Oxford University History and Architecture Tour

Join us for this 3 hour tour of England’s must see city, home for over 800 years to both Royalty and Scholars. Your private guide will lead you on an unforgettable journey around one of the 38 colleges that make up Oxford University. You can marvel at the amazing architecture, learn what it’s like to study here and discover the most famous alumni.
We will then wind our way through the city learning about the foundation of the University, as well as more modern history in the shape of Harry Potter. Your private Blue Badge guide is full of facts and stories to engage and entertain you during the tour making for a terrific experience.

Meeting Point

Carfax Tower

Queen St, Oxford OX1 1ET, UK

Tour departs from Carfax Tower, look for the side of the tower with the clock, your Guide will be holding a sign with the lead customers name.

What's included:

• Blue Badge guide
• Local guide
• Professional guide
• Private tour
• All taxes, fees and handling charges
• Guaranteed to skip the long lines

Not included:

• Food and drinks

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Carfax Tower

Corner of Carfax and Cornmarket, , Oxford, OX1

Starting right in the centre of Oxford at Carfax Tower, this is the only remaining structure of St Martin’s church. The tower is just over 23m/74ft high and it’s a point of reference for architects, as no building is allowed to be taller than this. Look for the quarter boys and listen to them hammering into the bells every 15 minutes. Carfax is an unusual name, let your guide explain what it actually means.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Tom Tower

St. Aldates, , Oxford, OX1 1DP

Walking down Saint Aldate street passing many shops and The Town Hall takes you to Tom Tower. This is a great chance to look into the Tom Quad of Christ Church college. Built by famous architect Christopher Wren in the late Gothic style, even though at that point it was many centuries out of date. Find out who or what Great Tom is, also the difference between Oxford time and Greenwich time.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Christ Church

St. Aldates, University Of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 1DP

This is our first example of a college, it’s also the largest with some impressive Royal connections. Fans of Harry Potter will remember the dining hall, see if you can spot where JK Rowling might have taken her inspiration. We will explore the quads, the dining hall and the Cathedral of this spectacular College.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Merton College

Merton Street, Oxford, OX1 4JD

Next we pass another of Oxford’s 38 Colleges, Merton. Staking a claim as one of the oldest, it is also one of the smallest. Don’t let the size fool you though, this prestigious institution once homed famous Nobel laureates, TS Eliot and JRR Tolkien.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

The High Street, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 4BJ

Heading back towards the busier part of the town, we snake through narrow lanes towards a magnificent view of St Mary’s University church. Lets wander through the church, soaking up the atmosphere and your guide will explain how this Church formed the very beginning of Oxford University.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Radcliffe Camera

Radcliffe Square, , Oxford, OX1 3BG

Our next stop is Radcliffe camera, this impressive building dominates Radcliffe square. Featured in all guide books and on many postcards it is perhaps one of the most iconic sights in Oxford. Today it serves as a reading room for the Bodlian library, home to hundreds of thousands of books. Where do they all fit you might wonder, your guide will explain where they are hidden.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Brasenose College

Radcliffe Square, Oxford, OX1 4AJ

One more college en-route, this time with a very unusual name. Find out the history of the name and its meaning from your guide.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Bodleian Library

Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG, UK

In a University town like Oxford you are surrounded by sources of knowledge, but this is perhaps the most impressive. Over the years, the library expanded and today you will find various library buildings around the city, but this is the original. It is open only to its members, who must sign a formal declaration on the first admission. It serves mainly as a reference library and members are not allowed to remove books. This rule was even upheld in the 17th century, when King Charles I wanted to borrow a book.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

The Divinity School

University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BG, UK

Just like that, we are inside this spectacular room. Look up and admire the beautiful vaulted ceiling. In the past it was home to the study of theology, these days its used in a ceremonial role. This is where the students don their gowns and get ready before they cross the yard to The Sheldonian theatre for their graduation ceremony.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Bridge of Sighs

New College Ln., Oxford, OX1 3BL

We now make our way to look at the Bridge of Sighs, named after its famous counterpart in Venice. It is forms part of Hereford college, famous as one of the first colleges to accept women as students.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Sheldonian Theatre

Broad Street, , Oxford, OX1 3AZ

This is the second building we visit designed by Christopher Wren, the beautiful, classical, Sheldonian Theatre. This is where students celebrate the start and the end of their academic life with matriculations and graduations. Once inside you have a spectacular painted ceiling offering the illusion of open sky.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Weston Library

Bodleian Library Broad Street, Bodleian Library, Oxford, OX1 3BG

We have spent our tour surrounded by beautiful architecture, listened to stories of various colleges, we learnt about famous alumni. We finish here at the Weston library, to give you idea on how the University works and looks today. Whilst much more modern in appearance, the core value of learning remains the focus. Our tour finishes here, your guide will happily direct you to gift shops, restaurants and other sites which you may like to visit.

10 minutes