Isis Lock, South Oxford Canal
Isis Lock, South Oxford Canal, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2RQ
For 229 years Isis Lock has stood as the gateway to the Oxford Canal, allowing boats to access the Thames from as far afield as Manchester and Leeds and bringing valuable goods to Oxford itself. Come and join us at the lock to learn how the canals were built, about the boaters who used it, and how it was preserved to be here today. This event is run by the Canal & River Trust, the UK's largest canal charity.
2026 'Everyday Histories' theme: The focus this year will be on the lives of boaters on the Thames and Oxford Canal, looking at their conditions, culture, and stories.
For bookable tours and other events available at Isis Lock, please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/oxford-open-doors-south-oxford-canal-2026-4852685
Bookable events include a Canal, Church, & Convicts Guided Walk with Mark Davies and a Secrets of the Oxford Canal History Talk with Catherine Robinson.
Timings
- Saturday 12 September:
- 1000-1700
- Sunday 13 September:
- 1000-1700
Location & directions
Isis Lock, South Oxford Canal, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2RQ
- Contact on day:
- Anna Clark
- Telephone number:
- +441865242918
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Walton Well Road Bridge has smooth sloped access 650m North of the Lock where it is flat tarmac all the way. Rewley Road Bridge has a path access over a humpback bridge 70m west, but the bridge’s surface may be difficult to navigate for wheelchairs.
Additional information
Children's activities: hands-on history artefacts, canal boat crafts, and eye-spy take-away packs.
