Oxford Official Walking Tours

8/7/2019 Oxford Official Walking Tours

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Tourist Information Centre

15–16 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3ASwww.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours

General Information• Tours are limited to a maximum of 19 people except for theGarden Tour (maximum 14).

• Visitors in wheelchairs are welcome to join our tours butaccess to some colleges may be restricted.

• Children (under 16 years old) must be accompanied byan adult (maximum 3 children per adult).

• A portable hearing loop is available on request. (Subject to availability)

• Guide dogs are allowed on the tours.

Length of tours

All tours cover between 1 and 2 miles and last 2 hours exceptthe Family Tour which is 1.5 hours.

Prices

Meeting point

All tours start outside the Tourist Information Centre.

Access to Colleges

Colleges and other University buildings are privately owned andtherefore subject to unannounced closures at short notice.

How to book

We suggest that you book in advance to guarantee a placeon any of our tours to avoid disappointment.

In person: At the Tourist Information Centre,15–16 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AS.

Telephone: You can book in advance on 01865 252200.A £1 booking fee is applicable.

Online: In our e-shop on www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours at least 48 hoursin advance.

Private We can pre-book private tours for individualsTours: and groups. Please contact the Tours Co-ordinator

on 01865 252037 or [email protected] to discuss your requirements.

Our regular tours are:University and City Tour

This is our most popular introductory tour, taken by the majorityof visitors. The guide will lead you through the heart of the historiccity centre, illustrating the history of Oxford and its University anddescribing the architecture and traditions of its most famous

buildings and institutions. This tour departs daily at 10.45am and2pm (except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day)with additional tours at 11am and 1pm to meet demand. Toursat 10.45am and 1pm may include the Divinity School except on

a Saturday. This will be confirmed a week in advance.

Inspector Morse Tour

Follow in the footsteps of the city’s celebrated TV detective and hissuccessor, Lewis, created by Oxford author Colin Dexter. Visit the

scenes of their best-known cases with lots of lively anecdotes along

the way. This tour departs at 1.30pm every Saturday throughout theyear and every Monday between March and September.

Family Tour

Fun for all the family! Take part in this informal tour and sharein a light-hearted look at the surprises and delights Oxford hasto offer children and adults alike. Have even more fun with our free activity sheet and pencil! This tour departs at 1.30pm during

the school holidays.

Please see inside for a full listingof our Themed Tourswww.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours

This tour is available in other languages at1.30pm on the dates below:

In German on Saturday 9th July

Saturday 6th AugustIn Spanish on Sunday 17th July

Sunday 14th August

In French on Saturday 23rd JulySaturday 20th August

From To

February Monday 21st Friday 25th

April Monday 11th Friday 15th

May Monday 30th Friday 3rd June

July Monday 25th Friday 29th

August Mondays & Wednesdays onl y

October Monday 24th Friday 28th

Adult Senior/ ChildStudent

University and City Tour £8.00 £7.50 £4.50

University and City Tour with £8.50 £8.00 £5.00Divinity School

Univers ity and Ci ty Tour £8.00 £7.50 £4.50in French, German and Spanish

Family Tour £6.50 £6.00 £3.75

Inspector Morse Tour £8.50 £8.00 £5.00

Themed Tours except the one below £8.50 £8.50 £5.00

Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps £11.75 £11.75 £7.50

Admission fees are included in the price

What better way to discover our beautiful city than on foot?

Come rain or shine...the best way

to explore Oxfordis on foot.

Our Official Guided Walking Toursare an enjoyable and interesting way

to explore our beautiful city, itshistory, University, famous people andodd traditions.

We have a wonderful selection of tours. If this is your first visit toOxford, we suggest you start withthe University and City Tour,an excellent introduction to Oxford.

If you live locally or have visitedbefore, you may already know a lotabout the University and student life.So we invite you to discover moreabout our fascinating city on one of our Themed Tours. There is a tour for everyone, from Stained Glass

to Gardens; from Magic, Murderand Mayhem to Science; fromPottering in Harry’s Footstepsto Oxford Children’s Stories...

Your official Blue or Green Badgeguide will be delighted to answer anyquestions along the way and will takeyou to Oxford’s most famous sights,and also reveal the hidden treasuresin tucked away lanes and passages.

Alternative ToursWe are pleased to include in our 2011 TourProgramme two new tours that will be conductedby local writers, Mark Davies and Trevor Hayward.

Alice in Waterland Tour

Join this tour to discover the essential role that the River Thamesplayed in the relationship between Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddellin the creation of the ‘Alice’ books, and as inspiration for someof the content. This tour is 1.5hrs long and departs at 1.30pm.

