Bicycle Tours
Bainton Bikes
01865 311610
Offering Bicycle hire and Tours. We have the largest and most varied bikes in Oxfordshire. All bikes are equipped with mudguards, lights and locks, hire includes mechanical support (including any unfortunate punctures). Free delivery and flexible opening times available. Short and Long term hire available.
Capital Sport Tours
01296 631671
Capital Sport offers gentle cycling and walking holidays in from Oxford into the Cotswolds and beyond. With over 25 years experience, we offer an unrivalled selection of tours for all tastes and abilities. Our mostly traffic free routes visit the most beautiful areas of Britain and include bikes, accommodation, luggage transfers and full support. Oxford Tours: Oxford Reflections, Oxford and Cotswolds, Simply The Best, Cotswolds and Stratford, Cotswold Valleys, Thames and Royalty, Cotswolds and Bath, Cotswolds and Stonehenge, Cotswolds and Chilterns, Oxford Day Tour. For more information or to book your tour, visit the website.
Cycle Tours Oxford - Oxford’s Original Bicycle Tour Company
07908 670 112
In the Glorious city of Oxford, the bicycle is a tradition almost as famous as the dreaming spires themselves; so come rain or shine, winter or summer, Cycle Tours Oxford provides picturesque, eco-friendly, premium guided vintage cycle tours of Oxford’s rich and fascinating history. We offer the opportunity to explore Oxford in Classic English style, atop 1920’s inspired handmade Pashley English made Britannia bicycles. With thoughtfully planned routes, on cycle paths and through rarely seen backstreets, Cycle Tours Oxford takes you to some of oxfords hidden gems and to places that are best explored and conveniently reached by bicycle. All tour guides have experience of Oxford and are university level educated, which guarantees that you are embarking on an exceptional and worthwhile adventure delivered by the most suitable guides. Included in our main cycle tour: The Inspiring City, are refreshments at the famous Turf Tavern and entry to New College, famous as the location for the Harry Potter films! We also offer Cycle Hire of our Beautiful English Hand made vintage Cycles, so you could soon be riding the streets of Oxford in comfort and style.
Our tours run twice daily on Saturdays at 10.00am and 2.00pm and on Sundays at 10.30 and 3.00pm and from May 12th twice daily, 7 days a week. Meeting outside of Baillol college on Broad street, directly opposite the Tourist Information Centre. Additionally, bespoke, group and corporate excursions and rates are available.Finally, we are also privileged that Oxford is the gateway to the Cotswold's, a place of outstanding natural beauty and we therefore have tours that go beyond the city limits, escaping the hustle and bustle into the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside!
Guided Cycle Tours of Oxford
01296 631671
Guided tours of Oxford – its city and country, run every Saturday morning through the summer months commencing May 1. The tour starts at 10am and lasts around 3 hours. Cycle hire until 4pm is included in the price of £25. Children under 16 go for £15 and must be accompanied by an adult responsible for them. You need to book a place, by phone, email or online - by 5pm on Wednesday.
Oxon Carts Rickshaw Tours
07747 024600
Cycle rickshaw tours, taxis, weddings and deliveries
Bus Tours
CitySightSeeing Oxford
Broad Street (main ticket booth). Prices (as of 2012): 24hr Adult £13.50, 24hr Student £11.50, 24hr Senior £10.00, 24hr Child (5-15) £6.50, 24hr Family £35.00, Under 5's travel free.
The city tour lasts approximately 1 hour and departs every 10/15 minutes in the summer and every 20/30 minutes in the winter (subject to season and traffic conditions). No need to book, just pay the driver or sales staff, your ticket is valid all day and you can get on and off at any of the 19 stops on the tour.
On the tour you will see Magdalen College, The site of William Morris's first workshop, University Science Area, the City Walls, Sheldonian Theatre, Ashmolean Museum, Martyr's Memorial, Christ Church College, River Cherwell, Carfax Tower, Alice's Shop, Radcliffe Infirmary, Bodleian Library, The High, Broad Street and the University Parks.
The tour also stops at various points for visits to University Colleges, Museums, Shops, Restaurants and The Botanic Garden.
Driving Tours
CS Lewis Tour
01865 874500
A three hour tour guided by a childhood friend of Lewis' stepson, who was a frequent visitor to the Lewis household. Filled with personal anecdotes and stories, the tour takes you to Lewis' former home - "The Kilns", a church Lewis frequented (which has Narnia inspired windows), and other Lewis-related locations. The tour is free, but has a suggested donation that goes towards the "Lewis Awareness Fund."
