Experience more of Oxford with the new ‘Oxford Beyond the Dreaming Spires Walking Tour’

This summer Oxford Official Walking Tours looks forward to taking visitors and residents beyond Oxford’s iconic skyline of honey-coloured colleges and famous landmarks to show another Oxford, one that is less well-known but equally vibrant, unexpected, and full of stories waiting to be discovered.

Launching on Monday 3rd August, the Oxford Beyond the Dreaming Spires Walking Tour guides guests into the city’s hidden heart and reveals a side of the city that many visitors never experience and residents may pass by.

The tour begins north of the centre, with the characterful streets of Jericho, historic home of Oxford’s bookbinders and where, alongside its pretty neighbouring-suburb Summertown, Oxford’s academic, cultural, and social life truly thrives. These bustling streets and surrounds are where many of the University’s colleges are found, each with their own fascinating heritage and claim to fame. A stroll through the newly redeveloped Radcliffe Observatory Quarter with its fabulous public spaces, shows how Oxford continues to embrace its history whilst building its future.

Along the way, the tour offers tranquil waterside paths and the natural beauty of the University Parks, before stepping into lively neighbourhoods filled with independent cafés, historic pubs, acclaimed restaurants, and hidden corners loved by generations of scholars, writers, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs.

Commenting on the new tour, Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO of Experience Oxfordshire the operator of the award-winning Oxford Official Walking Tours said: “We’re very excited to invite visitors, and residents too, to join our new Oxford Beyond the Dreaming Spires Walking Tour as we uncover the stories, people, and places that have shaped the city behind the scenes and discover another side of Oxford. This tour complements our popular Oxford University & City Walking Tour by giving guests the opportunity to take a deeper authentic look into Oxford life.”

All Oxford Official Walking Tours public tours are limited to a maximum of 20 people per group to provide the most positive experience. Tours are bookable online at oxfordofficialwalkingtours.org where Gift Cards, the perfect present for a walking tours enthusiast, can also be purchased.

The Oxford Beyond the Dreaming Spires Walking Tour is currently offered on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:00 and lasts for two hours. This tour is also available as a private tour that can be booked on any date and time subject to guide availability.

All Oxford Official Walking Tours can also be booked for private and family or corporate group parties: the Oxford Official Walking Tours Team will be happy to help with tailoring the tour to a group’s individual needs and interests.

For more information and tour bookings go to oxfordofficialwalkingtours.org or email [email protected]

ENDS

Notes to editors

Image: Available via this link.

Media contact: Lesley Wright at [email protected] Tel: 01865 686433

Oxford Official Walking Tours is operated by Experience Oxfordshire and was recognised by Tripadvisor with the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2025. Based on a full year of positive reviews for delivering amazing experiences to visitors, the award marks Oxford Official Walking Tours as being among the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

For full tour details, information, and online bookings: oxfordofficialwalkingtours.org

  • For enquiries and group or private bookings email: [email protected] or phone: 01865 686441
  • Private and Group Tours are available on request, subject to availability, and can be tailored to meet requirements
  • Public tours are 2-hours long and leave from outside the Cool Britannia gift shop on the corner of Turl Street and Broad Street (OX1 3DH)
  • Oxford Official Walking Tours Gift Cards can be purchased at oxfordofficialwalkingtours.org/gift-card

Experience Oxfordshire is the official Destination Management Organisation (DMO) and Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Oxfordshire. It is the trading arm of the parent charity, Experience Oxfordshire Charitable Trust, and is a not-for-profit partnership organisation that is committed to the promotion, management, and development of Oxfordshire as a great destination to live, work, visit and do business. The DMO seeks to improve growth and productivity across Oxfordshire’s visitor economy through the provision of essential business advice and support.

Experience Oxfordshire was one of the first destinations in England to gain LVEP status from national tourist board, VisitEngland. As an LVEP, Experience Oxfordshire is recognised as a high-performing organisation, supporting collaborative working both locally, through its network of partners and those with interest in the visitor economy, and nationally on shared priorities.

Read our Experience Oxfordshire Impact Report 2025/26 publication here which showcases the impact and reach of the work that Experience Oxfordshire undertakes.

For more information on Experience Oxfordshire go to experienceoxfordshire.org/partner or contact [email protected] 

To work with Experience Oxfordshire on marketing campaigns, contact [email protected] 

You can keep up to date with Oxford Official Walking Tours and Experience Oxfordshire’s activity by following:

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