Walking tours in Oxford ★★☆
Escorted walks and guided walking tours of Oxford
There's no better way to get to know a place than having a learned guide escort you around town, showing you its secrets, sharing its history, and giving you far more insight and information than any guidebook could hope to do.
Walking Tours Tours
You may also visit the Divinity school of the Bodleian library (which is also a Harry Potter film site). The tours may cost marginally more than competitors, because the group sizes are considerably smaller. The average is 1-4 persons only.
This walking tour departing outside Oxford Visitor Information Centre will introduce you to English history in Oxford, religious strife during the Reformation and Civil War, foundations of the university, town & gown student riots, literary heritage including inspirations for Oxford writers' creations, such as 'Alice in Wonderland'. You will also learn about eccentric traditions, urban legends and Oxford's relationship with 'the other place'!
There are lots of amazing sights to see, walking through Oxford city centre, including many of the colleges plus other university or city sites like the Bodleian Library and Christchurch (both Harry Potter film locations!). Depending on your interests and which colleges may be open to see inside of, as the average group size is less under 5 persons, you can request your guide to try to tailor tour itinerary according to your interests.
Generally, the tour always visits inside one or two of the university's historic college buildings or inside the Divinity School but you will see many more colleges on the route too. October to March, usually you will see inside New College (founded 1379, with the medieval city walls intact). During the high summer season, the tour usually visits inside Exeter College (1314, where J.R.R Tolkien studied) or St Johns College (1555, where Tony Blair studied). Every tour varies, so please send your requests to the local provider and your guide will do their best to cater for them.
Most of our guides are Oxford students or graduates or actors, so they can introduce what student life is like credibly & with humour.
You may request any special interests for the tour eg sciences or arts or writers in Oxford etc. We generally always include entrance into at least one Harry Potter film site on this tour too (where and when possible).
This private walking tour departing outside Oxford Visitor Information Centre will introduce you to English history in Oxford, religious strife during the Reformation and Civil War, foundations of the university, town & gown student riots, literary heritage including inspirations for Oxford writers' creations, such as 'Alice in Wonderland'. You will also learn about eccentric traditions, urban legends and Oxford's relationship with 'the other place'!
There are lots of amazing sights to see, walking through Oxford city centre, including many of the colleges plus other university or city sites like the Bodleian Library and Christchurch (both Harry Potter film locations!). Depending on your interests and which colleges may be open to see inside of, as the average group size is less under 5 persons, you can request your guide to try to tailor tour itinerary according to your interests.
Generally, the tour always visits inside one or two of the university's historic college buildings or inside the Divinity School but you will see many more colleges on the route too. October to March, usually you will see inside New College (founded 1379, with the medieval city walls intact). During the high summer season, the tour usually visits inside Exeter College (1314, where J.R.R Tolkien studied) or St Johns College (1555, where Tony Blair studied). Every tour varies, so please send your requests to the local provider and your guide will do their best to cater for them.
Guides are often Oxford students or graduates or tutors and entertainers.
This 2-hour Oxford University walking tour, starting in central Oxford at 2pm (departures at 11am and 2pm on weekends), is designed to show you the world behind the doors. Using Oxford University students as your guide, the walking tour unearths the drama behind this historic institution with a unique style.
Small intimate groups enable the guides to concentrate on more diverse aspects of University life and you to ask more from them.
Go inside one of oldest College of the University, as well as the Bodleian Library, experience a taste student life. Get an in-depth history of the University colleges, including All Souls College, Trinity College, Oriel College, Hertford College, Merton College, Radcliffe Camera, University Church of St Mary and many more University sights.
Also get an equally in-depth history of the town. Learn about ceremonies at Oxford, famous graduates, and their little known experiences at Oxford, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and also the famous "finishing story" which details how the most powerful Archbishop of Canterbury England has ever seen, came to be burnt at the stake in Oxford!