Photo Tours
Oxford Photo Tour
08444 639689
See Oxford differently. How would you like to learn to take stunning photographs of Oxford with a professional photographer? This tour will teach you how to take great images, using the best angles of some of the most beautiful Oxford scenes. Get the best out of your camera, whether it's a compact or a Digital SLR. The tour is in small groups, so you can learn to take stunning images by learning the tricks, tips and techniques of the professionals. The tour lasts 2 hours and covers 1-2miles on foot around the main Oxford tourist attractions. Tours are every Saturday at 2pm. Adults £30 - Accompanying guest without a camera £10.
River Cruises
Oxford River Cruises
No. 1 Folly Bridge, 0845 2269396
Oxford River Cruises offer a variety of public cruises from their moorings at Folly Bridge. The River Experience Cruise lasts just under an hour and runs 5 times a day, subject to availability. The Alice in Wonderland cruise lasts 2.5 hours and follows the route taken by Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell which provided inspiration for the Alice books. Tickets can be purchased from Oxford tourist information centre, directly from the skipper, or as part of the city sightseeing bus tour. Places are limited. Please proceed down St Aldates and over Folly Bridge on the right hand side of the road (opposite side to the head of the river pub). Moorings are situated on the pontoon at the restaurant No. 1 Folly Bridge.
Salters Steamers
Folly Bridge, 01865 243421
Salters offers river tours, private charters, and jazz cruises, as well as the hiring of punts, rowing boats, and self-drive motor boats.
Walking Tours
Bill Spectre’s Oxford Ghost Trail
You are hereby cordially invited to join Bill Spectre on Oxford's only theatrical ghost tour. Illustrated with props and illusions, your costumed guide (who is a professional actor and equity member) will entertain and horrify you through the streets of this most historic city. You may regret not bringing a camera!
The spirits of Oxford are revealed on Friday and Saturday evenings, when we examine the nightmares that lie beneath the dreaming spires of this most edifying city. Join Bill as he lifts the lid on this great seat of learning.
Meet directly outside the gift shop of Oxford Castle Unlocked at 6:30pm every Friday and Saturday night. Or for a shorter trail join directly outside The Visitor Information Centre at 6:50. Trail ends at approx 8:10. For details of extra ghost trails during the summer and private bookings at other times, please check website www.ghosttrail.org or call 07941 041811.
£1 off Oxford Castle Unlocked with Ghost Trail Sticker.
Adults £8, Children £4
Blackwell’s Walking Tours
THE LITERARY TOUR
Tuesdays 2 pm and Thursdays 11 am
Join the Literary tour and discover the University and City where authors such as Graham Greene, Dorothy L. Sayers, John Buchan, William Golding and T. S. Eliot lived and learned.
THE INKLINGS TOUR
Wednesdays 11.45 am
A must for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Nevill Coghill and other members of the Inklings group. Visit their favourite haunts from their days at Oxford.
THE MUSIC TOUR
Fridays 2 pm
An Historic tour for all music lovers, around the beautiful musical sights of Oxford. Learn of the first music degree awarded at Oxford in the 15th Century. Discover the connections of Handel, Haydn, Walton, Beecham, Parry with Oxford and the University, and much, much more.
Tickets are £8 (concessions £7).
Tours run from Tuesday 16th April to Friday 25th October.
To book, call 01865 333602 or email: oxford@blackwell.co.uk
Blackwell’s Walking Tours depart from the foyer area in the main entrance, past The White Horse Pub. To purchase tickets please go the General desk till point on the ground floor.
Explore Oxford Tours Ltd
Come and ‘Explore Oxford’ with us on your own private tailor-made guided tour. Explore Oxford Tours offers guided walking or coach tours of the beautiful medieval city of Oxford and its famous university. The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English speaking world and has educated 26 British prime ministers, 12 saints, 6 kings, over 30 heads of state of various countries throughout the world and many writers, poets, actors, politicians and scientists. Let our friendly and knowledgeable, professionally trained Blue and Green Badge guides, take you on a journey through Oxford’s history, retracing the steps of some of the University’s famous students. Discover all the quaint cobbled backstreets and college quadrangles and see where Harry Potter and the Golden Compass were filmed and where Alice in Wonderland lived.
Explore Oxford Tours can organise sightseeing tours in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and many other languages. We also specialise in organising sightseeing tours and activities around Oxford for schools and companies or organisations wanting to arrange a corporate event with a difference!
Tour prices:
£85.00 - 1 – 19 people + college entrance fees
£95.00 - 20 – 25 people + college entrance fees
£100 - Foreign language tours (up to 25 people) + college entrance fees
Please visit our website to book a tour or to find out more about our school and corporate events and activities. You can also telephone: 01869 340090 or 07976 246967.
