Bury Knowle Park
🏟 Playground & park · Headington, Oxford
Bury Knowle Park
Headington's beloved park with a Narnia-themed play area, zipwire, sand pits and pirate play, plus a new sports hub, cafe and library.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open all day, every day · Free · No booking needed
About Bury Knowle Park
Bury Knowle Park is a seven-hectare park in the heart of Headington, opened to the public in 1932 after Oxford City Council bought Bury Knowle House and its grounds. Its children's play area is famously Narnia-inspired, a nod to the park's C.S. Lewis and Tolkien sculptures, including The Wheel of Hope and the Story Book Tree. Play equipment includes sand pits, a pirate play feature, a range of swings, a zipwire, and climbing rocks and timber frames. The park also hosts a multi-activity hub with three full-size and four mini tennis courts, a multi-use games area for basketball and netball, mini golf and shuffleboard, a community cafe and public-access toilets. Elsewhere there is a sensory garden, outdoor table tennis, wildflower areas and seasonal floral displays, with carved seating and picnic tables dotted around. Bury Knowle House has been home to Headington Library since 1934. Car parking is available in the park car park, with alternative parking near Waitrose, though charges apply. Cycling within the park is not permitted, and drones are banned. The park is open all day, every day, and entry is free.
⭐ What makes this place special
- tennis courts
- mini tennis courts
- multi-use games area with basketball and netball
- mini golf
- shuffleboard
- sensory garden
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: True
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
🧒 Ages & play
- Narnia-inspired children's play area
- sand pits
- pirate play feature
- swings
- zipwire
- climbing rocks and timber frames
📍 Nearby places to play
- South Park · approx 1.2 miles · East Oxford
- Manzil Way Gardens · approx 1.5 miles · East Oxford (Cowley Road)
- Cowley Marsh Park · approx 1.6 miles · Cowley
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Bury Knowle Park free to visit?
Yes. The park and its Narnia-themed children's play area are free to enter, though car parking charges apply.
What is in the Bury Knowle Park playground?
The Narnia-inspired play area has sand pits, a pirate play feature, a range of swings, a zipwire, and climbing rocks and timber frames.
Are there toilets and a cafe?
Yes. The multi-activity hub includes a community cafe and public-access toilets.
Where is Bury Knowle Park?
It is off London Road in the centre of Headington, postcode OX3 9HX, managed by Oxford City Council.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is a park car park with charges, plus alternative paid parking near Waitrose.