Oxford

Oxford Official University & City Tour

Badge of ExcellenceOxfordshire, United Kingdom
University and City Tour

From $27.53

Select Date and Travelers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
  • 2 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Follow in the footsteps of famous former residents like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis—and discover many of Oxford’s top landmarks in just a couple hours—on this introductory walking tour. Meet your group in central Oxford, and set off on foot. You’ll see key attractions like the Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre, will explore the university area, and you will see many of the elegant colleges from the outside. As you go, your guide will share insider stories about Oxford’s history.
  • See the best of Oxford in the space of just a couple hours
  • Explore one of Oxford University’s historical colleges
  • Learn all about the city’s history and former residents from your guide
  • A walking tour lets you soak up the city’s evocative ambiance

What's Included

  • Guided walking tour
  • College Visit (subject to Availability)

    Meeting And Pickup

    Meeting point

    • 23-25 Broad St
      23-25 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3AS, UK

      Outside the entrance of the Cool Britannia Gift Shop on the corner of Broad St and Turl St

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    Trinity College

    2 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    Balliol College

    5 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

    Martyrs' Memorial

    3 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    Sheldonian Theatre

    5 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

    Bodleian Library

    5 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

    Radcliffe Camera

    10 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    University Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Pass By)

    Carfax Tower (Pass By)

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Please contact the Walking Tours office if you have any mobility issues and we will do our best to adapt the tour, as some of the ancient buildings are not wheelchair accessible. Please note, only Assistance Dogs are allowed on tours.
    • In case of severe and dangerous (Yellow) weather warnings tours may be postponed, but normally tours go ahead whatever the weather. Please come comfortably dressed and prepared for the weather.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

