Oxfordshire Public Waters
Oxfordshire Lakes
Oxfordshire has a number of natural and man-made lakes, most of which are located in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Oxfordshire Public lakes can be found in parks, castles, palaces, stately homes, countrysides, villages, towns and places of interest. Some lakes are open to the public for activities like biking, bird watching, boating, camping, fishing, photography, sightseeing, swimming, walking, wildlife and other amenities. Oxfordshire Lakes - Jubilee Lake - Radley Lakes - Wolvercote Lakes - Worcester College Lake. Oxfordshire Reservoirs: Clattercote Reservoir - Farmoor Reservoir - Grimsbury Reservoir
Queenford Lakes (Oxford Wakeboard & Ski Club)
A very popular and managed open-water swimming location with lifeguarded sessions, roped lanes, and safety measures. Sessions run throughout the year—check the summer (Mar–Sep) and winter (Oct–Apr) timetables, with bookings required in winter via SwimScan. Wetsuits optional; bright swim caps and tow floats required. Facilities include lakeside showers, toilets, and a café. This is a well-organized and safe option for wild swimming. Recommended by media and swimmers alike; daily turnout can exceed 200 swimmers in summer. British Water Ski and Wakeboard
Adderbury Lakes - A Local Nature Reserve featuring two small lakes surrounded by woodlands and rich biodiversity. Ideal for quiet walks, birdwatching, and relaxing in nature—not typically a swimming spot. Woodford Bottom & Lamb’s Pool - A small nature reserve with a man-made pool and marsh, hosting bats and breeding birds. More for nature observation than water activities. Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake - A purpose-built rowing lake used by GB rowing squads and universities. Closed to public recreational use.
Oxfordshire Rivers
River Cherwell - Length: 40 miles (64 km) Joins the Thames in Oxford. Flows Through: Banbury, Kidlington, Oxford. Features: Vital to Oxford’s geography (e.g., Christ Church Meadow lies between the Thames and Cherwell). Scenic river used for punting and nature walks.
River Evenlode - Length: 45 miles (72 km) Joins the Thames near Eynsham. Flows Through: Moreton-in-Marsh, Charlbury. Features: Meandering river popular with walkers and wildlife enthusiasts.
River Ock - Length: 15 miles (24 km) Joins the Thames at Abingdon. Flows Through: Wantage, Grove. Notable For: Flooding concerns in parts of the Vale of White Horse. Environmental and Cultural Importance. Wildlife: The rivers support habitats for otters, kingfishers, herons, and diverse aquatic life. Recreation: Popular for punting, rowing, canoeing, angling, and riverside walks.
River Thames - Also known as: The Isis (within Oxford). Length: 215 miles (346 km) in total; flows through southern Oxfordshire. Significance: The most important river in the county, passes through Oxford, Abingdon, and Henley-on-Thames, Central to boating, punting, and rowing (e.g., Oxford University rowing). A key historical and commercial waterway.
River Windrush - Length: 42 miles (68 km) Joins the Thames at Newbridge, west of Oxford. Flows Through: Bourton-on-the-Water, Witney. Known For: Picturesque Cotswold villages Traditional wool trade in medieval times (especially around Witney).
Flood Management: Some rivers, especially the Ock and Evenlode, are prone to seasonal flooding, which influences planning and infrastructure. Cultural Influence: Rivers have inspired writers (e.g., Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in Oxford), artists, and poets.
Places of Interest
Where there is Public Waters in Oxfordshire there will be even more in and around other places of interest like accommodation, castles and stately homes, campsites, hotels, nature reserves, parks, swimming pools, spas, theme parks, water parks, water sports, zoos, and general activities like biking, bird watching, boating, camping, fishing, photography, sightseeing, swimming, walking, wildlife. Some of which may help complete your visits, trips, tours, holidays planning ahead and enjoying your time in one of your favourite Public Waters destinations in Oxfordshire. Butterfly House - Butterfly World & Farm Park - Cotswolds - Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens - Diddly Squat Farm Shop - Fairytale Farm - High Lodge Farm - Hinksey Park - Lye Valley - Millets Wildside - RSPB Otmoor - The Farmer's Dog - The Wild Pig Farm Shop. Places of interest are ideal for your photography skills and taking some of those great pictures for your photograph albums, social media and special memories.
England Counties
South East
Berkshire - Buckinghamshire - East Sussex - Hampshire - Isle of Wight - Kent - London - Oxfordshire - Surrey - West Sussex
South West
Bristol - Cornwall - Devon - Dorset - Gloucester - Isles of Scilly - Somerset - Wiltshire
East of England
Bedfordshire - Cambridgeshire - Essex - Hertfordshire - Norfolk - Suffolk
East Midlands
Derbyshire - Leicestershire - Lincolnshire - Nottinghamshire - Rutland
West Midlands
Herefordshire - Shropshire - Staffordshire - Warwickshire - Worcestershire
Yorkshire and Humber
North Yorkshire - South Yorkshire - West Yorkshire
North West
Cheshire - Cumbria - Greater Manchester - Lancashire - Merseyside
North East
County Durham - Northumberland - Tyne and Wear
Top Destinations
We are always out and about searching for new public waters and there locations so as we can share with everyone, all these amazing beautiful scenic places which are ideal for recreation, socializing, biking, boating, camping, fishing, photography, swimming, walking, nature, wildlife, activities, food, drink and relaxation.
Not only will we seek and find these locations we will also find such things in around and close by which may help in planning any trips, activities, adventures, tours or expeditions which you may have plans for and going to one of your favour or new public waters locations.
Be it the sea, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, canals and streams in and around all counties, departments, cities, towns and village areas. Life's Natural Environment and Activities.
