Walking Tours

General Information• Regular Tours are limited to a maximum of 19 people and all

themed tours to a maximum of 14. • Visitors in wheelchairs are welcome to join our tours but access

to some colleges may be restricted. • Children (under 16 years old) must be accompanied by an adult

(maximum 2 children per adult).• A portable hearing loop is available on request and needs to be

booked a week in advance. (Subject to availability)• Guide dogs are allowed on the tours.

Length of toursAll tours cover between 1 and 2 miles and last 2 hours exceptthe Family tour which is 1.5 hours.

Meeting pointAll tours start outside the Visitor Information Centre.

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

How to bookWe suggest that you book in advance to guarantee a placeon any of our tours.In person: At the Visitor Information Centre,

15–16 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AS.By telephone: You can book in advance on 01865 252037.

A £1 booking fee is applicable.Online: www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours

at least 12 hours in advance.Private We can pre-book private tours for individualsTours: or groups. Please contact the Walking Tours

and Group Desk on 01865 252037 [email protected] discuss your requirements.

© A

rka

Car

togr

aphi

cs 1

0/10

Visitor Information Centre15–16 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3ASwww.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours

Follow us on Twitter @OfficialToursOXWe will welcome your review on www.tripadvisor.co.uk

Tours with an Exclusive Afternoon Tea at Oriel CollegeEnd your tour with afternoon tea at OrielCollege dining hall, used as a film location forTV series Lewis and also True Blue starringDominic West and Josh Lucas. The afternoontea includes: a selection of finger sandwiches,fruit scones with strawberry preserve andclotted cream, a selection of homemade cakesplus a choice of teas or coffee.

Adult Senior/ ChildPrices StudentUniversity and City Tour £8.50 £8.00 £5.00July and August £9.00 £8.50 £5.50

University and City Tour with £9.00 £8.50 £5.50Divinity SchoolJuly and August £9.50 £9.00 £6.00

University and City Tour £9.00 £8.50 £5.50in French, German and Spanish

Family Tour £6.75 £6.00 £3.75

Inspector Morse Tour £10.00 £9.50 £7.00

Themed Tours except the one below £10.00 £9.50 £7.00

Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour £15.00 £15.00 £10.00

Admission fees are included in the price

Oxford Official GuidedWalking Toursare an enjoyable and interesting way to explore ourbeautiful city, its history, University, famous people and odd traditions.

There is a wonderful selection of tours. If this is your first visit to Oxford, we suggest you start withthe University and City Tour, an excellentintroduction to Oxford.

If you live locally or have visited before, you mayalready know a lot about the University and studentlife. So we invite you to discover more about ourfascinating city on one of the Themed Tours.There is a tour for everyone, from Stained Glass toMedieval Oxford; from Magic, Murder and Mayhemto Science; from Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps toOxford Children’s Stories...

Your official Blue orGreen Badge guidewill be delighted to answerany questions along theway and will take you to

Oxford's most famous sights, and also reveal the hiddentreasures in tucked away lanes and passages... Please see inside for a full listing of Themed Tours

Follow us onTwitter

@OfficialToursOX

Inspector Morse TourFollow in the footsteps of the city’s celebrated TVdetective and his successor, Lewis, created by Oxfordauthor Colin Dexter. Visit the scenes of their best-known cases with lots of lively anecdotes along theway. This tour departs at 1.30pm every Saturdaythroughout the year. Between March and Septemberthe tour runs every Monday, Friday and Saturday at11.15am and 1.30pm.

Family TourFun for all the family! Take part in this informal tour andshare in a light-hearted look at the surprises anddelights Oxford has to offer children and adults alike.This tour departs at 1.30pm during school holidays.

