Oxford Pre-Raphaelite Art and History Tour

Learn from your local guide interesting facts about Pre-Raphaelite artists. The group sought a return to the abundant detail, intense colors, and complex compositions of Quattrocento Italian art. Also, discover the history of two artists that were part of this movement, William Morris and Edward Burne Jones.
Finally, visit Exeter College with its chapel and the Magi tapestry. A passageway from the Front Quadrangle leads through to the college's Fellows' Garden. Enjoy the best views of Oxford and spot Radcliffe Square, including All Souls College and the Radcliffe Camera.

Please note that entry to Exeter is included, as and when it's open. Its opening schedule varies lots by the time of year.

Discover the history of Oxford, the collegiate system, and the famous alumni who studied and taught at the university. There are 38 colleges at Oxford University, but the tour will be focused on Exeter College, which continues to welcome students of the fine arts nowadays.

Meeting Point

15-16 Broad St

15-16 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3AS, UK

Meet your guide wearing red iloveoxford lanyard next to our red sign, OUTSIDE Oxford Tourist Info centre, 15 Broad street, OX1 3As

What's included:

• Entry worth £3 to Exeter college, as & when open
• On any dates when neither the Oxford Union, nor Exeter may be open, we'll visit Ashmolean musuem.
• Entry worth £4 to the Oxford Union library, as & when open. Advance booking necessary for us here.

Not included:

• Entry to either Exeter college or to the Oxford Union will be subject to them being open or not.
• The further notice you book this tour, the more likelihood, I can pre-book entry to above venues.
• Exeter college & the Oxford Union are not open to the general public- thus I need to pre book entry!
• We cannot always guarantee entry to a college on graduation dates. 2024 graduations include....
• May 18, July 13+23+26+27, Aug 3, Sep 27+28, Nov 8+9+16 of 2024

What to expect:

Duration: between 2 hours and 2 hours, 30 minutes

The Oxford Union

Frewin Court, Oxford, OX1 3JB

Entry is included, as and when the Oxford Union Victorian library is open. I always pre book entry, as soon as you book the tour but if you book at very short notice, this might not always be possible to get inside here.
This is where William Morris and Ed Burne Jones and their circle of friends designed the walls and then ceiling.

Entry fee worth £4 per person included.

Sometimes the librarian agrees to also show us the Oxford Union's famous debating chamber, where many presidents and prime ministers plus famous intellectuals have debated.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Bodleian Library

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

We usually introduce the library on our route but we don't go inside and indeed guiding is not permitted inside

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Bridge of Sighs

New College Ln., Oxford, OX1 3BL

We pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

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

We usually pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Brasenose College

Radcliffe Square, Oxford, OX1 4AJ

We usually pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Hertford College

Catte Street, Oxford, OX1 3BW

We usually pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Radcliffe Camera

Radcliffe Square, , Oxford, OX1 3BG

We pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Jesus College

Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DW

We pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Exeter College

Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DP

Entry is included, as and when Exeter is open to the public. We visit here to see the pre Raphaelite art work in the chapel and the gardens plus quad and maybe we can see its hall too. This is where William Morris and Ed Burne Jones arrived to study theology at Oxford in 1853.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Lincoln College

Turl Street, , Oxford, OX1 3DR

We pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Balliol College

Broad Street, , Oxford, OX1 3BJ

We pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Trinity College

Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BH

We pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Wadham College

17 Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ

We often also pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour
This college is where JK Rowling applied to study at Oxford but was not unfortunately accepted.

Pass by without stopping

Oxford Covered Market

Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3DZ

We usually pass by here and many other famous sites and introduce such sites on the tour

Pass by without stopping

Ashmolean Museum

Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH, UK

Only if time permits and if Exeter and the Oxford Union happens to be closed, then we might also visit the pre Raphaelites exhibition space on the top floor of the museum.
Entry to the museum is free and it's open every day except Mondays until 5pm.

1 minute