• Martyrs’ Memorial - Significant Victorian monument dedicated to the 16th-century Protestant martyrs.
• St Michael at the North Gate - This Anglo-Saxon Tower, part of the Medieval city gate, is likely the oldest surviving building in Oxford today, with many stories spanning centuries.
• Exeter College - Exeter’s chapel, inspired by the Oxford Movement, is modeled after Paris’ St. Chapelle. Notable alumni include Philip Pullman, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Alan Bennett.
• Lincoln College - The original facade of Lincoln College on Turn Street reflects the University’s origins and its relationship with the city. Lincoln College recently celebrated its first Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and was also home to the Methodist Wesley Brothers.
• University Church of St. Mary the Virgin - The University Church was the University’s first building and is listed in the Domesday Book. Its magnificent spire can be climbed. Today, we will admire its famous stained glass and learn how it inspired C.S. Lewis.
• Oriel College - One of the University’s oldest colleges, Oriel is renowned for rowing. Its front quad with Oriel windows is stunning. It neighbors Corpus Christi, known for hosting the annual tortoise race.
• Christ Church - We pass east of Christ Church. Visitors might enjoy the fabulous Christ Church Picture Gallery, tucked behind the imposing eastern entry to the college.
• Corpus Christi College - Corpus Christi’s early 16th-century architecture features many beautiful and moving animal figures, including a pious pelican. The college is set on a cobbled street listed as a national treasure.
• Merton College - Merton is Oxford’s third college. The original and beautiful 15th-century frieze over the gatehouse is one of my favorite creations in Oxford and tells the tale of the University’s early days. The chapel’s flying buttresses are richly decorated. Thomas Bodley, founder of the Bodleian Library, graduated from Merton College. Merton College’s library is the oldest continuously surviving library in Oxford.
• Examination Schools - Oxford University held its first written exam in the early 19th century. This Victorian extravaganza of Jacobean and Tudor architectural styles was the height of modernity in the 1870s, inspired by an egalitarian spirit to make education more widely available.
• Queen’s College - Queen’s College is the alma mater of celebrity Rowan Atkinson. It was founded for poor scholars from the North of England, one of whom became so wealthy that his donation funded an 18th-century rebuilding of the college, with designs contributed by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor.

The High Street was the road to London and has transformed over the years. Frank Cooper’s Marmalade was first made here and became a worldwide fad. It is also the site of England’s first coffee house, founded when Jewish people were welcomed back into the UK after being banned in the 13th century during Oliver Cromwell’s Republic.

• New College - New College’s wonderful gatehouse tells the tale of its foundation after the plagues of the 14th century. Its charming setting has been used in many film sets.
• Bridge of Sighs - Oxford’s iconic bridge belonging to Hertford College. Although it resembles an old Venetian bridge, it was built in the 20th century. It is also next to the house of Edmund Halley, who had the comet named after him.
• Sheldonian Theatre - We will admire this 17th-century home to Oxford University’s ceremonies. It is believed to be the first building by Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, who was also an Astronomer of Photography at Oxford University.
• Oxford Central Library - Built on top of the exquisite medieval perpendicular Divinity School, the Duke Humphrey Library was constructed in the 15th century to house a gift of over 200 books from the King’s brother. Both of these rooms were selected by J.K. Rowling for Harry Potter scenes.
• Bodleian Library - Today, the Bodleian Library holds over 13 million books. We will admire the 17th-century buildings and learn about the library’s origins and how it operates today.
• Radcliffe Camera - Oxford’s first science library. Learn about one of Oxford’s most eccentric and generous benefactors, the Royal Physician Sir John Radcliffe.
• Balliol College - We will step inside Oxford’s second oldest college to see its internal quadrangle, the chapel with its glorious stained glass, and the dining hall with portraits that tell its interesting foundation story. Here, we’ll learn more about when women undergraduates began to have access to the University and its colleges.

• Guided tour led by an experienced, licensed guide
• Entrance fee to a medieval college
• Complimentary map and guidebook
• Advice to help explore and eat after the tour

Experience Oxford’s rich history on a 90-minute walking tour led by an Institute of Tourist Guiding professional and Guild of Guides member. Explore the city’s origins from Anglo-Saxon times, the evolution of the university, its stunning architecture, libraries, and the vibrant student life of today. Oxford History tours offer real history for genuine history lovers.

Stroll through Oxford’s iconic sites, including:

Radcliffe Camera
Divinity School
Bridge of Sighs
Bodleian Library
Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theatre
Medieval Colleges around every corner

Discover stories of patrons, artists, politicians, saints, scholars, rebels, and martyrs who shaped over 1,000 years of Oxford’s history. This tour also includes practical tips to enhance your stay in Oxford.

The route passes famous film, television locations and literary legend.

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