The Inklings Oxford Writers Tour - Private Groups Daily

4.9 (123 reviews) Oxford, England
Duration2h - 2h 30m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Our tour includes entry into CS Lewis's college called Magdalen college worth £10 per person, as and when open. See published dates below that Magdalen is closed. On such dates, we visit an alternative college- unless it's a graduation date or over Christmas vacation period mentioned also below, when most colleges closed.

This tour focuses on the Inklings' Oxford but also introduces the city history + university life. See inspiring sights relating to CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien on an average 2.5 hour plus tour of the sights where they worked & relaxed, including the pubs they enjoyed. Locations visited include Magdalen college.

Various start times are offered by time of year.

What's included

  • Tour is led by award winning guides with hundreds of existing 5 star ratings for this tour!
  • On any dates, when Magdalen is closed, entry replaced to an alternative college except Xmas dates
  • Entry to Magdalen college worth £10 per adult included in ticket price
  • On any other new dates when Magdalen college is closed, we will always forewarn you here....
  • Magdalen is closed every year during Christmas typically from December 22 to 31
  • On dates outside Christmas or outside university graduation dates, we visit an alternative college
  • Magdalen 2026 closures includes Feb 24 and June 26, 27, 28 and Sep 25 and Oct 24
  • Magdalen college will be open from 10am to 1pm only on Thursday September 24th 2026

What to expect

  1. Exeter College
    Pass by
    Only on dates when Magdalen is closed, do we instead only visit inside Exeter college with £5 entry ticket included. This is where JRR Tolkien studied. JK Rowling is also an honorary fellow of this college.
  2. Magdalen College
    1h · Admission ticket included
    Entry worth £10 per person is included in the tour. This is where CS Lewis taught & it has a beautiful deer park with deer. If this college is not open, then instead we'll visit Merton college, where JRR Tolkien taught or Exeter college, where Tolkien studied.
  3. Merton College
    Pass by
    We don't normally walk exactly past Merton college but as it's Tolkien's college, where he taught, if you wish us to walk past and introduce it too, just tell us, when you meet us.
  4. University Church of St. Mary the Virgin
    10m
    This church is where CS Lewis preached, so we visit inside here and also this is where outside the church, there are obvious references to the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
  5. Radcliffe Camera
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  6. Brasenose College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  7. All Souls College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  8. Hertford College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  9. Lincoln College
    Pass by
    We don't usually enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  10. Jesus College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  11. The Oxford Hotel Spa
    5m
    We sometimes enter inside the Randolph hotel as this is where CS Lewis first met Joy Gresham - his future wife- but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  12. Balliol College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  13. Trinity College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  14. St John's College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  15. Bodleian Library
    10m · Admission ticket not included
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  16. Bridge of Sighs
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  17. Radcliffe Camera
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
  18. University College
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route. This is where CS Lewis was a student
  19. St Edmund Hall
    Pass by
    We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.

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 does not have a fixed end point but the city centre is compact and the guide will ensure you have a map and directions to where you want to get to next.

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
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • While children are welcome, this tour is not aimed at children's attention span or interests

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.9 (123)
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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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