After being picked up by your Oxford student guide in central Oxford, go inside the medieval Hogwarts Hospital with its images of beasts and biblical scenes. Walk down the halls of Hogwarts in the dark cloisters of one of Oxford’s oldest colleges. Really, Harry Potter in Oxford makes perfect sense.
But not only does the tour include those magical wonders of Harry Potter in Oxford, it also includes a fun quiz to test your knowledge! You will also hear about the other fabulous children’s books written in Oxford, including Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia, and the scholars who wrote them. Plus lots more!
This Harry Potter tour of Oxford includes entry to the famous Bodleian Library as well as at least two Oxford University buildings, although like with any tour company, entrance cannot be guaranteed. Where possible you will also visit Christ Church, for which the entry fee for this College is not included in the tour price. Why not? There are often queues lasting up to several hours, and parts of it are regularly shut to the public. By not including it in our standard price, we ensure we do not overcharge. The tour will end at Christ Church should you wish to head in after.
A private tour is a great way to get an intimate and tailored insight into Oxford and the beautiful university! With a private tour, you will be able to completely tailor the experience: from meeting and starting points to any particular themes you wish to be covered.
If you would like to visit a few of the colleges used in the filming of Harry Potter, this can be discussed and arranged for you. Depending on what you would like to see there may be additional entrances fees but your guides can discuss all available options for you at the start.
Your guides have a great insight into Oxford, and are committed to providing interesting and enjoyable tours of this beautiful city, rather than tours which put people to sleep. A large portion of the guides have also been involved with Oxford University and have a great insight into how the University works and its incredible history.
The Oxford walking and bikingh tour combines the best of both worlds. Being on foot for part of the tour allows you to not only go into pedestrian areas, such as the Christ Church meadows, but also to go inside the colleges. The tour will visit some of Oxford’s oldest colleges, detailing their development throughout history, as well as the fun and curious aspects of this route.
The tour will, additionally, enter the Bodleian Library. Established in 1602 it is undoubtedly the academic heart that keeps Oxford running. An organizational marvel soaked in history along with some modern elements. For example, a recent law requires it to catalogue certain websites to monitor social development (please note: this does not include cat videos, to pre-empt any questions!). When possible, the tour will also visit Divinity School, with its spectacular fan vaulted architecture and theological symbols.
Following this you are able to head down towards Christ Church, one of the most famous colleges in Oxford, before getting on the bikes.
Once on the bikes you head over to arguably the centre of Oxford University, Radcliffe Square, with the famous Radcliffe Camera which dominates the landscape. After admiring the hideous grotesques, discussing the application process to Oxford University and the most prestigious college, you head over to a door which would play a role in the Chronicle of Narnia. A bike down to the southern part of Oxford brings us to Magdalen College, formally home to Oscar Wilde and C S Lewis, whilst this area also presents a lovely view of the Botanic Gardens.
Heading north you discuss the Examination School and those infamous Oxford exams, the oldest College at Oxford before passing the New Bodleian Library and explaining the creation of Rhodes Scholarships.
The tour culminates in passing the Eagle and Child Pub of Tolkien fame and Jericho, the trendiest part of Oxford, before arriving at Port Meadow, also your guides' favourite part.
The tour is delivered in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Big Tolkien fan? Great, this will be covered in more detail. Love or hate Harry Potter, it’s no problem to tailor this at the start. All tours are made with the consideration of you, the visitor, in mind.
The tour also includes full-day hire of the bike, so that you can carry on hunting down those picturesque pubs and river paths that the city has to offer.
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Following a pickup at your centrally located Oxford hotel or the railway station, start your tour at the Weston Library — near Balliol College. With your private guide to lead the way, enjoy the flexibility to plan your own route though this pretty and historic city.
Depending on your personal preferences, perhaps enjoy a sightseeing tour through the medieval heart of Oxford and admire the churches, museums and university buildings for which the city is famous. Along the way, perhaps enjoy the chance to step inside The Divinity School — widely considered among the university’s greatest architectural masterpieces.
