The Oxford Canal

Gateway to the North

Once a major and commercially very important waterway, the Oxford canal which runs between the Thames at Oxford and the Coventry canal at Hawkesbury Junction provided a relatively fast route from the Warwickshire coalfields to Oxford. For a short time it was, before the introduction of the Grand Union Canal, the principle water route between the Capital and the Midlands.

Designed by James Brindley, the canal takes a winding route based on the contours and after his death in 1772, the work was continued by Samuel Simcock who completed the canal to Banbury. The consequence of Brindley’s design was that the canal took an excessively long route, some ninety-one miles and was very inefficient for the fast carriage of goods.

The extension to Oxford was not completed until 1790. In 1800, the Grand Junction Canal along with the Warwick & Napton and the Warwick & Birmingham canals completed the new shorter London to Birmingham route and although the Oxford managed to survive commercially until the late 1820s the writing was on the wall for its supercession owing principally to its tortuously winding route and the company decided to modernize the northern part of the system, digging massive embankments and deep cuttings to shorten the route by almost 14 miles between Braunston and the Coventry canal.

It is because of its loss of importance as a commercial waterway, the canal has not suffered unduly from overdevelopment and its banks remain much as they were over a hundred years ago. The charming southern section especially is mostly unspoiled.

There are two ways of entering the Oxford Canal from the Thames. West of the city, Dukes Cutting by-passes Oxford altogether, whilst further downstream, the access to the canal under the north end of Oxford Station provides a far more pleasurable route. Isis lock with its pretty iron turnover bridge is secluded and treelined. The canal runs for a quarter of a mile southwards to its terminus close to Worcestor and Nuffield colleges. Historic central Oxford with its colleges, castle and many attractions is easily accessed from the towpath.

From here the canal runs northward through urbanized scenery until it reaches the outskirts of Oxford to Wolvercote. The canal follows the Cherwell valley to Banbury where it flows through the centre of the town passing right by the Castle Quay shopping centre.

From Banbury, the long haul up to the midlands takes a reasonably direct route via Copredy to Fenny Compton through the Fenny Compton “tunnel” which is in fact a heavily wooded cutting. Thereafter it becomes something of a switchback. It is easy to become disoriented as the canal changes direction repeatedly before it reaches Napton Hill. This is the summit level and from here it drops down to Napton junction and the Grand Union. Meandering through breathtaking countryside and beautiful stone walled villages, with its lift bridges, and narrow locks, the Oxford canal offers a memorable boating experience.

Due to licencing restrictions on the British Waterways Canal system our commercial licence is only valid on the River Thames, if you would like to cruise on the canal system this is very easy for us to arrange for you but there is a small daily charge (less than £6 per day) for the additional licencing requirements.