Rose Isle is an island in the River Thames

River Thames

The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...

 in England just downstream of Kennington Railway Bridge

Kennington Railway Bridge

Kennington Railway Bridge near the village of Kennington, Oxfordshire crosses the River Thames between Sandford Lock and Iffley Lock. It carries the freight railway branch line that serves the BMW Mini factory at Cowley. The freight railway is part of the former Wycombe Railway that linked and ...

 on the reach above Sandford Lock

Sandford Lock

Sandford Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England, situated at Sandford-on-Thames which is just South of Oxford. The first pound lock was built in 1631 by the Oxford-Burcot Commission although this has since been rebuilt...

, near Kennington

Kennington, Oxfordshire

Kennington is a village and civil parish in the Vale of White Horse district of Oxfordshire, just south of Oxford. The village occupies a narrow stretch of land between the River Thames and the A34 dual carriageway...

, Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....

.

The island is tree-covered and has a narrow channel behind it crossed by a footbridge. It was formerly used for the growing of osiers (basket willows, used for basketry, furniture, and cart-making). The house on the island replaces the Swan Hotel which was formerly a well-known stopping point on the river. The island was also known in the past as Kennington Island or St Michael's Island.