Top Oxford Culture

Squeeze all of Oxford's most popular sights into one day with this small group, full-day tour. Explore the oldest Colleges in Oxford with the knowledge of your Oxford student tour guide and step inside Oxford's largest College with its own deer park. Stop by a traditional pub for lunch and then continue your tour with a trip back in time at England's most iconic library. Harry Potter fan? Upgrade your ticket to include access to Christ Church, the famed college.

Follow in the footsteps of famous former residents like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis—and discover many of Oxford’s top landmarks in just a couple hours—on this introductory walking tour. Meet your group in central Oxford, and set off on foot. You’ll see key attractions like the Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre, will explore the university area, and you will see many of the elegant colleges from the outside. As you go, your guide will share insider stories about Oxford’s history.

Experience one of the world’s greatest university cities on this hop-on hop-off Oxford bus tour. With a 24- or 48-hour pass, design a personalized itinerary with several possible stops including the University of Oxford buildings (some featured in the 'Harry Potter' films), Oxford Castle, and Bodleian Library, one of the world’s oldest public libraries. Enjoy unobstructed views from the open-top viewing deck and fun onboard commentary as you savor this elegant city.

Discover the Harry Potter movie locations of Oxford on this walking tour. Visit the famous Bodleian Library to see the hall used as Hogwarts’ Infirmary in many movies, and view other locations in one or two of Oxford’s oldest colleges. As you walk, enjoy a fun Harry Potter quiz, and learn about Oxford University and other famous children’s books written in the city. Entrance fees to the Bodleian and select colleges are included.

If you’re interested in Oxford’s rich history, look no further than this walking tour for a comprehensive overview of the historic city. In a small group limited to 15, visit Bodleian Library—home to 'Harry Potter' filming locations—and one other college, and learn about Oxford University alumni such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Plus, receive an ILoveOxford map showing all of the main sites.

Explore Oxford University’s famous regatta course on this 50-minute Thames River sightseeing cruise in Oxford. Hop aboard your sightseeing vessel in the heart of Oxford and cruise out onto the famous waterway. Listen as your guide sheds light on the city’s rich history, and discover local landmarks such as Folly Bridge, Christchurch College, the Oxford University boathouses and the Meadows. Share the waters with rowing eights, punts, university boats and cruisers, and watch the banks for sightings of native river wildlife.

Oxford University is one of the world’s most famous universities and this 90-minute walking tour takes you behind the scenes of its historic colleges. Follow in the footsteps of alumni such as Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, and J.R.R. Tolkien; admire architectural landmarks such as Trinity College, New College and the Radcliffe Camera; and peek inside the colleges, chapels, and halls.

Explore the world of ‘The Inklings’—the mid-20th-century writers’ group that included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien—on this private Oxford walk. Rather than researching locations yourself, let a guide show you where the writers worked and relaxed. Visit Exeter College where Tolkien studied; and see Lewis’ Magdalen College and other sights while learning history and literary tales you’d otherwise miss. A choice of departure times gives you flexibility.

Explore one of England’s most ancient cities on this 2.5-hour sightseeing river cruise in Oxford. Cruise onto the tranquil Thames River as your skipper points out places of interest such as Christchurch College, the Meadows, the Oxford University boathouses, Osney Island, Port Meadow and Folly Bridge. See a side of Oxford's rich heritage that many visitors miss, and discover sites made famous by authors including Lewis Carroll and C S Lewis. Stop off along the way for a delicious picnic of delicacies such as potted salmon and Mediterranean vegetable loaf.

Explore Oxford’s historic town center and ivy-strewn university buildings on this bike tour. Cycle through the City of Dreaming Spires alongside a guide, and learn about the city’s history as you take in University of Oxford buildings where the likes of Oscar Wilde, J. R. R. Tolkien, and several British prime ministers have studied. This bike tour allows you to cover more ground than you would on a walking tour, as well as access pedestrianized areas inaccessible to tour buses.

Set sail for a romantic cruise through the heart of Oxford on this 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise, including afternoon tea served on-board. Tuck into traditional English teatime treats like finger sandwiches and scones with jam and clotted cream, as you glide downstream. Following a scenic route along the University Regatta Course, you’ll discover Oxford’s surprising greenery and enjoy marvelous views of the University Boat Houses, Christ Church Meadows and Iffley lock.

