Shakespeare came to Oxford when travelling between work (London) and his family (Stratford-upon-Avon) – what a commute! What was Oxford like during his lifetime? What did he get up to while he was in town?

This is an opportunity to pause and look carefully at Oxford city centre, noticing Elizabethan and Jacobean details you might pass by every day. The tour includes a unique Tudor bedroom above Cornmarket Street, the famous Painted Room which will be opened specially by Oxford Preservation Trust, just for us!

Want to know more about Elizabethan eating and drinking, entertainment and travel? Or the rollercoaster of religious change in Tudor and Stuart England? Led by historian Dr Elizabeth Sandis, this is a Shakespeare-themed journey through Oxford’s famous streets.

At the end there will be an optional 20-minute extension to the tour (included in the price), exploring Tudor and Stuart treasures in the Museum of Oxford’s galleries.

Join a Shakespeare and Oxford walking tour to see Oxford through the eyes of an expert and learn about a fascinating period in its history through the eyes of its most celebrated literary figure.

https://book.plinth.org.uk/e/jCx3mjzUg66cxvQJyNdC

Meeting point: Museum of Oxford shop (located inside the Oxford Town Hall). Please arrive 5 minutes before the start of the walk and check in at the Museum Shop with the friendly front of house team.

The walk lasts for approx. 90 minutes and is a circular walk around central Oxford. Length: approx. 1.2 miles / 1.9 km. Two toilet stops are available along the way.

Please note the Tudor Painted Room is up a steep flight of stairs without a lift; it is sadly not accessible to wheelchairs. The rest of the tour can be adapted to offer a more wheelchair-friendly route, avoiding narrow doorways and cobbles (please let the museum know if you would prefer this option by emailing [email protected]).

Please note that this walk is recommended for ages 16+.

Your ticket also gives you access to the MOX galleries on the day of the walk, at any time during opening hours.

Meet Your Tour Guide: Elizabeth Sandis
Dr Elizabeth Sandis works at the Ashmolean Museum and is the author of Early Modern Drama at the Universities: Institutions, Intertexts, Individuals (Oxford University Press, 2022). She researches the way in which the Classical culture of Greece and Rome impacted on English society and values during the early modern period. With a passion for local history and theatre, she enjoys translating and staging examples of the kind of plays students were producing in Oxford during the time of Shakespeare.

£15