This great route takes you from the city of Oxford out to Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. It follows National Route 5 from Oxford to Woodstock.
The route heads out of Oxford city centre through the residential area of Jericho. It has cafes and artisan shops.
Next you join Woodstock Road; you have a choice of the cycle / bus lane or the pavement cycleway here.
After a picturesque diversion through Wolvercote and by the Oxford Canal path, you join a dedicated cycleway beside the A44. This takes you most of the way to Woodstock (although it gets interrupted by roundabouts along the way).
Blenheim Palace and Gardens are stunning and there is a huge amount to do here. The Churchill exhibition gives a fascinating insight into the ‘Greatest Briton’.
You can see personal letters, photographs and paintings. The magnificent State Rooms are well worth a visit too.
Please note that while there are bike racks provided for those that cycle to visit the Palace, general cycling within the Park is not permitted.
In Woodstock, you could also visit the Oxfordshire County Museum, which has a great tea shop.
On your return journey to Oxford, there is the option to do a short detour to the village of Bladon to see where Churchill is buried.
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Please note
We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness.
However, all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. To the extent permitted by law, Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes.
Walking and cycling routes change over time. Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces.
Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability, experience and confidence levels of those in your group.
To make sure everyone gets the most out of their time by the water, please ensure that you follow the Towpath Code.