Footprints Tours
2 Hour free walking tours through Oxford which begin outside of Balliol College
Footprints Tours represents a new approach to walking tours. The idea started because we don't like seeing tourists exploited: we think it's crazy to ask you to pay for a tour before you have experienced it. Instead, we believe in the power of the customer. So when you take one of our walking tours, they are FREE: we do not charge a single penny. If you have a good time, we would encourage a tip, but its completely voluntary! This means we are constantly working to give you the best tour possible.
Our 2 Hour Free Oxford Walking Tour covers an in-depth history of Oxford University Colleges, an in-depth history of the city, ceremonies, famous graduates, haunted Oxford, Alice in Wonderland, famous filmings, and more.
English Ale Trail: Don't know where to find the best Oxford pubs down Oxford's quiet, windy roads? Fancy meeting some fellow travellers, and even some locals? Our English Ale Trail tours the best traditional Oxford pubs around the city centre. These are some of the oldest pubs in England. Throughout history some of Oxford's most famous residents have visited these pubs, and perhaps some of its future, famous students. It also provides a great chance to see the social side of the city and meet fellow travellers. We give you an insight into how English Ale came to taste so great, and being Footprints Tours, we also give the group some FREEdrinks. This tour costs £10 and you must be aged over 18 (sorry!). Please note this tour requires you to book in advance!
Hidden Oxford
Take a relaxed and informative walking tour of Oxford, arranged at a time and pick-up point to suit you and tailor-made for your individual or group interests. When booked in advance, these tours can include visits to places normally closed to the public. Bookings: (01865) 512650 or through email f_tholstrup@hotmail.com
Tours include:
The history of Oxford town
The development of the University
Specific college visits
A literary tour (poets, diarists and authors of Oxford)
A science walk ( Botanic Gardens, Royal Society, Science Museum)
A children's authors walk
Children's Clue Trail
The influence of religion on Oxford
Inspector Morse
Art and Architecture in Oxford
River tours to nearby beauty spots
Cotswold tours with antique shopping
ILoveOxford.com Walking Tours
£8 Ticketed one hour tours depart 11am, 1pm, 2.30pm from outside Oxfam shop, Broad Street (located next to Oxford’s ‘official’ Visitor Information Centre) with smaller, more eccentric ‘red badge’ enthusiastic guides! Daily schedule from April to September. In low season, at weekends or we recommend you confirm week-days in advance on 07955 482637.
In addition, we offer an OxfordNightOut Pub Tour to pre-book, mostly on Saturday nights.
Enjoy an eccentric and well-reviewed tour with our red-badge guides. Available in various languages. You will be astonished at how many famous people and strange stories, Oxford has to tell! Discover the hidden stories and learn all about Oxford town and university history, as your guide takes you off the beaten paths to unveil the best sights in Oxford. PLUS this tour entitles you to a free map and ‘ILoveOxford Benefits Card’ which shows you where you can save money in over 40 of Oxford’s shops, cafes & attractions! Free for children under 12 and concessions for young people & students.
You’ll see and hear about over ten of the colleges and we visit the major sights, including Christchurch meadows and the splendid Bodleian library. Our tours are very well-reviewed and as most of our guides are also either actors, English teachers or have worked with children, I am sure that no one will ever get bored on our tours! £1 of every £8 ticket we sell goes to Oxfam and our tours are slightly shorter, lasting about an hour (as we don’t take you into the free colleges- hint: they are around the corner from where we finish the tours).
MP3 Walking Tour
Download a self-guided tour to play on your MP3 player for only £3. Don't have an MP3 player? Buy a tourist tracks preloaded audio player (£15 + p&p) or order a CD (£8 + p&p).
There are three Oxford walks available, costing £3 each, or they can be downloaded together for just £7.50. Walking time: 1 x 30 mins, 1 x 40 mins, 1 x 50 mins
Highlights of the Medieval City: A 40-minute walk through the ancient city, taking in sights such as the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre and Merton College;
Christ Church and the River: This walk discovers the delights of Christ Church college, and the beautiful water meadows that surround it. Discover some of the city's best picnic spots!; and
Outside the Medieval City: Find out about the Oxford Martyrs, the Inklings and much more in this 30-minute walk around some of Oxford's grandest streets.
Oxford on Foot
Your introduction to the city and how this famous university works. Special interest tours include Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis in Oxford; now also the prequel to the series ‘Endeavour’ with more to come.
I am Danish and a registered Blue Badge guide and I offer tours in English, Danish, German and French.
