Closures
Please note that the woods will be closed to visitors during the following periods to allow essential maintenance to take place:
- Friday 23rd October 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 27 October 2026
- Friday 4th December 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 8th December 2026
- Friday 26th February 2027 until 10am on Tuesday 2nd March 2027.
Wytham Woods was gifted to the University in 1942, and are now one of the most studied areas of woodland in the world. The Ffennell family made the gift after the death of their only child, Hazel, with the expectation the University would preserve and maintain the Woods, using them primarily for education and research, with a further hope that the woods could be sympathetically enjoyed by the people of Oxford. A permit system now allows walkers access to over 32 km of rides and paths, and there are guided walks to enable visitors to see and learn about the Woods’ wildlife.
To apply for your permit, please visit our walking permit application form page. We remind visitors to read our rules carefully, noting in particular that no dogs or bicycles are allowed in the Woods.
If you are visiting Park Farm and Court Place Gardens, please keep to the public rights of way.
