Top Oxford Art & Culture - page 6

The Best Way to Discover Oxford: Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour. Play, learn, and walk! Explore at your own pace with a 100% self-guided activity. Start anytime (24/7) with no guides or schedules. Pause for a photo at the History of Science Museum or a visit to The Story Museum and resume whenever you're ready—even the next day. This unique team-building activity is perfect for couples, families, and groups. The "Complete City" Package - Everything you need in one app: Interactive Game: Solve puzzles and discover 10+ major attractions, plus hidden gems revealed along the way. Learn the history/legends of each site. Insider Tips: Access hand-picked local restaurant and shop recommendations. What you will visit: Oxford Castle & Prison, The Covered Market, Ashmolean Museum, History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, The Story Museum, Christ Church, and Christ Church Meadow.

This private walking tour reveals Oxford’s historic and romantic heritage. Ancient streets create a timeless atmosphere for couples. Begin at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Its medieval tower reflects Oxford’s spiritual legacy.Admire the Radcliffe Camera nearby. This classical landmark symbolises centuries of scholarship. Observe the historic Bodleian Library exterior. Generations of thinkers studied within its ancient walls.Walk beneath the elegant Bridge of Sighs. Why did this graceful bridge inspire such a name?View the Sheldonian Theatre designed by Christopher Wren. Its architecture celebrates England’s classical tradition. Pause at the Martyrs’ Memorial. It marks a dramatic chapter of religious history.Explore the historic Oxford Castle area. End near Christ Church Cathedral and Magdalen College grounds. Please note: The program and attractions may vary based on booking date/time and crowd conditions, ensuring each visit is a unique experience.

This One Hour Wonder offers a compact walking tour crafted for those who want the very best of the city in the shortest time. Led by an Institute of Tourist Guiding professional and Oxford Guild of Guides member, this 60 minute tour distils a thousand years of history into an unforgettable sweep through Oxford’s most beautiful heart. What makes it special? Efficiency with depth, condensed highlights without feeling rushed. Flexible timing. Perfect between meetings, before dinner, or curtain-up. Atmospheric settings – Oxford’s landmarks glow differently at dawn, midday, or twilight. Real history – authentic stories from Anglo-Saxon origins to the vibrant student life of today. Discover Oxford’s most iconic sights, from the Radcliffe Camera and Sheldonian Theatre and Oxford's historic quad in a magical bite-sized experience designed to orient, delight, and leave you with a sense of wonder and fresh understanding of the city's history and great scholars.

Join us for a special interest walking tour of Oxford. See the 2026 Contrada Tours schedule below for further details. Saturday 4 April - Oxford history and architecture Saturday 11 April - 17th c. Oxford and the British Civil Wars Saturday 18 April - 19th century Oxford Saturday 25 April - Literary Oxford Saturday 2 May - Oxford history and architecture Saturday 9 May - 17th c. Oxford and the British Civil Wars Saturday 16 May - (Graduation day) - Oxford ceremonies Saturday 23 May - (Graduation day) - Oxford ceremonies Saturday 30 May - 19th century Oxford Saturday 6 June - Literary Oxford Saturday 13 June - Oxford history and architecture Saturday 20 June - 17th c. Oxford and the British Civil Wars Saturday 27 June - Literary Oxford Saturday 4 July - 19th century Oxford Saturday 11 July - tbc Saturday 18 July - (Graduation day) - Oxford ceremonies - Your tour will be led by an expert, local, independent guide.

On this one-day tour, you'll get out of the minibus and into the glorious countryside! Experience the Cotswolds' celebrated walking trails with a fun, friendly local guide. You'll enjoy up to three glorious walks on this tour. Walks may vary according to the group, weather and trail conditions, but we can promise you peaceful Cotswold villages, gloriously scenic views and quiet footpaths away from the crowds of the ‘touristy’ parts of the Cotswolds - heaven! The day will round off with a visit to the gorgeous village of Broadway (with the option to see Broadway Tower), where you can explore, shop, or grab some refreshment after your day of walking the Cotswolds! Tours depart from Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, or from Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds. Travelling from London or Oxford? Take the train to Moreton-in-Marsh! You'll skip all the traffic, enjoy a charming, scenic train ride, and get to spend even longer in the beautiful Cotswolds!

Why is being ‘medieval’ seen as an insult? Why are we fascinated with the idea of 'horrible histories'? Modern media has fostered the stereotype that people in the Middle Ages were uniquely backwards, superstitious, violent, and dirty.  Join us on a tour that delves into medieval Oxford, uncovering the complexity of life in the past, while debunking the many myths of 'medieval' times. This tour will explore long-lasting similarities with how people acted centuries ago, while discussing how historic tensions have lasted to this day. This tour lasts for about 1.5hrs. Our tours are academically researched and led by experts. They incorporate active discussion and ask questions about historical memory, controversial histories, and the impacts of discrimination on the city and university. ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, but please note some mild uneven pavement in the city centre. Distance walked is less than 2km.