Rocking Oxford Tour

Your tour guide, a writer and musician, will take you aroundthe sites where stars such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones andPink Floyd, played in Oxford. Guest musicians who were thereat the time will also join the tour. This tour is 1.5hrs longand departs at 1.45pm.

Dates

Sunday 24th AprilSunday 22nd May

Sunday 26th June

Sunday 24th JulySunday 7th AugustSunday 4th September

Prices Adult £6.50 Child £3.75

Dates

Sunday 24th April

Monday 25th AprilSunday 17th JulySunday 24th July

Prices Adult £6.50 Child £3.75

www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours

PROGRAMME 2011

P h o t o : R a d c l i f f e C a m e r a ©

w w w . b r i t a i n o n v i e w . c o m

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C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien TourTwo university lecturers and friends, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, wrotesome of the most popular books of the 20th century. Share theenvironment in which they studied, lived and spent their leisure time intheir beloved Oxford.

Civil War Tour

Oxford in the Civil War was at the centre of the national stage, with KingCharles making his Headquarters at Christ Church. Ramparts enclosedthe city, college silver was melted down to make coins and Oxfordbecame a garrison rather than a university town. Join this tour to hear

more about life in Oxford during the Civil War.

Garden Tour

Oxford is full of gardens and parks such as the vast expanse of ChristChurch Meadow, the delightful University Parks and the unique BotanicGarden, as well as many hidden college gardens. Enjoy their variedbeauty in all seasons from stunning carpets of spring bulbs, throughmagnificent summer herbaceous borders to glorious autumn leaves.

Gargoyles and Grotesques Tour

Symbols, emblems, motifs, animals and demons cling to the roofs andwalls of buildings in Oxford. Medieval and modern stonemasons usedimagination and humour in creating a wealth of amazing stone carvings.Let our guide highlight the inventiveness and delights to be seen. Bringyour binoculars!

Jewish Heritage Tour

Walk around what was once the medieval Jewish Quarter and learnabout Jewish life in the city and significant events before the expulsion of 1290. Come up to date with the story of the Jewish population since the

17th century re-admission and remarkable facts about the Jewishcontribution to Oxford University in the 20th century.

Literary Tour

Over the centuries many famous writers: poets, novelists, critics andchildren’s authors have studied or lived in Oxford. Explore this richheritage with one of our knowledgeable guides.

Magic, Murder and Mayhem Tour

An alternative tour of Oxford to find out about secret societies,alchemists, martyrs, traitors, rogues and criminals. Discover too, one of the world’s largest collections of amulets, talismans and magical items.

Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

Explore the Oxford of Alice and the Dodo, Lyra & Will, Prince Caspian& Aslan, characters created by well-known Oxford authors in ‘Alicein Wonderland’, ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy (filmed as ‘The GoldenCompass’) and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. Delight in the make-believe,as you discover places which inspired Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis andPhilip Pullman amongst others.

Oxford Film Sites Tour

Oxford is one of Britain’s busiest and most instantly recognisable film andTV drama locations. See the backdrop for historical re-creations and literaryadaptations from fantasies to thrillers. Hear of the links with some of thebiggest names in cinematic history.

Oxford West End Tour

The Western Quarter of Oxford is one of the city’s little known secretscontaining a late 18th century prison, now a hotel, and the remains of aNorman Castle. There is evidence of occupation from the Bronze Ageand the Roman period and of early Anglo Saxon settlements. The tour offers riveting stories of the area’s long history and its ancient buildingswhere friars lived and beer was brewed.

Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps TourTour the locations where memorable Harry Potter scenes wereinspired and shot and enter the magical wizarding world yourself.

Religion at Oxford Tour

Join this tour to learn how religion and faith shaped the earlyUniversity. Follow in the footsteps of the martyrs, the founders of Methodism, the Oxford Movement and Oxford’s recent saints.

Science at Oxford Tour

Take a fascinating tour about the study of science at Oxford. By the14th century Oxford was famous for the work of Bacon andGrosseteste and for developments in mathematics and astronomy.The 17th century saw Harvey, Boyle, Hooke and Halley maketheir ground-breaking discoveries. In the 20th century, it was thepenicillin scientists under Professor Florey who made the greatestimpact. Find out about Oxford’s role at the leading edge of scienceright up to the 21st century.

Stained Glass Tour

The city of Oxford has some of the finest stained glass in the UK.Almost every style and period of English glass-painting is represented,from medieval to modern including particularly beautiful 17th centurywindows and a wealth of 19th century glass by William Morris andCo. Enjoy the opportunity of seeing some fascinating craftsmanship.Bring your binoculars!

