)) and Botley Meadow (Botley Meadow, further west, on Bullstake Close, OX2 0HN).

Allotments are popular. To apply for one contact the secretary (secretary@westoxfordallotments.org). There is a shop at Twenty Pound Meadow that sells a range of garden supplies – you don’t have to be an allotment holder –and is open Sunday 11 a.m.–12 noon, Wednesday, 2 p.m.–4 p.m.

Church

St Frideswide’s Church is adjacent to the island, on Botley Road: http://www.osneybenefice.org.uk/church/st-frideswides

It is part of the Osney Benefice, working in partnership with its neighbour parish, North Hinksey & Botley. It has a relaxed Anglo-Catholic tradition.

Concerts and organ recitals are held regularly in the church.

Community centre

West Oxford Community Centre is on the north side of the Botley Road to the west of the allotments (http://woca.org.uk/). It is run by the West Oxford Community Association. Rooms can be hired and many local events are hosted here. There is a regular newsletter.

The Tumbling Bay Café in the centre, open during the day, is a place to meet and enjoy cakes or lunch.

Parks and playgrounds

The nearest parks are:

• Oatlands Road Recreation Ground to the west of the island, the other side of Ferry Hinksey Road. It is best reached via the footbridge at the end of Swan Street. There is a playground and space for ball games.
• Botley Park on the north side of Botley Road behind the West Oxford Community Centre. Playground, tennis and basketball courts, bowling green.

Pubs

The Punter on the corner of East and South Streets is popular with residents and local workers, has a small back yard and serves good vegetarian and vegan food. http://www.thepunteroxford.co.uk

Schools

West Oxford Community Primary School, just across the stream at the end of Swan Street, is small, friendly and the nearest school to Osney Island.

Also popular on the island and with a good reputation is St Ebbes CofE Primary School, which is a pleasant walk/scoot/cycle down the towpath.

A little further out but still walkable are North Hinksey CofE and St Barnabas CofE Primaries.

The secondary school for this area is Matthew Arnold, on Cumnor Hill.

Walks

From the island you can take pleasant walks:

• upstream to Port Meadow – a huge grazed water meadow of open common ground – and eventually to the village of Wolvercote. There are pubs along the way at Binsey, Godstow and in Wolvercote itself
• downstream through Grandpont nature reserve to Folly Bridge and the city centre, and on to Iffley
• west through fields and parks to North and South Hinksey villages. There is a pub at North Hinksey

Yoga centre

The Vishuddha Yoga Centre, at 16 East Street, opened on 4 June 2022. It operates as a not-for-profit, with classes and workshops run by a wide range of teachers in an innovative, purpose built, low-carbon building: www.vishuddhayoga.org/

In 2022 the centre won a Green Award from Oxford Preservation Trust, and in 2023 a Regional Award (South) from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The building was designed by Adrian James Architects..