During your tour, learn about the evolution of the university from a rag-tag collection of ungovernable halls to the center of academic excellence it is today. Gain insight into the historic feuds and foibles, achievements and ambitions that have shaped Oxford University, and hear of the famous academics, inventors, scientists, and writers who have lived and worked here down the centuries.
Afterward, finish your walking tour in central Oxford, then return in comfort to your hotel or the railway station.
Fascinating facts, horrible histories, amusing anecdotes - enjoy the personal touch and first-hand commentary from a real Oxford graduate on this walking tour of the city of dreaming spires. It includes a visit to a college for an authentic insider look at life as a student, and the weird and wonderful heritage and traditions here. And for fans of trivia and tidbits there's a mine of information, often useful, sometimes not, but always interesting.
Discover what makes Oxford University great - the admissions process (including the dreaded interview), and the collegiate and tutorial system - from someone who has experienced them. Stop and stare, and photograph the most picturesque city center locations in England.
The great Irish poet WB Yeats once said "I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful". Join this guided walk and discover why.
For the morning tour there will be a visit to Jesus College, founded in 1571 by Queen Elizabeth I. Here there will be an opportunity to pause while the collegiate and tutorial system is explained, as well as other fascinating and funny Oxford rituals, customs, and language.
The afternoon tours will visit either New College, not that new as it was founded in 1379! (Harry Potter fans will recognize a famous location), or Trinity College, established in 1555 and with the most magnificent gardens in Oxford.
Starting at the the iconic Martyrs' Memorial in Oxford city centre, the 1.5 hour walk begins by following the trail of some gruesome history about religious intolerance, still a very modern issue. Along the way one of the points of interest is the first ever charity shop in the UK, open and thriving today as part of a well-known global organisation which was founded in Oxford.
Then the focus becomes suddenly, and strikingly, more modern, before zooming in, quite literally for the photographers among the group, on some curious medieval characters looking down from on high.
The tour then moves in to the world of the wider University in Radcliffe Square, the intellectual heart of England. There's an optional minor detour for CS Lewis and Narnia fans to see the inspiration for the characters in the well-loved story.
Next, going back in time again, to the 1600s, the location is the magnificent Old Schools Quad, the forerunner of today's lecture and examination rooms. Another optional visit, this time to the Divinity School (more Harry Potter). This magnificent medieval room is the oldest teaching hall and earliest examination hall of the University.
For architecture fans there follows an array of exquisite buildings whose designers range in time from Sir Christopher Wren to the modern day. A short side trip leads under Oxford's answer to Venice's Bridge of Sighs, to the house where a famous astronomer discovered a heavenly body, before the tour ends at one of the city's worst kept secrets, a tucked away tavern where a US President famously didn't inhale.
This personal account of Oxford student life is guaranteed to educate, inform and entertain, and at the end leave visitors with sights and stories so they too can "dream and remember".
Meet your qualified Green or Blue Badge guide outside Balliol College on Broad Street in central Oxford at 2pm. From here you'll meander through the cobbled streets and quaint alleyways to the heart of Oxford University and pass sights such as University Church, Radcliffe Camera, Old Schools Quadrangle (The Bodleian Library) and The Bridge of Sighs. During the tour your guide will explain the history of Oxford from its humble beginnings to the world class University which we know today.
You will then visit inside Christ Church College*. Unlike most other tours that simply view from the outside. Christ Church has a deep and interesting history and is probably the city's most famous college, not least because of its connections with the Harry Potter films and its iconic dining hall.
This is a one-way tour which will finish in or close to Christ Church. Whilst this is a group tour, each one is unique and the best route will be chosen on the day.
*Please note: Entry included to Christ Church unless closed for any reason. The local provider will try to advise of any closures at the time of booking or before the tour but some closures are last minute. In this event your guides will endeavour to visit inside an alternative college.