As for list of further specialist tours, booking information and cost, please visit the website, or contact me via email or phone 01865 556742
Oxford Tours with Blue Badge Guide Chris Lloyd
The poet, Matthew Arnold, described Oxford as “the city of dreaming spires”. This description perfectly captures the essence of this university city and is the magnet which draws visitors from all parts of the world. But how, in a relatively short time, is it possible to discover the ‘feel’ and ambiance of this special place?
Perhaps the best way is on foot in the company of a qualified guide. It’s a city of contrasts – a modern western city founded 1300 years ago and an internationally recognised 800 year old university. These contrasts are emphasised by the buildings. Many of the colleges and historical sites are found down narrow streets and alleyways and are difficult or impossible to reach by car. However, the city is relatively flat and walking not only enables the visitor to admire them but also to soak up the unique atmosphere of this university city.
From Chris Lloyd: "My tours are always tailored to the group and are adjusted to their interests and requirements. The most popular ‘standard’ tour gives an overview, past and present, of the city and university. It lasts approximately 2 hours, the pace is leisurely and only a mile and a half or so of walking is involved. Visits to college chapels and halls, and to important university buildings are included (subject to dates and timings). Other popular tours include ‘Oxford/American Miscellany’, ’Tudor Oxford’, and ‘Oxford and the Wesleys’. These tours include much of the standard tour but also highlight the particular Oxford aspects of the relevant subject. The style varies but most visitors prefer anecdotes and stories rather than scholarly dissertations."
The cost of a standard tour is £85 plus entrance fees. This covers a group of between 1 and 19 people. Groups larger than 19 are charged at £85 plus entrance fees for each group of up to 19 people.
Book the tour via email or by phone: 01235 526030
Oxford Walking Tours
Daily, year round. Check the website for times of their Walking Tours and their Ghost Tours. 1 hour 30 minutes. Less than a mile of walking. Walking/Day tours are £8.50 for adults, £7.50 for Students/Seniors and £4.00 for children under 16. Ghost Tours are £8.00 per adult and £4.00 for children under 16. Group/private tours are £90.00 for up to 25 people plus an optional £1 per person for college admission (not applicable for evening/ghost tours) . Purchase tickets from the guide or book online.
Oxford Walking Tours have been operating from the blue gates of Trinity College on Broad St for 27 years. Our University educated guides come with years of experience and local knowledge of the City and University.
Teas & Tours With Mr Darcy!
Bespoke guided walking tours available at your convenience, led by Mr Darcy himself! Tours are flexible but generally starting at 2.30pm from outside Oxford Visitor Information Centre.
Congratulations! Mr Darcy has invited you discerning ladies and gentlemen to join him for cream teas and tours (£20 per person). An insightful and illustrating tour of Oxford with an additional focus on the Regency era and Jane Austen’s visits to see her brothers at Oxford. Have you ever wondered what would Mr Darcy have to say about today’s social manners? Amusing lessons in social etiquette will follow over teas at one of Oxford’s finest establishments. This is a fun tour for anyone visiting Oxford but it may also make for an amusing social event to impress your better-half about your romantic side!
Bookings via www.MrDarcyTours.com or on 07955 482637
The Oxford Monocle Literary Tours
The Oxford Monocle Literary Tours is an independently run walking tour company based in central Oxford. We focus on the authors whose Oxford experience has influenced their lives and literature in some way, ultimately finding them fame as their words have inspired and entertained for generations. We also focus on the less well known but equally fascinating authors, and their writings and experiences, which can be regarded as no less important in making up the vast catalogue of Oxford's rich literary history. From summer 2012 we will offer Bespoke tours, specifically created at your request, subject to the authors offered. Please check the Bespoke Tours page for more details, and for more information on planned tours.
Authors Currently Discussed: Lewis Carroll, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Max Beerbohm, Oscar Wilde, Evelyn Waugh, Aldous Huxley, and more. Authors coming soon: W.H. Auden, Stephen Spender, Iris Murdoch, Dorothy Sayers, T. S. Eliot, and more.
Tours are usually held from Wednesday to Saturday unless otherwise stated on Twitter or Facebook - alternatively call or email us to check tour days and times. Look out for our Board on St Mary’s Passage, next to the University Church of St Mary The Virgin - this is our start point.
Prices: Adults - £7.50, Young Adults 11 - 18 - £6.00, Concessions - £5.00. Children under 11 go FREE. Tour Times: 11.00 am, 2.00 pm, 4.00 pm.