A private photo tour around historic Oxford to capture memories of your time there. For solo travellers, Oxford Graduates, couples or families. We will start by visiting iconic sites such as Oxford's Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library & Divinity School, Bridge of Sighs (also Harry Potter filming locations)& continue to many more and finish at Christ Church Meadows. If you're a Harry Potter fan I've also got you covered! A lot of the filming locations were around Oxford (fun fact... I was even in Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find them myself)! I like movement in the photos, such as walking shots, to create natural, comfortable photos. You will receive 10 digital printable images via an online gallery up to 2 weeks after your experience. Please note there are two options: One for up to 3 guests max. Another for 4+ guests (please allow for up to 2 hours if you are a larger group). Some locations are occasionally closed due to filming or ceremonies so I will adapt the tour as needed.

Entry worth £10 per person is included to Magdalen college and deer park, as and when it is open. See what is excluded section for any dates of closures. Besides introducing Oxford heritage, this tour is led by one of Oxford's most experienced local guides and it introduces the best college gardens off the beaten route of most tourists visiting Oxford. For anyone interested in herbalism, this can be a focus interest too, if made known in advance before the tour. You will visit inside at least one or more college -see details of which colleges in the main tour description. This tour is suitable for all ages but it will appeal especially to anyone who has a special interest in gardening.

There's more than open days to learning about studying at Oxford. Prospective students can get to know the different colleges and the application process on this private tour followed by a Q&A session with an Oxford or Cambridge graduate. The typical walking tour includes an overview of around 10 colleges from outside. When colleges are open to the public, you'll get to see inside two (please note: restrictions apply).

Follow me down a dark alleyway into Oxford's mysterious and bloody past. Oxford is one of the most haunted places in Britain, with good reason. It was the murder capital of medieval England, largely due to its extremely badly behaved student population. I will take you on a tour round the city's most sinister streets and baddest back-alleys, where we will hear about the terrible events that have left so many spirits wandering eternally. Burning bishops. Enraged poltergeists. Abandoned lovers. The Devil himself!! All have made their restless presence felt over the centuries and if we're (un)lucky, we might spot one of them tonight - it has happened on my tours before. This tour is thoroughly enjoyed by children, but it does contain some quite gory details so check they are ok with that. It needs to take place when it's dark, as that's when 'they' come out. It could well be cold, and possibly wet, so please dress accordingly.

Marvel at historical sights as you travel around the South of England in a classic Rolls Royce of Bentley on this tour. Accompanied by a former history master, customize your tour to suit your interests. Visit Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, enjoy delightful Cotswold villages, travel to Henry VIII’s famous Hampton Court Palace or choose from a range of other options - the choice is yours.

Fall in love with Oxford by joining a relaxing 20 minute Thames river cruise to Iffley village. Then walk or take the cruise back again Thames path. We'll see the Norman chapel & medieval homes in Iffley village. Special focus on Alice in Wonderland heritage and the Oxford rowing tradition. This tour includes about 1 mile walk at start of tour past famous university sights introduced briefly by the guide. After the cruise ends, we have one hour in Iffley village and then a 3 mile walk along the scenic Thames river path back to Oxford city. For anyone who has mobility walking issues, please let us know when booking as alternatively we could just replace the walk back from Iffley with either a return trip on the river cruise or a taxi back to the city. Notice: if the tour does not show as available on date you want to book, please ask viator to contact us. I avoid listing dates too early before the cruise boats are usually starting to run or to end. The boat cruise start date varies.

This charming Cotswolds tour of Downton Abbey locations is the perfect way to see both filming locations from the hit TV series and some of the most beautiful parts of the internationally renowned Cotswolds. Led by one of our highly experienced and very friendly Oxford Guild of Tour Guides guide, they will make your tour a day to remember by revealing a range of stories about the local area, details about the filming of the phenomenally successful series, and hints and tips about how to make the most of your time in the UK.

