Abingdon Green Spaces

Abbey Meadow

Access

The area is sandwiched between Mill Stream to the north and the River Thames to the south. Access is therefore by bridge which ever way you come into the area. The main entrance is from the end of Abbey Close where there is a car park. The other crossings of the Mill Stream into the meadow are from Thames View and Crabtree Close. There is one crossing of the Thames into the area which from Rye Farm Meadow and involves crossing the weir and Abingdon Lock.

Connectivity

The national cycle route 5 passes through the meadow. In one direction it will take you to Didcot and in the other to Oxford. Both around an hour's cycle ride away from Abingdon.

The Thames Long Distance Footpath passes through the meadow.

The Healthy Abingdon Walk 7 passes through the meadow.

Sign post showing various routs

The attractions

This is definitely the place in Abingdon for fun. On a hot summer's day, the place is heaving with children and adults enjoying themselves in play, picnicking or just experiencing the area. The main attractions are-

A large and interesting children's play area with a wide variety of play equipment suitable for children of all ages,
An outdoor swimming pool (which is sadly only open for a few weeks during the schools summer break and perhaps during heat waves),
A splash pad which opens from the May bank holiday. Children find the splash pad great fun because they never know where the jets of water will shoot up next.
A circular area area of wild flowers.

But the meadow as a whole is great to just wander around and admire the views of the Thames. There is also an attractive path by the mill stream which is pleasant to walk or cycle along. This doubles up as National Cycle Route 5.

The area is approximately 300m by 400m.

When the Thames floods, it overflows into parts of Abbey Meadow although the main flood meadow is Rye Farm Meadow on the other side of the Thames.


Bridge into meadow from Abbey Close	Bridge to Thames View

Bridge to Crabtree Close	Path by Mill Stream which forms part of National Cycle route 5.

Mill Stream	Part of children's play area.

You share the meadow with the wildfowl	Open area of meadow


Splash pool	Interesting statue by mill stream walk

Food Kiosk. On busy days you also find an ice cream van in the car park	Many boats moor by the meadow in the summer

Area when flooded: but splash-pool is dry! Picture courtesy of Abingdon Blog	Abbey Meadow outdoor pool

FOOTNOTE: The Town council calls this area Abbey Meadow but most maps incorrectly refer to it a Abbey Meadows (in the plural)