Retail & Leisure
In each location country, region, county, towns, departments, provinces or even states, we plan and aim to provide you with maps, facilities, supplies, local shops, hotels, camp sites and means of travel all of which will have continuous updates when made available.
Also along the way there will be endless amounts of places for socializing, food, drinks, like restaurant's, takeaways, cafes, bars, pubs, and supermarkets and local shops.
As well as supermarkets, local shops plus some other suppliers and retail outlets including shops nearby for things like clothing, footwear, biking, boating, camping, fishing, photography, swimming, scuba diving / snorkelling, walking and wildlife for all your activities, adventures and socialising moments.
Public Waters Photography
Take a Picture of Your Favourite Location
Using your Android, iPhone or your favourite brand of a digital camera like Cannon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Panasonic, Go Pro or DJI drone capturing a still shot or video of that really special moment you wont ever forget also sharing them with your friends and family.
Public Waters Take A Look
Amazing Pictures and Videos.
" Some Of These Aeriel Shots Will Make You Want To Jump Through The Screen "
Public Waters will endeavour to put some of the most amazing pictures and videos of public waters be it the coastal towns, sea, beaches, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, canals, streams, water falls, which will be added to our web pages on a regular basis.
The great thing about public water locations is that sense of freedom and getting away from the everyday life and into one of life's natural environment's with a breath of fresh air.
Public Waters has some of the best scenic views in the world within its natural environment surrounded by a natural growth of forest, woodland, trees, wild plants, flowers and its amazing wildlife inhabitants.
Public Water Locations
Lakes - Rivers - Canals - Sea
Your Public Waters and Activities
Biking - Boating - Camping - Fishing - Photography - Swimming - Scuba Diving - Snokeling - Walking - Wildlife.
Activities
Biking
Riding a mountain bike through woodlands, forestry, even into the surrounding mountains and hill tops, or taking to the local roads with your bike or motorbike, also a great way of traveling from one location to another, or a family biking trip out into the country side. Camping and biking from one camp to another is becoming more popular over the years in some countries even towing small trailers along behind or using rucksacks, saddle bags, panniers and top boxes. The great thing is being able to take in and absorb the wonderful surroundings you're cycling or biking through at a different pace.
Boating
Lakes, Rivers, Canals and Sea are the perfect places for your boating activities be it canoeing, rowing, cruising along in your motorboats or sailing along with the behind you, enjoying all of them magnificent scenic views in and around public waters. Some prefer taking off on a jetski, water skiing, surfing, paragliding, swimming, scuba diving and snorkelling. Other great alternatives is professional water tours sailing, cruising, crossings, ferries, either way it’s like being in another place away from the land with a totally different view of its surroundings sightseeing in a relaxing atmosphere.
Camping
Setting up camp right next to your favourite public water. Having a cuppa or lighting up the barbeque and having a few drinks chilling and relaxing in the sunny weather and evening sun sets. There are some amazing new types of tents and accessories these days, some tents don't even need poles and can be inflated with hand or electric pumps. One of the other ways of camping and ideal for moving around is by campervan, motorhome and caravans, some even use a push bike with trailers or motorbikes, some even by foot with rucksacks known as backpacking.
Fishing
Night or day fishing and catching that big carp, catfish, setting a new personnel best record in lakes, rivers and canals. Sea fishing be it from the beach, pier or boat catching some marcel, cod, bass, dover soul, and so many other different species of fish in our seas. Casting a line from the bank or boat fly fishing for them rainbow, brown trout or even a salmon. Being out in them fantastic public water locations with them fantastic views and social times enjoying your favourite hobby. There are so many different types of tackle, bait and equipment for fishing from tackle shops or online.
Photography
What better places than a public water with a idyllic landscape in the background for some amazing photos and videos of all your special locations and memories. Not forgetting the amazing wildlife inhabitants which create some of the best images. That special selfie shot of you and your loved ones. All of them special memorable moments saved in one click. Using your Android, iPhone or your favourite brand of a digital camera like Cannon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Panasonic, Go Pro or DJI drone capturing a still shot or video of that really special moment you won't ever forget sharing them with your friends and family.
Swimming
There are so many public water locations which are ideal for swimming, scuba diving and snorkelling, around some of the coastline as well as some inland lakes, rivers or nearby pools. Taking a dip with your toes, paddle or diving in for a wild swim and that invigorating boosting feeling in public waters. Scuba diving and snorkelling from the shores and boats exploring the underwater world and its amazing sights like sealife fish and creatures moving around the seabed wrecks and reefs. Before entering into any public water it's advisable to take some professional lessons, guidance, and local knowledge of your chosen locations.
Walking
Walking along the shoreline, rivers, canal tow paths or through the countryside, woodlands, forestry during them wonderful sunrise or sunset times of the day with your loved ones and maybe the dogs. Whilst having that relaxing stroll, walk or hike it's considered by many this is one of the best forms of excises for health and wellbeing. What better way to get into training ready for them charity walks and hikes ahead. Some may even enjoy stepping it up with a gentle jog and a run, or even turning it into a triathlon with a walk, run, swim and bike ride at the end. Or taking your dogs along for the walk as well.
Wildlife
Where there is water the local wildlife inhabitants is never to far away and can be amazing at times and full of wonderful surprises within the towns, villages, hamlets, countryside's, forestry, coast lines, and all types of public waters, with its local inhabitants insects, bees, butterfly's, reptiles, fish, birds, ducks, swans, geese, deer and different types of mammals all of which are a living in and around our surrounding environments. The wildlife is constantly changing throughout the different seasons in their migrations. For breeding and food supplies needs.
What are you waiting for?