From ToFebruary Monday 17th Friday 21stApril Monday 7th Friday 11thMay Monday 26th Friday 30thAugust Mondays & Wednesdays onlyOctober Monday 27th Friday 31st

www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours

All guides are members of the national professional body

Quality AssessedA wide selection of tours available

Small and friendly toursEntrance fees includedGift vouchers available

Oxford Official Guided

WalkingToursProgramme 2014

BOOKONLINE

Medieval Oxford Tourincluding Merton CollegeOld LibraryTo celebrate the 750th anniversary of thefoundation of Merton College we will visit ahidden gem, the world’s oldest continuouslyfunctioning library, located in the oldestOxford college quadrangle, Mob Quad.

What better way to discover our beautiful city than on foot?Come rain or shine... the best way to explore Oxford is on foot.

Regular ToursUniversity and City TourThis is our most popular introductory tour, taken by the majority of visitors. The guide will lead youthrough the heart of the historic city centre, illustratingthe history of Oxford and its University and describingthe architecture and traditions of its most famousbuildings and institutions.

This tour departs daily at 10.45am and 1pm(except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day)with additional tours at 11am and 2pm to meet demand.

Tours at 10.45am and 2pm may include the DivinitySchool except on a Saturday. Access to the DivinitySchool is confirmed on Friday for the following weekand tickets are made available then.

This tour is also available in otherlanguages at 1.30pm on the dates below:

In German on Saturday 9th August Sunday 17th August

In Spanish on Sunday 10th August Saturday 23rd August

In French on Saturday 16th August Sunday 24th August

DatesInspector Morse Tour with tea | Monday 31st March at 1.30pmInspector Morse Tour with tea | Monday 30th June at 1.30pmOxford Film Sites Tour with tea | Saturday 16th August at 1.45pmOxford Film Sites Tour with tea | Saturday 27th September at 1.45pm

PriceTour & Tea £24.50

DatesFriday 22nd August, 1.45pm Price £16.00

Try something different!

CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien TourTwo university lecturers and friends, JRR Tolkien and CS 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 TourOxford in the Civil War was at the centre of the national stage, withKing Charles making his Headquarters at Christ Church. Rampartsenclosed the city, college silver was melted down to make coins andOxford became a garrison rather than a university town. Join this tourto hear more about life in Oxford during the Civil War.

Gargoyles & Grotesques TourSymbols, 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. Bring your binoculars!

Jewish Heritage TourWalk around what was once the medieval Jewish Quarter and learnabout Jewish life in the city and significant events before the expulsionof 1290. Come up to date with the story of the Jewish population sincethe 17th century re-admission and remarkable facts about the Jewishcontribution to Oxford University in the 20th century.

Literary TourOver 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 & Mayhem TourAn alternative tour of Oxford to find out about secret societies,alchemists, martyrs, traitors, rogues and criminals. Discover too, one ofthe world’s largest collections of amulets, talismans and magical items.

Medieval Oxford Tour NEWIn medieval times, Oxford was a walled town, with most of the populationengaged in trading and markets. It was also an emerging centre of learningwhere bloody confrontations between Town and Gown took place. On this tour your guide will bring the medieval town alive!

Oxford Children’s Stories TourExplore the Oxford of Alice and the Dodo, Lyra & Will, Prince Caspian& Aslan, characters created by well-known Oxford authors in Alice inWonderland, His Dark Materials trilogy (filmed as The Golden Compass)and The Chronicles of Narnia. Delight in the make-believe, as youdiscover places which inspired Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis and PhilipPullman amongst others.

Oxford Film Sites TourOxford is one of Britain’s busiest and most instantly recognisable filmand TV drama locations. See the backdrop for historical re-creationsand literary adaptations from fantasies to thrillers. Hear of the links withsome of the biggest names in cinematic history.