As a bespoke tour, each tour is as individual as you are and it depends on many different factors, such as the time of the visit, group size, group members' age and any specific interest you and your group may have. However all tours will cover the view from the outside of any of the colleges, The Bodleian Library, Old School Quadrangle, The Weston Library, The Divinity School, The Clarendon Building, The Sheldonian Theatre, The Radcliffe Camera, University Church of St Mary The Virgin and the Bridge of Sighs. It can also be possible to arrange any other sites of specific interest to you as well as the possibility to visit inside a college (subject to opening hour and fees).
At the end of the tour, you will be provided with a free map and suggestions how to enjoy the rest of your time in Oxford. If you would like to visit inside a college then there maybe an additional charge which is in addition and paid direct to the venue on the day.
Your guide is fully qualified and a member of The Institute of Tourist Guiding as well as The Oxford Guild of Tour Guides.
In 1987, John Thaw hit the screens in Britain as the iconic Inspector Morse and Oxford has not been the same since! A total of 33 episodes were filmed over a period of thirteen years on the streets of Oxford (although a couple were not filmed in Oxford). 2006–2015 was the Lewis era, during which Lewis and Hathaway tried to make the streets of Oxford safe.
We now have the prequel, Endeavour, and the fourth series has been commissioned. Your guides on this special tour have witnessed the filming and would be delighted to show you some of the scenes, although they cannot promise to cover over 80 hours’ filming in just two hours!
Each tour will be unique and your guide will plan the most effective route on the day of your visit. If you would like to see inside a college then there maybe an additional charge which is paid direct to the venue on the day and varies on the groups size and time of tour but please budget £2.00-£4.00 per person for entrance fees. These are an additional fee and paid direct to the venue on the day. Meeting point is flexible, depending on your arrival in Oxford or hotel location and this can be discussed and finalised at the time of booking.
Meet your fully qualified guide at Martyrs' Memorial on St Giles, central Oxford. You will spend comprehensive two hours together exploring the Oxford of Morse, Lewis and Endeavour.
Each tour is unique and will not follow a set route or script in order to ensure that the best possible experience is enjoyed by all. The tour will visit inside one college (subject to availability) and other highlights will include the heart of Oxford University, many more colleges and a few pubs where the words "pint Lewis" were often spoken (from the outside).
At the end of the tour your guide will provide suggestions for further visits independently.
Meet your fully qualified guide outside Balliol College on Broad Street at 11am for this 1.5-hour walking tour of the city of Oxford.
Each tour is unique, does not follow a script and the best route will be chosen on the day to maximize your time in Oxford and in conjunction with opening times.
You will visit inside a college (subject to availability) which is included in the ticket price. The tour will cover all the mains sites of Oxford (from the outside) including The Bodleian library, The Radcliffe Camera, The Bridge of Sighs, The Sheldonian Theatre, University Church, All Souls College, Brasenose College and much more!
Tour lasts 1.5 hours and will finish in a central location.
Choose from one of two start times, and then meet your guide in central Oxford to discover the city’s sugar-coated delights. While known for its university colleges and architecture, Oxford is also home to an eclectic array of independent boutiques, cafes and chocolatiers — all of a quality that reflects the city’s eminent status.
Follow your guide around the streets to learn about chocolate, hearing little-known facts about its health benefits and stress-relieving properties. Along the way, visit seven establishments where some of the finest chocolate, candy and cakes can be found. Venues and types of samples may change, but typical highlights are as described below.
Venture inside Hardy’s Sweet Shop, a lovely example of a traditional British candy shop where shelves heave beneath the weight of jars filled with cherry lips, gobstoppers, rock, Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls and more. After admiring the wares and trying some of the traditional British treats, wander across to a branch of Patisserie Valerie where continental patisseries, chocolates, macarons and cakes are served.
Visit Hotel Chocolat to see gourmet chocolates piled up high, and then try some of the chewy-centered cookies that Ben’s Cookies produce. Learn about cake design in The Cake Shop where customized cakes are a specialty, and sample some of the city’s finest fudge with a visit to the Fudge Kitchen. Recipes used in the shop are said to date back centuries, and their fudge is still made by hand on large marble slabs.
