Oxford University CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien Tour

This public tour is brand new to be listed here on viator but we have been successfully running this tour with excellent reviews for private groups for several years here with over 46 recommendations .
This tour typically lasts 2 hours to 2.5 hours and it includes entry to Magdalen college, where CS Lewis taught. If Magdalen is ever closed, we will inform you & offer refund or reschedule date or proceed with a visit to an alternative such as Exeter college, where Tolkien studied.

This tour introduces both these famous writers and their lives here in Oxford plus offers insights into what life is like as an Oxford academic.

Magdalen entry fee worth £10 per person is included.

NOTICE: any known closures for Magdalen college will be published under the What's Excluded section.

Please note that Magdalen only permits entry to up to 10 persons with guide before we must instead pre book with Magdalen. Thus, if you book at very short notice, you may instead be asked to do private tour.

Meeting Point

15 Broad St

15 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3AS, UK

Meet your guide wearing red lanyard by our red sign outside Oxford Tourist Info centre, 15 Broad street, OX1 3AS.

What's included:

• Please check 'Exclusions' below for dates of any partial closures eg the hall
• Tour is led by award winning guides with hundreds of existing 5 star ratings for this tour!
• Your ticket includes entry worth £10 to Magdalen college to see the hall, chapel, gardens, quad.

Not included:

• Magdalen is closed over Xmas from Dec 20 to Dec 31 of 2024
• Magdalen is closed in 2024 on June 21, Sep 27, Oct 6
• This tour is not aimed at young children but if you wish to bring children, please inform us before
• On any dates that Magdalen is closed, we'll replace entry with Tolkien's Exeter college

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Radcliffe Camera

Radcliffe Square, , Oxford, OX1 3BG

We pass by & mention such famous sights

Bridge of Sighs

New College Ln., Oxford, OX1 3BL

We pass by & mention such famous sights

Bodleian Library

Broad Street, University Of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3BG

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Hertford College

Catte Street, Oxford, OX1 3BW

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

All Souls College

High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AL

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

Brasenose College

Radcliffe Square, Oxford, OX1 4AJ

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

Balliol College

Broad Street, , Oxford, OX1 3BJ

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

Trinity College

Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BH

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

Corpus Christi College

Merton Street, , Oxford, OX1 4JF

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

University College

High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BH

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

Jesus College

Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DW

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

Exeter College

Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DP

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford.
On any dates that Magdalen college may be closed, we will instead visit inside Exeter college, worth £3 entry fee.

Exeter college is where Tolkien studied.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Oxford Covered Market

Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3DZ

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

Pass by without stopping

Lincoln College

Turl Street, , Oxford, OX1 3DR

The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford.
We often stop at the entrance of exquisite Lincoln college to look at the entry area to the quadrangle and to spot the statue of John Wesley, who studied here, as did the writer of 'Dr Seuss' stories too.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Magdalen College

High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AU

We spend one hour average inside Magdalen college on this tour and this is where CS Lewis taught. It has a medieval hall, a canteen where we can stop for a coffee to enjoy the punting boats passing us by outside. There is a deer park and Addisons walk, which is where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien walked and talked. Plus there is a medieval hall and chapel plus impressive main quadrangle and the tower.
The entry fee to Magdalen worth £10 is paid for you by the guide.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

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

We visit inside and outside here to introduce where CS Lewis preached and developed many of his books from sermons here. We also will see the Mr Tumnis and Aslan lookalike figures outside the church which are alleged to have inspired CS Lewis to write, 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'.
We often also end the tour at this location.

15 minutes

The Turf

4 Bath Place, , Oxford, OX1 3SU

We often pass down the lane to see this famous pub or to see the Eagle and Child pub where the Inklings met over a drink to discuss their writing and life.

5 minutes