Private Half-Day Guided Tour in Oxford

Spend half a day with an award-winning guide who knows and loves Oxford, to get a thorough overview of its extraordinary history, architecture, and stories. Whether you are interested in the city's ancient origins, the rise of the university, the many fascinating personalities who have studied here, or its famous film locations, this bespoke tour will take you off the beaten track, guide you amongst the dreaming spires, and give you the inside story of this beautiful and eccentric city. You will see inside one of Oxford's most fascinating colleges, including its chapel and dining hall. You will visit the oldest classroom in the world and learn not just about the ancient university but how it works today. And you will hear many stories about the city's famous - and infamous – inhabitants, including its connections with Tolkien, CS Lewis, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and Wonka. The timings include a coffee break and walking times between stops.

1. 1

   Martyrs' Memorial

   5 min

   A reminder of one of the darkest episodes in Oxford's history.

2. 2

   St. Michael At The North Gate

   5 min

   A 1000-year old tower and the town gaol where bishops were imprisoned, on the ancient market street of Cornmarket

3. 3

   Turl Street

   10 min

   You will encounter three colleges, along with gargoyles, grotesques and a riddle in stone.

4. 4

   Broad Street

   10 min

   Home to Britain's oldest museum, the largest room in the world selling books, and three Oxford colleges

5. 5

   Stop 5

   5 min

   Christopher Wren's masterpiece, where the university holds its ceremonies, guarded by the extraordinary 'Emperors' Heads'

6. 6

   Bodleian Library

   20 min

   Home to 13 million books! We can go inside the Divinity School (£2.50 each) with its incredible fifteenth century decorated ceiling, and hear about the various Harry Potter scenes filmed here.

7. 7

   Radcliffe Camera

   15 min

   Radcliffe Square, Oxford's famous architectural centrepiece, contains multiple important university and college buildings including Brasenose and All Souls

8. 8

   University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

   10 min

   Where the university began, with its stunning medieval spire and fascinating interior. If you like, we can climb the tower for the best views of Oxford.

9. 9

   Bridge of Sighs

   5 min

   Perhaps Oxford's most-photographed landmark, it appears in many TV shows and movies

10. 10

    New College

    45 min

    We can go into this or a different college, depending on availability (£2-7 per person), and see the glorious chapel, dining hall, quad, gardens and cloisters

11. 11

    St Edmund Hall

    5 min

    View the oldest college in the world to have taken undergraduates and decipher the chronogram over the door

12. 12

    High Street

    5 min

    One of the world's greatest streets, lined with colleges and wonderful architecture

13. 13

    Merton College

    5 min

    Founded in 1263, Merton is the oldest college that still has its original buildings - and counted JRR Tolkien as one of its professors

14. 14

    Christ Church Meadow

    15 min

    We will view Oxford's grandest college - Christ Church, learn of its most famous inhabitant - Alice in Wonderland, and hear about the first community founded here in around 700AD by Oxford's patron saint, St Frideswide

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.