Only an hour by train from London, Oxford is famed as seat of the oldest English-speaking university in the world and an architectural treasure house. Dating from Anglo-Saxon times, it has been the centre of every important event in British, and world, history: from Viking raids to the Norman invasion, from Civil War to World War II.

Oxford has an astonishing list of alumni - twenty-eight Prime Ministers, twenty-five Nobel Prize winners, eleven saints and innumerable writers: JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis, Lewis Carroll, and Oscar Wilde to name but four. Lord Peter Wimsey attended Balliol College, Sebastian Flyte a thinly disguised Christ Church. On your tour of Oxford, you will be shown around the city and University by an Oxonian guide, who will both explain and explore the intricacies of its history and workings. Each walk will be tailored to individual interests, whether personal, architectural, historical, or literary -  no two are ever the same.

There is so much to be enjoyed and seen - every nook and cranny has its own story. You will invariably visit at least one of the thirty-eight colleges - it might be the 14th-century splendor of New College, perfect Tudor symmetry of Corpus Christi and other architectural gems: perhaps the 15th-century Divinity School or Christopher Wren’s early masterpiece, the Sheldonian Theatre. Your expert will explain how the University functions and how its scholars lived both then and now.  

Wrapping up, we will have developed an appreciation for Oxford's rich history, not just as a preeminent institution of higher learning, but as a historical center that has shaped art, culture, and thinking. We'll also admire Oxford's rich architectural tradition, ranging from gothic spires to neoclassical designs. 

You will be collected from Oxford Main Station (if you are coming from London, the train is by far the best way to reach Oxford).

Is it better to do this tour in the morning or the afternoon? 
This tour works very well in both the morning and the afternoon! However, with less of a rush in the morning, plus a few additional options for colleges and dining halls to visit, and (in the summer) the chance to see an Evensong performance not long after the tour’s end, there are a few benefits to the afternoon tour that are well worth considering.

You will go inside colleges and other sites. We will purchase tickets at the time of the visit.

Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.

Yes! We have some excellent family-friendly guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children. Please book privately if you have children under 13. Feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can match you with the best possible guide.

We cover about 2.5 miles during the walk. There are plenty of opportunities to sit down and rest, but please let us know if you have any concerns.

What if I want to visit Cambridge?
No problem! We offer a Cambridge tour that can also be done as a day trip from London.