Folly Bridge
Abingdon Road, Oxford, GB
Rating: 4.5 ★ (487 ratings)
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Opened in 1827 and designed by architect Ebenezer Perry, the elegant stone arches of Folly Bridge replaced a much earlier medieval structure that had stood on this important River Thames crossing for centuries. Its name is thought to derive either from the marshy ground that once surrounded it or possibly from a 17th-century tower known as 'Friar Bacon's Study', which was considered a 'folly' and was painted by J.M.W. Turner before its demolition. The bridge you see today played a role in the English Civil War, controlling access to Oxford, and later became a focal point for the city's burgeoning rowing tradition, with many university boathouses still nearby. The structure itself is in two parts, separated by Folly Bridge Island, where the distinctive, castellated 'Caudwell's Castle' was built in 1849, adding to the picturesque and somewhat eccentric charm of the location.
Folly Bridge holds a special place in literary history as the starting point for a boat trip on July 4, 1862, during which Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, first told the story of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" to Alice Liddell and her sisters. This iconic moment is now commemorated by a plaque unveiled in 2023 on the wall of The Folly restaurant nearby. Visitors can easily walk to the bridge from Oxford city centre and enjoy views upstream towards Christ Church Meadow or downstream. The area offers picturesque riverside walks, the chance to take a boat trip yourself, or simply soak in the atmosphere at a nearby historic pub, imagining the creative sparks that flew on that famous "golden afternoon".
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: Open 24 hours; Tuesday: Open 24 hours; Wednesday: Open 24 hours; Thursday: Open 24 hours; Friday: Open 24 hours; Saturday: Open 24 hours; Sunday: Open 24 hours
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