Oxford City and University Walking Small Group PUBLIC Tour

4.7 (99 reviews) Oxford, England
Duration1h 30m - 2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 14 travelers

Overview

This is a small group tour with typically under 5 persons and limited to max 14 persons. Minimum numbers to book may apply to book- currently minimum 3 or 4 adults applies to book. Our competitors run tours with much larger numbers than we do, so one advantage of booking our tour, is a more personalised service.

This tour will include entry into at least one or more colleges- which college/s will vary from day to day.

See Oxford and England's history will be brought alive on this unique small-group guided walking tour of the city and university traditions. See inside colleges with any chargeable entrance fees included in your tour. The 90 to 120-minute long tour will feature storytelling about student life, college traditions, Henry VIII, Bloody Mary, CS Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien and even Harry Potter!

Notice: please see What's not included section for details of university graduation dates as most colleges are closed on such dates.

What's included

  • PLEASE SEE EXCLUSIONS SECTION FOR DETAILS OF ANY CLOSURES TO VENUES.
  • Entry fee worth up to £5 max per person is included.
  • The tour typically visits inside either Balliol or Exeter or St Johns college worth max £3 person
  • Your guide will give you a complementary ILoveOxford map, showing you of all the main sights.
  • Tour does NOT visit Bodleian, Christ church, Magdalen or New colleges ( which cost £8-£18)
  • Christmas notice: colleges are usually all closed from approx Dec 21 to Jan 2nd
  • On graduation dates, we may not always be able to enter a college so see graduation dates below:
  • 2026 Graduation dates includes....
  • Sep 25+ 26, Nov 6 + 7 + 13 + 14 of 2026
  • Divinity school will be closed in 2027 on the following dates below...
  • Jan 23, Feb 27, March 6, May 14 +15 +22 of 2027
  • We cover your cost of either entry inside one college OR entry inside Divinity school but not both!
  • Divinity school is closed on all the dates below in 2026:
  • Sep 10 + 14+ 15+ 16 + 17+ 20+ 21+ 22+ 23+ 24+ 25 + 26, Nov 6 + 7 +13 + 14 of 2026

What to expect

  1. Wadham College
    Pass by
    Which colleges we visit inside will vary from one tour to the next, depending on what is open from day to day. This college is free entry to visit yourselves.
  2. Exeter College
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route. This college is where Tolkien was a student! It's also connected to JK Rowling.
  3. Balliol College
    Pass by
    Which colleges we will visit will vary from day to day, depending on what is open from day to day. This college is worth £3 in entry fee and we often visit here during the tour.
  4. Bodleian Library
    15m · Admission ticket not included
    We introduce the Bodleian and the Divinity school which is a Harry Potter film site at the Bodleian library. It costs £3 to enter the Divinity school and on dates, when no colleges may be open, the tour instead includes entry to the Divinity school.

    We do NOT visit inside the medieval library as it is not open to private guiding but we do introduce the library history and architecture from outside. We also present info about the filming of Harry Potter here.
  5. Bridge of Sighs
    Pass by
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route.
  6. Radcliffe Camera
    Pass by
    An iconic Oxford sight
  7. University Church of St. Mary the Virgin
    10m
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route.
  8. Radcliffe Camera
    Pass by
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route.
  9. All Souls College
    10m
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route.

    This college is free entry and we sometimes visit here.
  10. Brasenose College
    Pass by
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route.
  11. Hertford College
    Pass by
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route.
  12. Jesus College
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route. This college is where...Jesus studied in Oxford!!
  13. St John's College
    20m
    We briefly introduce a range of colleges or sightseeing spots such as this one, on our route. This college, we usually visit during the tour, assuming it's open. Its' free entry.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meet your guide wearing red lanyard. Meeting next to our black sign, OUTSIDE Oxford Tourist info centre, 15 Broad street, OX1 3AS. This is also next to the Oxfam shop which has a green sign above its shop.

End point

The tour either ends outside New college or next door outside the Bodleian library.

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • We cannot always guarantee entry inside any colleges during Covid19 and on graduation dates or Xmas period from approx. Dec 22nd to Jan 2nd
  • Please take note of any advertised university graduation dates mentioned below, as those dates can have less options of colleges to visit.
  • Graduation dates- please see 'EXCLUSIONS' section.

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.7 (99)
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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