The Secrets of Oxford’s Hidden Castle - Oxford Castle Unlocked
Oxford Castle, 01865 260666
For the first time in 1000 years, Oxford's hidden castle will open to the public and its secrets that span 10 centuries will be finally revealed. Visitors will witness real stories of violence, executions, dramatic and even romance episodes as the history of these important buildings, and the people connected to them are brought dramatically to life. Once the haunt of prisoners, kings, sheriffs and even film stars – this site really is extraordinary! For more information, see the official website
* note from the editor - there are steep and narrow steps to climb on this tour, and the mound has steep and pebbly paths.
Tourist Information Centre Tours
Oxford Tourist Information Centre, Broad Street, 01865 252200
Daily walking tours depart from the Oxford Tourist Information Centre on Broad Street. For a full list and schedule, visit the website for Visit Oxfordshire, the official tourism website for Oxfordshire.
Tours include:
Daily University and City Tour
Family Walking Tour
William Morris and Victorian Oxford Tour
Oxford Children's Stories Tour
Inspector Morse Tour
Oxford's West End Tour
Tudor Oxford Tour
CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien Tour
University and City Tour in Spanish/French
Stained Glass Tour
Women in Oxford Tour
Sciences at Oxford Tour
Literary Tour
Oxford Film Sites Tour
Gargoyles and Grotesques Tour
John and Charles Wesley Tour
Pottering in Harry's Footsteps Tour
Garden Tour
Jewish Heritage Tour
Tours of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library, Broad Street, OX1 3BG Oxford
Welcome! Enter through the Great Gate, into the Old Schools Quadrangle with its monumental Tower of the Five Orders of Architecture. Come and see the Divinity School, a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture and the University’s oldest teaching room. Whether you opt for a self timed visit to the Divinity School or you choose to see the room as part of a multi language audio tour, there’s plenty of time to marvel at the School’s beautiful carved stone ceiling, and to explore the ancient architecture of the external quadrangles.
Behind the Scenes: If you would like to see more, why not take a guided tour, led by one of our professional guides?
• Mini tours - Mini tours allow you to view the most beautiful parts of the library, the Divinity School and Duke Humfrey’s Library, in just 30 minutes.
• Standard tours - 60 Minute tours include a visit to Duke Humfrey’s library, still in use today, where generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages, amongst them 5 kings, 40 Nobel Prize winners, 25 British Prime Ministers and writers including Oscar Wilde, C S Lewis and JRR Tolkien. You will also see the Divinity School and 17th century Convocation House and Court, where Parliament was held in the Civil War.
• Extended tours - If you select a 90 minute extended tour you will see all areas mentioned above plus reading rooms in the architectural icon of Oxford, the Radcliffe Camera, the first rotunda library built in Britain. You will also be shown the hidden tunnels and passages leading to the book stacks, where millions of volumes are shelved.
Children: Thomas Bodley’s History Trail will appeal to younger visitors exploring the ground floor rooms and quadrangles. Children over the age of 11 are welcome to join the guided tours.
For opening times, ticket prices, contact details and directions, see http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk or call the Historic Venues Team at 01235 277224
Read the editor's review of the Extended Tour
Walk of Fame - Unique Oxford Walking Tour
Poet Matthew Arnold wrote of Oxford as ‘that sweet city with her dreaming spires’ and a walk through this historic city – home to the oldest English-speaking university in the world – will show any visitor just why Arnold found it so inspiring. But Oxford is more than just its impressive architecture. In fact, it has been home to a multitude of famous historical figures, contemporary celebrities and, above all, eccentric academics. It was in this ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ where 26 prime ministers, more than 30 international leaders, 47 Nobel Prize winners, and more than 50 Olympic medallists attended university. Oxford is the city of CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, and other literary greats. And, of course, the University and City have both made famous through playing astarring role in several major motion pictures, including the Harry Potter series.
For the perfect introduction to this fascinating city and her ancient university, we recommend our 90-minute Walk of Fame. You will see most of the major sites in Oxford (all within a relatively compact city centre) whilst being regaled with stories of Oxford’s past and present by a guide who knows it first hand – a student or recent graduate! As the site of important moments in the arts, sciences, film and sport, Oxford has something to interest everyone, and with Oxbridge Tours, we’ll make sure that you see and hear the best of it!
Public Tours last 90 minutes.
The Walk of Fame is also available as a private tour. This is our most popular service, charged at a rate of £45 and valid for 2 people. The Private tour is between you and the guide only, the tour is tailored entirely to you and includes entry to numerous Colleges. If you would like to personalise your tour or have special requirements please contact us via our contact form or call us on +44 (0) 1223 969598 before or after booking online.
Tickets: Adult - £14.00, Child - £9.00, Student - £11.00, Private Tour for Two - £45.00
Book the tour online or by phone: 01865 522570