The gardens are open daily - apart from on Christmas Day and Good Friday - from 9am - 4.30pm during Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec (entry fees apply on weekends, but entry on weekdays is by donation); 9am-5pm during Mar, Apr, Sept, Oct and 9am - 6pm from May - Aug (entry fees apply all week during the summer). The glasshouses are open from 10am until half an hour before closing time. Admission is free for accompanied children in full time education and for disabled visitors and carers. It's £3.50 for an adult day ticket, £3 for concessions and £12 for a year pass. Guided tours can be arranged by writing in advance. No dogs allowed except guide dogs.
Wheelchair friendly.
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Rose Lane
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Founded as a 'Physic Garden' by the Earl of Danby in 1621, "with a view especially to the Faculty of Medicine", the Botanic Garden (tel 01865 286690) is the oldest institution of its kind in the country, and the third in Europe, preceded by Pisa and Leyden. Its original function was to provide herbs for the School of Medicine. The first gardener was a retired German soldier, Jacob Bobart, who was delighted to find that the cess-pits of the colleges provided him with almost unlimited supplies of good growing medium. He was a powerfully built man, who late in life sported a beard of such length that one day a madman grabbed hold of it and cried out that Bobart had eaten his horse, and its tail was hanging out of his mouth. Bobart was succeeded by his son, who became Professor of Botany. Around 1700, the Younger Bobart discovered a rat in the garden, and by cosmetic surgery turned it into so convincing a dragon that great excitement was caused in the academic world. The hoaxer eventually confessed, but the 'dragon' was considered such a masterpiece anyway, that it was kept on display in the School of Anatomy. Bobart the Elder built a conservatory where the greenhouses now stand; this was probably one of the first in England. Since then the greenhouses have been rebuilt several times. They are a treasure-trove of exotic plants. It is worth remembering that though the gardens are open much of the day, you can only visit the greenhouses between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. The Gateway, designed by Nicholas Stone, incorporates statues of Charles I & II. You can become a Friend of the Botanic Gardens, with free access to this and other gardens and to a variety of special lectures and events, for between £25 (annual single) and £500 (life single).  More like this in Potter Pourri Daily Info Staff, 14/06/10
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