FebruarySaturday 1st CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour

Saturday 8th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Saturday 15th Oxford Film Sites Tour

Friday 21st When Alice met Harry Tour

Saturday 22nd Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

MarchSaturday 1st Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Friday 7th When Alice met Harry Tour

Saturday 22nd Tudor Oxford Tour

Sunday 23rd CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour

Saturday 29th Medieval Oxford Tour

Sunday 30th Literary Tour

AprilSaturday 5th CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour

Sunday 6th Science at Oxford Tour

Friday 11th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Saturday 12th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

Saturday 19th Civil War Tour


MaySaturday 3rd Religion at Oxford Tour


Saturday 11th Gargoyles & Grotesques Tour

Friday 16th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour

Saturday 17th CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour

Saturday 24th Stained Glass Tour

Sunday 25th Medieval Oxford Tour


JuneMonday 2nd CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour


Saturday 7th Science at Oxford Tour

Friday 13th Stained Glass Tour


Saturday 28th Oxford during World War I Tour

Sunday 29th Magic, Murder & Mayhem Tour

JulyFriday 4th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

Monday 7th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour



Monday 14th CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour




AugustSaturday 2nd Science at Oxford Tour


Monday 11th CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour


Saturday 16th Oxford Film Sites Tour (with Tea)


Friday 22nd Medieval Oxford Tour (with Library)

Saturday 23rd Tudor Oxford Tour

Monday 25th Magic, Murder & Mayhem Tour


Saturday 30th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour

SeptemberFriday 5th When Alice met Harry Tour

Saturday 6th CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour

Friday 12th Jewish Heritage Tour


Saturday 27th Oxford Film Sites Tour (with Tea)


OctoberSaturday 4th CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour



Friday 24th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour


Friday 31st Magic, Murder & Mayhem Tour

NovemberSaturday 1st Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour

Sunday 9th Oxford during World War I Tour

Saturday 22nd CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien Tour


Oxford during World War I Tour NEWWhen the war began in 1914, hundreds of young men immediatelysigned up. Undergraduate numbers dropped dramatically and the cityreceived an influx of refugees and wounded soldiers. Women took overtraditional male roles in the running of the city and transport, whiledons switched from academic studies to research into aiding the wareffort. Join this tour to hear about life in Oxford during the war years.

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

Science at Oxford TourTake a fascinating tour about the study of science at Oxford. By the 14thcentury Oxford was famous for the work of Bacon and Grosseteste andfor developments in mathematics and astronomy. The 17th century sawHarvey, Boyle, Hooke and Halley make their ground-breakingdiscoveries. In the 20th century, it was the penicillin scientists underProfessor Florey who made the greatest impact. Find out aboutOxford’s role at the leading edge of science right up to the 21st century.

Stained Glass TourThe 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 and Co.Enjoy the opportunity of seeing some fascinating craftsmanship. Bring your binoculars!

Tudor Oxford TourThe Tudor period roughly coincided with the great change in church lifeknown as the Reformation. Walk and hear history in the making inOxford, from Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, Queen Mary'spersecution of Protestants for their faith, to Queen Elizabeth I'sencouragement of University revival.

When Alice met Harry TourAlice in Wonderland was inspired by Alice Liddell. She spent her earlyyears in Oxford, and her friendship with Charles Dodgson, betterknown 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 theirworlds 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 Holman Huntthey left the city with some outstanding artistic works. Join a tour withemphasis on this delightful period of Victorian art.

Themed Tours 2014Tours depart at 1.45pm

For more information on any of the tours and events above please visit www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

Great Medical Discoveries: 800 years of Oxford Innovation Bodleian Library. Until 18th Maywww.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whats-on

Oxfordshire Science FestivalVarious locations around Oxfordshire. 7th–23rd Marchwww.oxfordshiresciencefestival.com

FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival Various locations around Oxford. 22nd–30th Marchwww.oxfordliteraryfestival.com

Oxfordshire Artweeks Various locations around Oxfordshire. 17th–26th Maywww.artweeks.org

The Great War: Personal Stories from Downing Street to the TrenchesBodleian Library. 12th June–2nd Novemberwww.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whats-on

Alice’s Day Oxford. 5th Julywww.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

Warhol/Morris Exhibition by Jeremy DellerModern Art Oxford. 29 November 2014–8 February 2015www.modernartoxford.org.uk

Ashmolean Museum permanent and temporary exhibitionsAshmolean Museum. Throughout the yearwww.ashmolean.org/exhibitions

Related Events in Oxford

Documents

Walking Tours