Oxford's Historic Pubs: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Duration1h 30m - 2h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Oxford’s historical streets are full of interesting and unusual pubs, some of which have been providing refreshment for over 700 years. On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll visit a few of the oldest and quirkiest pubs the city has to offer. Starting at the Head of the River pub near Folly Bridge, you’ll wind through cobbled lanes and hidden passages to discover ten of Paul Coyne favourite pubs, each with a story to tell. The audio guide will lead you through the ancient streets where students and townspeople have all enjoyed an ’Education in Intoxication’. You’ll see where a Tuesday afternoon pub brawl took 600 years to be finally reconciled, and learn which pub had a camel. You'll also see a few historical landmarks like Hertford Bridge, Carfax Tower, and Radcliffe Square. By the end of the tour, in front of the Grapes on George Street, you’ll have learnt the differences between an alehouse, a tavern, and an inn.

What's included

Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
App for Android and iOS
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start

Smartphone and headphones
Food and drinks
Transportation
Personal expenses for attractions not included during the tour

What to expect

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The start of the Oxford Historic Pub Tour, with a lovely riverside garden. Learn about the Oxford University eights races & how the pub got it's name.
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Discover if The Bear is truly the oldest pub in Oxford dating from 1262. Learn more about The Bear's collection of over 4,500 snipped neckties.
Carfax Tower
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Learn about the St. Scholastica Day riot which started with a pub brawl at the Swindlestock Tavern.
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William Shakespeare was a frequent visitor to the The Crown Inn and it's alleged that he became very friendly with the landlord's wife.
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A hidden gem of Oxford that can be difficult to find, but our clear audio directions will lead you right there. The Turf has many stories of celebrity drinking exploits.
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Learn about the Kings Arms' reputation of having the "highest IQ per square foot of any pub in the world".
A very atmospheric pub with back rooms and a real log fire in the winter.
Oxford Covered Market
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Trading since 1774 the Covered Market has modernised in recent years with many craft ale bars and shops. Well worth a visit to soak up the historic atmosphere and perhaps have a craft ale & some food.
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Probably the smallest pub in Oxford and has appeared in Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse series many times.
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Hertford Bridge links two parts of Hertford college in Oxford. It's commonly known as 'The Bridge of Sighs' and is a great place for picturesque photos when touring Oxford.
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The last pub on the Oxford Historic Pub Tour, a time to reflect on the ten pubs you will have visited.
A Victorian pub in style with over 40 keg & 8 cask ales to enjoy.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

This tour starts outside the Head of the River Pub on St. Aldates. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

This tour end outside The Grapes Pub on George Street.

Additional information

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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From

$11.99 per person

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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
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You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.

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