The Jericho Tour

Jericho, Oxford's first suburb to the north-west of the city, is lessknown than other parts of Oxford but not lacking in historyand stories. Home of Oxford University Press and the remarkable

church of St Barnabas, it also encompasses the Oxford Canal,St Sepulchre’s Cemetery, and was used as a setting for Thomas Hardy’s‘Jude the Obscure’, the Inspector Morse murders and Philip Pullman'sLyra stories.

Tudor Oxford Tour

The Tudor period roughly coincided with the great change inchurch life known as the Reformation. Walk and hear history in themaking in Oxford, from Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries,Queen Mary’s persecution of Protestants for their faith, to QueenElizabeth I’s encouragement of University revival.

When Alice Met Harry Tour

‘Alice in Wonderland’ was inspired by Alice Liddell. She spent her earlyyears in Oxford, and her friendship with Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, led to the writing of the two ‘Alice’ books.Another favourite, Harry Potter, appeared here when some of his filmscenes were shot in Oxford locations. Join this tour to explore their worlds of wonder and wizardry.

William Morris & Victorian Oxford TourThe Pre-Raphaelites were closely connected with Oxford. EdwardBurne-Jones and Morris studied here, and together with HolmanHunt they left the city with some outstanding artistic works. Join atour with emphasis on this delightful period of Victorian art.

Women in Oxford Tour

Learn about the many women connected with Oxford and howwomen fought to become accepted as full members of theUniversity. From St Frideswide, Patron Saint of Oxford to EmpressMatilda; from Dorothy Wadham, college founder, to future PrimeMinisters Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto; fromauthors Dorothy L. Sayers and Iris Murdoch to Barbara Pym, Oxfordowes much to its women and their story is a fascinating one.

Themed Tours 2011February Saturday 5th C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Tour

Friday 11th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Saturday 12th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

Saturday 19th Stained Glass Tour

Friday 25th When Alice Met Harry Tour

MarchFriday 4th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Sunday 13th Science at Oxford Tour

Saturday 19th Women in Oxford Tour

Sunday 20th C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Tour


Sunday 27th Garden Tour

AprilSunday 3rd Literary Tour

Friday 15th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

Saturday 16th C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Tour

Sunday 17th Oxford Film Sites Tour

Sat 23rd Religion at Oxford Tour


Saturday 30th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour

May Sunday 1st Gargoyles and Grotesques Tour




Saturday 21st Tudor Oxford Tour

Friday 27th Stained Glass Tour

JuneFriday 3rd Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Saturday 4th Stained Glass Tour


Friday 10th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour

Saturday 11th When Alice Met Harry Tour


Friday 17th Oxford Film Sites Tour

Sunday 19th Magic, Murder and Mayhem Tour

July Friday 1st Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Saturday 2nd Civil War Tour

Saturday 2nd Oxford West End Tour (3pm)

Sunday 3rd Gargoyles and Grotesques Tour (3pm)


Saturday 9th Science at Oxford Tour

Saturday 9th The Jericho Tour (3pm)

Sunday 10th Literary Tour

Thursday 14th Stained Glass Tour

Friday 15th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour Saturday 16th Magic, Murder and Mayhem Tour (3pm)

Thursday 21st C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Tour

Friday 22nd Religion at Oxford Tour

Saturday 23rd Tudor Oxford Tour

Thursday 28th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour

Friday 29th Women in Oxford Tour

Saturday 30th Oxford Film Sites Tour (3pm)

AugustThursday 4th C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Tour


Saturday 6th Magic, Murder and Mayhem Tour (3pm)

Friday 12th Stained Glass Tour

Saturday 13th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

Saturday 13th Oxford West End Tour (3pm)

Sunday 14th Literary Tour

Thursday 18th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour

Friday 19th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour Saturday 20th Oxford Film Sites Tour

Sunday 21st Gargoyles and Grotesques Tour

Thursday 25th Garden Tour

Saturday 27th The Jericho Tour (3pm)

Sunday 28th Science at Oxford Tour

September Friday 2nd When Alice Met Harry Tour

Saturday 3rd Jewish Heritage Tour


Saturday 10th Literary Tour


Saturday 17th Oxford Film Sites Tour


October Friday 14th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour


Sunday 23rd Gargoyles and Grotesques Tour


Saturday 29th Oxford Film Sites Tour

Sunday 30th Magic, Murder and Mayhem Tour

November Friday 4th Stained Glass Tour

Saturday 12th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour


Saturday 19th When Alice Met Harry Tour

Tours depart at 1.45pm unless otherwise specified

Documents

Oxford Official Walking Tours