Oxford City & University Walking PRIVATE GROUPS Tour

4.8 (18 reviews) Oxford, England
Duration1h 30m - 2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesGerman, Russian, Chinese, Ukrainian, Cantonese, English, Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Oxford & England's history will be brought alive on this private guided walking tour of the city and university traditions. Storytelling about student life, college traditions, Henry VIII, Bloody Mary, CS Lewis, Tolkien & even Harry Potter! 

You may request any special interests for the tour eg sciences or arts or writers in Oxford etc. We generally always include entrance into at least one Harry Potter film site on this tour too (where and when possible).

Requests for a tour in your foreign language must be received at least 48 hours notice & are therefore also subject to whether a bilingual guide happens to be available or not. Requests for a tour in a foreign language also have a marginal additional cost to book.

Includes entry fees inside one or more colleges or the Divinity school at the Bodleian.

Options

Russian or Ukrainian private
Uni private English

Uni private

Italian private group

MINIMUM 48 HOURS NOTICE TO BOOK!

Mandarin or Cantonese private
Dutch private group tour

MINIMUM 48 HOURS NOTICE TO BOOK!

Spanish private group tour

Spanish private tour: MINIMUM 48 HOURS NOTICE TO BOOK!

French private group tour

MINIMUM 48 HOURS NOTICE TO BOOK!

What's included

  • If you book at least 2 days ahead & request a foreign language tour, sometimes this is possible.
  • Entry worth up to £5 per person is paid by the guide to enter at least one venue
  • Please see EXCLUSIONS section below for any dates with limited college entry eg graduations, Xmas
  • This tour includes entry to one college but option to pay for extra entry fees of extra colleges too
  • Christmas notice: colleges are usually all closed from approx Dec 21 to Jan 2nd
  • GRADUATION DATES: we cannot always guarantee entry inside any colleges or venues
  • 2026 Graduation dates, there may be few or no colleges open includes....
  • Sep 25+ 26, Nov 6 + 7 + 13 + 14 of 2026 plus Feb 27, March 6, May 14 + 15 + 22 of 2027
  • Tours are only offered in foreign languages, if adequate advance notice 2 days ahead & at £250 cost!
  • If you wish to visit Divinity school at Bodleian library, note dates 2026 below, it is closed:
  • Sep 10 + 14+ 15+ 16 + 17+ 20+ 21+ 22+ 23+ 24+ 25 + 26, Nov 6 + 7 +13 + 14 of 2026
  • Note that we cover the cost for you of either entry inside one college OR entry into Divinity school

What to expect

  1. Bodleian Library
    15m · Admission ticket not included
    We will introduce this venue but please note that the Bodleian library never permit guides to take tours inside the library.
  2. St John's College
    20m
    Which college we will see inside will vary from day to day, depending on what is open but generally we see inside one to two colleges and we pass by and introduce many other colleges too
  3. Exeter College
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    Exeter has a £3 entry fee.
  4. Wadham College
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    Wadham has a £3 entry fee, if you enter with the guide. It's otherwise free entry without a guide.
  5. Balliol College
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    Balliol has a £3 entry fee. If we visit inside this college, we usually spend about 20 minutes here.
  6. Bridge of Sighs
    5m
    This famous landmark is always featured on our tours
  7. Sheldonian Theatre
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    We always introduce this famous Oxford sight.
  8. Radcliffe Camera
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    This is one of multiple famous sights which we will introduce on the route. This venue is never open to visit inside.
  9. Brasenose College
    Pass by
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    This college is not open to public.
  10. All Souls College
    Pass by
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    Sometimes we visit inside this college. It is free entry, when open.
  11. Hertford College
    Pass by
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    This college is not open to the public.
  12. The Turf
    Pass by
    We often stop by this famous pub- this is where Bill Clinton never inhaled....
  13. New College
    Pass by
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    Occasionally we visit this tour but at additional cost to pay on the day as this college costs £8 per person to enter
  14. Trinity College
    Pass by
    This is one of multiple colleges which we will introduce on the route. There are 38 colleges at Oxford university and which colleges we may visit inside varies from one day to the next, depending on which colleges may be open.

    Trinity has a £3 entry fee.
  15. University Church of St. Mary the Virgin
    5m
    We often visit inside this church. It's free entry.
  16. St. Michael At The North Gate
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    We always introduce the Saxon Tower and the church here from outside.

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

No fixed end point but we offer a free Oxford map and will assist with directions or walk you back to start point.

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Average duration 90-120 minutes and tour to cater to your special interests (let us know on the day or in advance).
  • Tours are in English but where possible and with at least 24 hours notice, we may be able to provide a tour in a foreign language.
  • Please note that as the university colleges are private institutions, we can't always guarantee entry to colleges but it is very rare that we cannot get entry into at least 1 or 2 colleges on the tour. Please take note of any advertised university graduation dates mentioned below, as those dates can have less options of colleges to visit.

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.8 (18)
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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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