Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Overview
Explore the lives of two of Oxford's greatest writers, and their friendship, with an award-winning guide.
On this tour we will follow in the footsteps of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. We will see where they studied, taught, lived, worshipped, lectured, wrote and - most importantly - drank with their friends the Inklings. Out of these friendships and conversations emerged Aslan, Gandalf and many other much-loved characters and stories.
Both men became extremely famous in their lifetimes, but never gave up their day-jobs of teaching in the English department. We will explore CS Lewis's conversion to Christianity and late-life marriage to Joy Gresham, and hear about Tolkien's student pranks and life-long deep love for trees.
We will end at the beautiful college of Magdalen, where Lewis taught for nearly 30 years and the Inklings met every Thursday. If you want to go inside it, you will need to pay the entrance fee, which is £9.50 adults/£8.50 concessions.
What's included
All Fees and Taxes
Entrance fee - Optional entry to Magdalen College
What to expect
Martyrs' Memorial
10m
We will walk up St Giles to see the Eagle and Child and Lamb and Flag - the Inklings' two favourite pubs. We will go into the Lamb and Flag and see where they used to sit and read to each other from their writings
Keble College
5m
Where CS Lewis was stationed for his officer training before going off to fight in the First World War
History of Science Museum
5m
The Old Ashmolean, where Tolkien had his very first job working on the Oxford English Dictionary
Exeter College
10m
Where Tolkien was an undergraduate and suffered an attack of the 'Oxford sleepies'
University Church of St. Mary the Virgin
10m
Where Lewis preached and worshipped
University College
5m
Where Lewis's undergraduate studies were interrupted by war
Merton College
5m
Where Tolkien was English Professor and finally completed the Lord of the Rings
Examination Schools
5m
Where both Tolkien and Lewis lectured, close to the rooms where Tolkien lived at the end of his life, and the Eastgate Hotel where the two men used to meet, and where Lewis first met Joy Gresham
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
5m
Where Tolkien used to visit a particular tree he loved
Magdalen College
40m · Admission ticket not included
We will go inside this college, where Lewis was a fellow for nearly 30 years and the Inklings met every Thursday evening. We will see the college buildings, cloisters, chapel, dining hall (if open), gardens and deer park.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
Opposite the Randolph Hotel, at the end of St Giles
End point
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
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
