The Bodleian Library

The university's massive library is one of the largest in Europe and has been receiving one copy of every book printed in England since the 1600s.

The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest and most prestigious libraries in Europe, located in the heart of Oxford, England. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it serves as the main research library of the University of Oxford and is part of the larger Bodleian Libraries group. The library is a legal deposit library, meaning it is entitled to receive a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom, which has helped it amass a collection of over 13 million printed items.

The Bodleian is housed in a series of historic buildings, including the iconic 15th-century Divinity School, known for its elaborate Gothic vaulted ceiling. Its grand reading rooms, such as the Radcliffe Camera and the Duke Humfrey’s Library, are architectural treasures that attract visitors from around the world. Despite its age, the library is a modern research hub, supporting academics and students while preserving an extraordinary range of manuscripts, rare books, maps, and archives.

Access to the books is highly controlled; historically, even monarchs were denied borrowing privileges, King Charles I famously had to read on-site like everyone else. The library’s motto, “A haven for learned men,” continues to reflect its reputation as a sanctuary for scholars and a symbol of Oxford’s intellectual heritage.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Oxford

Related Tours

Welcome to Oxford: Private 2.5-hour Walking Tour

One of the oldest cities in the UK, Oxford has an incredibly rich history and a beautiful skyline, with its stunning medieval architecture earning it the title ‘City of Dreaming Spires’. Many of its most impressive buildings belong to its eponymous university, which was founded over a thousand years ago and remains one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world. Our private walking tour is a wonderful way to explore the best Oxford has to offer, making your way around a carefully curated selection of the most important sites and hearing a wealth of intriguing anecdotes from your expert guide.

On your 2.5-hour private tour, you will:

  • Enjoy the personal attention and expertise of your private Blue Badge Guide;
  • Stroll through Oxford’s spellbinding streets and uncover the city’s fascinating history;
  • Visit one of the world’s best-known universities and learn about the inner workings of the collegiate system;
  • Pass by the iconic Oxford colleges like Magdalene, Oriel, Exeter, Pembroke, Brasenose, Trinity and Jesus;
  • Step inside one of the colleges for an in-depth look;
  • See the famous ‘Bridge of Sighs’, the Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre and Bodleian Library;
  • Hear about university life and the history of the town/gown riots at the Covered Market;
  • Learn about some of the great minds who were educated at the University, including Stephen Hawking, Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkien, and more than half of Britain’s prime ministers;
  • Soak up the quintessentially English atmosphere of Oxford as you stroll through Christchurch Meadow;
  • Admire the views of Christ Church and Merton colleges, and the Botanical Garden;
  • Walk along the river and keep an eye out for people out punting;
  • End your tour outside one of Oxford’s most historic taverns.

Step into the old world charm of Oxford on this captivating private walking tour led by a certified Blue Badge Guide. Beginning at the striking Martyrs’ Memorial, your journey unfolds through the cobbled lanes and golden-stone quads of one of the world’s most storied cities. More than just a sightseeing stroll, this experience provides an immersive introduction to Oxford, designed especially for discerning travellers seeking rich history, iconic architecture, and long established legacy of academic brilliance.

As you explore Oxford’s medieval core, your expert guide will bring to life nearly a thousand years of triumph, tradition, and transformation. With tales of fierce town-and-gown rivalries and centuries-old rituals, the streets of Oxford reveal layers of intrigue behind every elegant spire and ivy-clad wall. You’ll follow in the footsteps of scholars, poets, prime ministers, and revolutionaries as you pass by some of the University’s most celebrated colleges, including Magdalen, Oriel, Exeter, Brasenose, Trinity, and Jesus. You will also have a chance to step inside one of these historic colleges, where your guide will offer an insider’s view into student life, both past and present.

In the heart of the city centre between High Street and Market Street, you will pause beneath the ornate Victorian arches of the Covered Market to hear about Oxford’s bustling daily life and how it once played host to raucous conflicts between townspeople and students. Weather permitting, you can meander through the peaceful paths of Christ Church Meadow, with postcard-worthy views of Christ Church and Merton colleges, the Oxford Botanic Garden, and the River Cherwell, where quaint wooden boats known as punts glide by in timeless Oxford fashion. You will then make your way past more iconic Oxford landmarks such as the Bridge of Sighs, the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre, and the world-renowned Bodleian Library.

Your tour concludes outside one of Oxford’s most historic taverns, where you are welcome to pop in for a post-tour pint or continue exploring the city independently. Whether you're a lover of literature, a history buff, or simply enchanted by the timeless beauty of England, this private walking tour offers a deeply engaging and unforgettable introduction to Oxford.

x

Guides

Join the fastest growing community of professional tour guides.

Partners

Use our easy to integrate toolset to include Tours & Attractions in your customer journey.