Description
This award-winning – Best Told Story 2018 and Highly Commended (in the Beautiful South Visit England Awards for Excellence 2018/19) 2-hour Tour offers an excellent opportunity to explore this City famous for its Dreaming Spires. It’s a great introduction to how the town and historic colleges were founded, many centuries ago, and to how the University works today. “A wonderful tour with an excellent guide.”
Meeting Point
All Oxford Official Walking Tours (apart from the Oxford Pub Tour) meet outside the Visitor Information Centre here at 15-16 Broad Street Oxford OX1 3AS.
Weather Warning
If you are not able to make your tour due to bad weather, please inform us in advance on officialtours@experienceoxfordshire.org and we will do our best to offer you another tour another time.
What you will see
On your tour, as well as seeing some of the oldest colleges and most famous University buildings from the outside – including the Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library and Old Schools Quadrangle – your Guide will take you on a visit to one of Oxford’s world-famous colleges, when available, to see its quadrangles, chapel and beautiful gardens.
All entrance fees included
The college entrance fees for these visits are included in the price of the tour (the college choice is subject to availability on the day – all colleges are places of work and study and on certain important days in the life of the University, all the colleges reserve the right to close as they are in use for student Open Days. On Degree days and Exam days you can look out for graduate students in their gowns and mortar boards!
What you will learn
With your expert Guide showing you around the ancient colleges and cobbled streets, you will be entertained on the way with anecdotes about the many famous characters and academics who have walked down these lanes in times gone by. Even if you are already familiar with Oxford, there’s likely to be something new to learn about this City on your tour. You will hear about what student life is like today, as well as what it was like centuries ago when the colleges were first founded.
Your Guide
Your friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic Guide will be highly trained and professional and will be wearing a Blue or Green Badge awarded by the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Your Guide will also be a member of the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides. They will be happy to help with any questions and also to advise on what else you might like to see as part of your stay in Oxford.
Guide Profile
Sandra Bingham, Oxford Offical Tour Guides says:
“I really enjoy showing people around glorious Oxford on a walking tour and my favourite building is the 15th century Divinity School. I never fail to be impressed by the stunning Gothic architecture and the stone carvings on the ceiling. The history and numbers of people who have walked across the flagstones on the way to receiving their degrees leave you with a sense of awe and inspiration for learning. I wish my classrooms had been like this!”
Tickets
You can buy tickets in person on the day at the Visitor Information Centre but because sometimes tickets sell out quickly, we suggest booking in advance which you can also do either by phone 01865 686 441 or online. (If you think you might be delayed, please book for a later tour as we are unable to contact the guide once the tour has departed).
On booking online, you should receive a payment confirmation from SagePay, a Booking Confirmation from EO and also an eTicket by email – please check your spam folder if these don’t arrive straight away, or whitelist info@experienceoxfordshire.org. Please see Additional Information for more advice.
Vouchers for presents!
If you’d like to buy Vouchers for tickets as a present, please call us on 01865 686441.We can take card payment over the phone, and all the recipient needs to do is call us up to book when they’re ready!
Group size
Tickets are limited to 19 to ensure that you have a pleasant experience and can ask your Guide questions as you walk around with them.
Distance
Your 2-hour tour will cover 1.5 – 2 miles walking (stopping every so often to admire the architecture and learn about the quirky university traditions) and not travelling further than a 10/15 minute walk away from the City centre and Visitor Information Centre.
Guide Dogs
Guide dogs are welcome on all tours. Unfortunately, other dogs and pets are not allowed.
Children
Children under 16 are welcome on this tour but must be accompanied by at least 1 adult per two children. Children under 5 go free but tickets must be booked for them (as college count everyone and have strict limits on numbers). Pushchairs may need to be left (at the owner’s own risk) outside the Porters Lodge.
Accessibility
The City centre is very flat and walkable – however, some of the most ancient colleges do have steps. If you have any mobility difficulties, please let us know in advance by phone on 01865 686 441 or email officialtours@experienceoxfordshire.org before you book, so that we can arrange with the guide ahead of the tour how to best accommodate you.
If you would like to book a mobility scooter from the Westgate Shopping Centre please see https://westgateoxford.co.uk/your-visit/facilities.
*Colleges
While we do our very best to include a visit inside the Divinity School and a College, sometimes on important days for the University such as Degree Days and Exam days, this is not possible as these buildings are in use. On these days you can look out for students in their gowns and mortar boards!
Your Ticket
On booking you should receive a Sagepay payment confirmation, a Booking Confirmation and an eTicket by email – if not, you can present your Sagepay payment confirmation on your phone or you check your spam filter or whitelist us at info@experienceoxfordshire.org. For more details, and full t’s and c’s please see Additional Information.
Combined tickets
Save money with Oxford Official Walking Tour Tickets combined with other Oxford City Attractions – these can be booked in person at the Visitor Information Centre.
Weather
Tours go ahead whatever the weather, however, we do advise you to come prepared and warmly dressed for winter, prepared for rain whatever the season with comfortable footwear.
Parking
We recommend the Park and Ride service. The nearest site will be signposted on your entry route to Oxford and the buses leave regularly. Please allow at least 20 minutes for the journey into the City Centre and ask for the stop nearest to the Visitor Information Centre in Broad St. For more parking information please see https://www.oxford.gov.uk/parking.
Book this as a private tour
For details on how to book this as a private tailor-made tour on this or a combination of themes, for yourself or family and friends, please call us on 01865 686 441 or see our Private Tours page. Groups can also book over the phone or by email at officialtours@experienceoxfordshire.org.
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