South Park is a park

Park

A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...

 on Headington Hill

Headington Hill

Headington Hill is a hill in the east of Oxford, England, in the suburb of Headington. The Headington Road road goes up the hill leading out of the city...

 in east Oxford

Oxford

The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. It is the largest park within Oxford city limits. A good view of the city centre with its historic spires and towers of Oxford University can be obtained at the park's highest point, a favourite location for photographers.

The park is located alongside Headington Road

Headington Road

Headington Road is an arterial road in the east of Oxford, England. The road connects the junction of St Clements and Marston Road with the suburb of Headington, up Headington Hill...

. St Clement's

St Clement's, Oxford

St Clement's is a district in Oxford, England, on the east bank of the River Cherwell. Its main road, St Clement's Street , links The Plain near Magdalen Bridge with London Place at the foot of Headington Hill at the junction with Marston Road to the north...

 links the park with central Oxford. A 19th century bridge links the park with Headington Hill Park

Headington Hill Park

Headington Hill Park is a park on Headington Hill in the east of Oxford, England. It is part of the grounds of Headington Hill Hall, previously owned by the Morrell family and now owned by Oxford City Council and leased to Oxford Brookes University since 1992. The landscaping for the park was...

.

History

The land was privately owned until 1939 by the Morrell family of Headington Hill Hall

Headington Hill Hall

Headington Hill Hall stands on Headington Hill in the east of Oxford, England. It was built in 1824 for the Morrell family, local brewers, and was extended between 1856 and 1858, by James Morrell junior who built an Italianate mansion, designed by architect John Thomas...

. The Oxford Preservation Trust

Oxford Preservation Trust

The Oxford Preservation Trust was founded in 1928 to preserve the city of Oxford, England. The Trust seeks to enhance Oxford by encouraging thoughtful development and new design, while protecting historic buildings and green open spaces....

 bought the land in 1939. In 1951, the Trust gave the land to the city of Oxford.

Events

Many events are held in the park including the annual parade of the Lord Mayor and the annual fireworks display of the Oxford Round Table

Oxford Round Table

The Oxford Round Table is a series of interdisciplinary conferences organized and run by a California-based educational organization, incorporated until recently as a for-profit and a not-for-profit corporation in Kentucky, and currently as a not-for-profit in Illinois and England and Wales.The...

.

On 7 July 2001, there was a music festival in the park, including Radiohead

Radiohead

Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...

 (who started in Oxford), Beck

Beck

Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...

, Sigur Rós

Sigur Rós

Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...

, Supergrass

Supergrass

Supergrass was an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes , Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey ....

, Humphrey Lyttelton

Humphrey Lyttelton

Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue...

and two local bands - Hester Thrale and The Rock of Travolta. Over 40,000 people attended, the largest event in the park to date.