Immerse yourself in the world of Inspector Morse, Lewis, and Hathaway during this 2-hour walking tour in Oxford. Listen to stories about the city's most famous detectives and stop at landmarks such as Broad Street, the White Horse pub, and the Randolph Hotel.

Get an overview of the City of the Dreaming Spires on this guided, small-group walking tour. Pass by some of the key attractions around this historic university town, including Carfax Tower, Christ Church College, Queen’s College, The Bridge of Sighs, Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library and more. Learn about the city’s long and rich history from your guide.

Experience England’s Cotswolds on a private tour that whisks you around its highlights so you don’t have to worry about itineraries or transport. Avoid the inconveniences of a DIY or large-group trip, and relax on a chauffeur-driven tour of the must-see towns and villages. See the riverbank houses of Bourton-on-the-Water, and admire honey-stoned Broadway and other gems; all with a driver-guide for personalized service plus flexible pickup and drop-off options.

Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Thames River and soak up the views in style on this 30-minute evening sightseeing cruise in Oxford. Hop into your sightseeing boat as the sun starts to set and head out onto the calm waters with your guide. Sip a glass of Prosecco, beer, wine or a soft drink as the sunlight dances on the river, and gaze out over Oxford’s beautiful Christchurch Meadows. Learn of the city’s educational and sporting heritage, and enjoy a romantic moment on the river with your loved one.  

This is the essential tour for Harry Potter fans. Spend a day discovering the sites of Oxford associated with the Harry Potter movies. See Christ Church College which inspired the Great Hall of Hogwarts, and learn behind-the-scenes secrets about the Harry Potter actors, and J. K. Rowling.

How does studying at Oxford University compare with studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Fun tour for Muggles of all ages. Guide will cater tour according to everyone's interests, introducing also Oxford heritage. Join tour to find out why we have over 1,000 reviews recommending this tour online! Calling all fans of the world’s favourite wizard, this Oxford walking tour takes you to recognizable locations of the Harry Potter films. During this family-friendly tour, see the grand buildings of Oxford University and see inside the Divinity School—which featured as the infirmary & classroom space in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Learn of other literary legends that attended Oxford University. Tour includes entry worth £3 per person inside the Divinity school at the Bodleian Library. Tour lasts average 90-120 minutes. Notice: on dates when Divinity school is closed - see closures notices under What's not Included section- we instead visit New college.

See more of the picturesque Cotswolds on a trip that leaves from Moreton-in-Marsh. Showcasing the must-see villages that can be tricky to find on your own, the excursion visits Bourton-on-the-Water and Chipping Camden along with some lesser-known hamlets that many Cotswolds tourists miss. You have ample free time to explore, along with commentary and tips for places to eat or see through the day.

Immerse yourself in the Cotswolds (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), and enjoy a fully customized sightseeing experience, on this full-day, private tour. Following morning pickup at your area hotel, hop aboard your vehicle and head into the countryside. You’ll admire quaint villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Chipping Campden; will discover lesser-known destinations that most visitors miss; and can even plan a tearoom or pub stop (separate expense).

Explore Oxford as you wish with your own guide on this private walking tour. Meet your guide in the heart of the history-steeped city and hear about its famous past and university as you explore the cobbled streets and squares. Use the flexible itinerary to tailor your sightseeing around your interests, visiting highlights such as the Bodleian Library, Christ Church College, and other landmarks as you please. Entrance fees at own expense.

Get the inside scoop on Oxford's storied history on this private walking tour. Through your dedicated guide's informative narration, learn about the evolution of the university and all the achievements that have taken place there. Enjoy a flexible itinerary, personalized attention and plenty of time to ask questions, since this is a private tour for just you and your party.

Admire the best-known and hidden villages of England’s Cotswolds on this full-day small-group tour from Oxford. Traveling by air-conditioned minivan with a driver-guide, stop to explore villages such as Great Tew and Stow-on-the-Wold, and the hamlets of the Windrush valley. On route, enjoy lunch (own expense) in Burford, stroll around Bourton-on-the-Water, and visit the village and 15th-century ruins of Minster Lovell. Includes transport and central Oxford pickup and drop-off, with entrance fees at your expense.

Discover many of Oxford’s key landmarks—and venture beyond the material covered by most walking tours when you explore topics like colonialism, racism, and inequality in the context of the city’s history and the university’s past—on this immersive, small-group walking tour. Led by an Oxford student guide, you’ll see landmarks like Balliol College and Carfax Tower, and will learn about the invisible divides and backstories that shape Oxford today.