After 2.5 hours exploring the eateries of Oxford, your tour finishes by the city’s covered market, leaving you ideally placed to shop for some sugary souvenirs to take home.
Oxford has been long associated with its famous University. But for Inspector Morse fans it is the worlds murder capital, where corruption, homicide and vice are commonplace.
The City of Oxford has been the setting not only for the Inspector Morse books and TV series, but also its spin-offs – Lewis and Endeavour. On this fully guided walking you will take a closer investigation into the world of author Colin Dexter’s famous detective creation.
You will get to see locations familiar to Oxford elite detectives - Morse, Lewis and Hathaway. Alot of the scenes have been filmed in central Oxford in the old city where the tour focuses and includes places like The Randolph Hotel, the White Horse pub and Broad Street to name but a few of the most popular locations.
On this 2-hour guided walk around the old city of Oxford, you will hear fascinating historical information about the colleges, pubs, streets, houses and other places familiar to Morse and his fellow detectives, as well as hearing interesting anecdotes on how the show and characters were developed.
Your guide will take you to actual locations from the series, including a visit to one of the colleges featured in one an episode, you'll hear fascinating historical information about the old city of Oxford and go behind the scenes of Inspector Morse.
Grab your wand and enjoy a magical walking tour around Oxford – home to the oldest University in the English speaking world. Suitable for both muggles and wizarding folk alike, this 2 hour guided walking Harry Potter Tour of Oxford will take you to some of the film locations used in the Harry Potter movies.
As part of this Harry Potter Tour of Oxford, you will be spellbound as you learn about life at one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world, and find out why Oxford’s Colleges make the perfect setting for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
During your tour, your guide will enthrall you as you journey around the old city of Oxford, reminding you of some of the most memorable scenes from the Harry Potter films, such as when Dumbledore tells Harry that his mother’s sacrifice to save him left its mark.
You can recreate moments from the movies in the very locations where they were filmed, such as when Ron was instructed to dance with Professor McGonagall in preparation for the Yule Ball and you can stand on the spot where Malfoy is turned into a Ferret!
You will learn about what happened when the stars and film makers came to Oxford, you’ll delve into the fascinating history of the colleges and you’ll discover how the magical wonders of Oxford are echoed in the Harry Potter movies.
As part of the price of your ticket, entrance into 2 of the 3 film sites is included. These are New College and the Divinity School at The Bodleian Library. Due to the queues getting into Christchurch College we dont include this in the price. Instead you will be given a DIY self guided information sheet allowing you to find the locations inside the college that were used in filming. Max group sizes are limited to 19 persons.
NOTE: Depending on time of day and University events (which can be announced at short notice), certain Oxford colleges may not always be accessible on the day of your tour. However, in the instance of any unforeseen or unscheduled events preventing access to venues, your guide will ensure that your party enjoys the best possible tour experience.
Please note that this tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Take a private guided tour of the picturesque university city of Oxford. Enjoy a private walking tour of the city and its colleges and museums. Your 3 hours tour begins when your guide meets you at the agreed pick-up point, for example Oxford train station. The tour introduces the most famous colleges and describes college life, student traditions, famous literary, scientific, and political figures, and English history in Oxford. Follow the informative guide around the city as you visit the famous sights and learn about the history of Oxford.
Get the most of out of your trip to Oxford on this tour – this tour can be scheduled to suit whatever requests and interests you have. This tour is ideal for small groups, language schools, or business organizations. The tour subject, pace, college entrances will all depend on your preferred circumstances.
Take a private walking tour to visit some of Oxfords famed colleges and courtyards. You’ll also admire some of the many churches in this city that’s bursting with examples of magnificent architecture. See the famed Bodleian Library and the Ashmolean Museum. The tour runs rain or shine, so please dress appropriately.
Tour operator can not actually guarantee entrance to any specific colleges as it is ultimately the colleges which decide whether or not they choose to open or close from day to day, according to any unusual circumstances.
Any college entrance fees will be added on if you choose to enter colleges.