Welcome to Oxford: Private 2.5-hour Walking TourPrivate Tour

Things to know

What makes this tour special

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.

What you'll see

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