    Traveler Photos

    See more

    Reviews

    5.0
    574 reviews
    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Reviews by Viator travelers.
    Showing 1-10 of 574 reviews
    Helpful Company
    Martin_R, Sep 2023
    Had difficulty parking and missed our tour. The company kindly fitted us onto the next tour which was excellent.
    Nadia was fantastic! We...
    Misty_M, Sep 2023
    Nadia was fantastic! We were the only people who signed up for the tour that day, so she was able to tailor the tour to our interests.
    Response from Host, Sep 2023
    Thank you and we will pass your kind comments to Naima
    Perfect way to see Oxford
    Jessica_S, Sep 2023
    Anna was an amazing tour guide!!! She grew up in Oxford and was so knowledgeable about all things Oxford! We had such a great time!!!! Highly recommend the 1pm tour because we got to go into a college and see its chapel.
    Response from Host, Sep 2023
    Thank you! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Anna.
    Oxford is an amazing city...
    Sarah_A, Sep 2023
    Oxford is an amazing city ad our guide made it even better. In depth knowledge of architecture, buildings, colleges and English history that made the city come alive.
    Response from Host, Sep 2023
    Thank you. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour.
    The best way to see and learn about Oxford
    John_S, Aug 2023
    This was 2 hours of learning about Oxford and the university and exactly what we wanted. Too often you can go to a city and come away not knowing an awful lot more but Marcus was an excellent guide and we would thoroughly recommend the tour
    Response from Host, Aug 2023
    Thanks for the review and we will be sure to pass your kind comments onto Marcus
    Fascinating History
    Arleen_G, Aug 2023
    Our tour guy David was incredibly knowledgeable and showed us the key highlights of Oxford including an opportunity to see some of the Oxford University colleges. The history of Oxford is fascinating and I would highly recommend this tour.
    Response from Host, Sep 2023
    Thank you! We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour with David and we will pass on your kind words to him.
    Excellent
    Ian_E, Aug 2023
    Excellent and Nigel Green was brilliant. Also, we only had about 15 in our group, whereas other tours had 25÷, making it obviously not great for hearing the talk. Many thanks for a great time.
    Response from Host, Aug 2023
    Thank you so much, this is great to hear!
    Wonderful guide
    Debbie_S, Aug 2023
    Our guide was local and extremely knowledgeable. He was friendly and eager to share Oxford's history with our group. We appreciated the way he filled every moment of the tour with interesting facts and background about our surroundings! Highest recommendations for this guide.
    Response from Host, Aug 2023
    We are thrilled you had a great time and enjoyed learning about Oxford, we will pass you message onto your guide.
    Great Tour of Oxford
    Patrick_H, Aug 2023
    Our tour guide David was energetic, knowledgeable, and informative. We ;earned a lot about the history between “townies and gownies”!
    Response from Host, Aug 2023
    Many thanks and we will share your message with David,
    Oxford Tour
    Shania_H, Jul 2023
    The Tour Guide was very informative, my only one area for improvement would be to allow more time at the stops as it felt very on the move and not a lot of time to take in each stop.
    Response from Host, Aug 2023
    Thank you for your comments. We will address these with our team. Many thanks, Official Tours
    Jane is the best guide
    Hao_Z, Jul 2023
    Enjoyed the tour with Jane, a very knowledgeable and passionate guide! I’ve learned a lot about history and the university collegiate systems and famous authors from Oxford.
    Response from Host, Aug 2023
    Thank you , we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour.
    Pleasure walking tour in Oxford
    Yogish_D, Jul 2023
    Oxford is a truly fascinating place, and the guide gave a good education to my wife and me re the University and town culture and the unique history this place has for many lecturers, scholars and Town folk who make Oxford their home . The weather was good too. Not too hot and only drizzled briefly during the afternoon tour.
    Response from Host, Jul 2023
    Thank you! We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour.
    Great Orientation Tour
    Phil_W, Jul 2023
    Our guide for the morning, Anna, was very informative and enthusiastic about her home town. She very easy to hear and understand. Our small group made navigating some of the narrower passages easy.
    Response from Host, Jul 2023
    Thank you! We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Anna.
    Tour of Oxford
    Julie_N, Jul 2023
    Richard was quite knowledgeable about Oxford history, residences, activities and even current events. He also suggested a wonderful small pub for us to enjoy at the end of our tour.
    Response from Host, Jul 2023
    Thank you, we are very pleased that you enjoyed the tour with Richard.
    Such a great tour!!
    Ignacio_M, Jul 2023
    I highly recommend this tour. It was great to learn the stories behind the colleges. Naïma is an amazing guide!! Thanks a lot!
    Response from Host, Jul 2023
    Thank you! Very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Naima.
    Great Experience!
    Mark_B, Jun 2023
    This was a lovely and informative overview of a beautiful part of England! The guide was funny, helpful, and interesting!
    Response from Host, Jul 2023
    Thank you! We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour.
    Great Tour Guide
    James_O, Jun 2023
    Led by David, and Oxford townsman with excellent knowledge and charisma. Loved his energy and the details we learned.
    A bit too basic
    Emmanuele_D, Jun 2023
    Visit inside Corpus Christi College, explanations about college student traditions at the Bodleian, and history of the old red-light district were very nice. The Old Market was fast - you'll have to go back to find the lovely tea shop or the amazing sock shop. There was little to no explanation about architecture, when colleges were built, meaning of sculpted faces at the Bodleian and others, or the history of Oxford. You won't learn much if you've been to England or Europe before. Thankfully, several other tourists in our group shared more in depth explanations along the way! The guide was very nice, but with her very strong (Italian?) accent, excited delivery, and lipstick on her teeth, she was also rather challenging to listen to. At one point I stayed behind to take a picture and the group left without me. As Oxford is small I found them again 10 minutes later but the guide never noticed she had lost someone. Tickets were never verified and any party of two named John could have joined the tour!
    Response from Host, Jun 2023
    We are very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy some parts of the tour. Please email us at officialtours@experienceoxfordshire.org so that we can look further into the matter. Kind regards
    Excellent detailed tour.
    Angela_D, Jun 2023
    Very experienced and knowledgeable tour guide Sophie. Answered every question even detailed ones which were unexpected. Pace was just right too.
    Response from Host, Jun 2023
    Dear Angela Thank you, very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour. Kind regards Oxford Official Walking Tours
    Vert enjoyable tour
    Xun_W, Jun 2023
    Sophie is a great host. Very knowledgeable, tells great stories, and answers questions. I especially enjoyed that she pointed us to a “hidden” portrait of Elizabeth I and told us stories of the gargoyles and statues. We happened to see Oxford students taking exams in their academic dresses during the tour.
    Response from Host, Jun 2023
    Thank you!
    ...

    Compare Similar Experiences

    1 / 3
    Current
    No Photo
    Oxford Official University & City Tour

    574

    2 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $27.53
    No Photo
    Oxford City and University Walking SMALL GROUP Tour

    95

    1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $37.53
    No Photo
    Oxford University Walking Tour With University Alumni Guide

    4,717

    2 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $31.27
    No Photo
    Oxford: City University and Pubs Walking Tours

    2

    1 to 2 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $18.77

    Explore Similar Things to Do