This tour offers something few others do: the chance to experience Oxford both on foot and from the water, all in one visit. Enjoy a full Oxford experience by combining our 90-minute student- or graduate-led college walking tour with a 30-minute chauffeured punting tour—a perfect way to take in the city’s history and beauty. The tour is outdoors. If selected when booking, AFTER THE WALKING TOUR ENDS, your experience can be enriched with a self-guided visit to New College, one of the university’s most historic and picturesque colleges. Then, without needing to plan a separate activity, you’ll step into a traditional punt and be taken along Oxford’s quieter, greener side. As you glide past the Botanic Gardens, Christ Church Meadows, and the banks where Lewis Carroll once walked, you’ll see a view of the city that most walking tours simply don’t reach. It’s a well-balanced way to enjoy both Oxford’s rich academic tradition and its peaceful riverside setting—all in a single experience.

Whether you’re on a vacation with family and friends, on your honeymoon, or traveling solo in Oxford, capture the memories of a lifetime with a private photo session. Your professional photographer can help recommend the best locations, outfits, and more for your photos. Choose from a 60- or 100-minute session and receive your professionally edited photos within days.

Home to the world-renowned Oxford University (and boasting centuries-old architecture, a surfeit of historic landmarks, and more) Oxford is best explore on foot—and this private walking tour makes seeing its highlights simple. Pick from several start times, meet your guide in central Oxford, and get ready to discover. You’ll admire local highlights ranging from the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum to Magdalen and Balliol Colleges, “Harry Potter” filming locations, and more.

Explore Oxford’s iconic sights, uncover rich history, and embark on the ultimate academic adventure! Perfect for exam takers and curious travelers alike - celebrate your success and start your journey here. The world awaits! Solve puzzles, explore the city, and find hidden gems at your own pace. Try a new type of experience with your smartphone, the perfect mix between a walking tour, sightseeing, and a scavenger hunt.

Walk eight centuries of Oxford science and medicine with a DPhil scientist, from Boyle's Law on the High Street to where the penicillin story began. Each place comes to life through printed historical images you hold in your hands. Story-led and small-group, with no science background needed. This is an exterior walking tour: we explore the colleges and gardens from the outside, so there are no admission tickets to buy and nothing extra to pay on the day.

Oxford is a city where real and fictional worlds collide in Philip Pullman’s beloved fantasy series. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll explore the real Oxford locations that inspired Jordan College, discover filming spots from The Golden Compass and BBC’s His Dark Materials adaptation, and step into scenes straight from the pages of Pullman’s novels. From ancient college quadrangles to atmospheric lanes, you’ll experience Oxford through the eyes of Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pan. The tour starts at Exeter College on Broad Street, the real-world inspiration for Lyra’s Jordan College. You’ll pass through the Covered Market where Roger would buy vegetables for Jordan College kitchens. You’ll also visit the magnificent Bodleian Library where the alethiometer is kept in Lyra’s world, and pass under the photogenic Hertford Bridge where Lyra and Roger were filmed fleeing from Gyptian children. You’ll see where many scenes from the adaptations were filmed.

Visit unique sites and settings from some of the Harry Potter films, exclusive to Oxford with an expert guide. Your Guide will be able to advise you which magical sites you can go and see after your tour, to make the very most of your Harry Potter visit to Oxford!

Beyond the iconic skyline of honey-coloured colleges and famous landmarks lies another Oxford that is vibrant, unexpected, and full of stories waiting to be discovered. The Oxford Beyond the Dreaming Spires Walking Tour takes you away from the well-trodden tourist routes and into the city's hidden heart. Whether this is your first visit or you've already explored Oxford's famous sights, this tour reveals a side of the city that many visitors never experience. Venture north of the historic centre, where half of the University's colleges are found, including the pioneering colleges that opened higher education to women. Explore the striking architecture and innovation of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, wander through the characterful streets of Jericho. Join us as we uncover the stories, people, and places that have shaped the city behind the scenes and discover the Oxford that locals know and love. This is Oxford beyond the postcards. Beyond the clichés. Beyond the dreaming spires.

Discover Oxford and the Cotswolds with our self-guided tour, exploring 9 centuries of academic brilliance and enchanting English countryside at your own pace. Begin among the dreaming spires of Oxford — the oldest English-speaking university city — where college quads, Gothic libraries, and dining halls that inspired the Harry Potter films stand alongside markets. Gaze up at the Radcliffe Camera dome, walk Christ Church College where Lewis Carroll first told Alice's adventures, and cross Hertford Bridge — Oxford's Bridge of Sighs. Then venture into the Cotswold Hills, where time stands still in villages of warm honey-coloured limestone. Wade through the River Windrush at Bourton-on-the-Water, photograph the medieval cottages at Bibury's Arlington Row, and climb Broadway Tower for views across 16 counties. From Blenheim Palace to the ancient squares of Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden, this tour weaves heritage and pastoral beauty across one of England's most treasured landscapes.

Explore the charming market town of Burford at your own pace on this self-guided walking tour, where every cobblestone has a story to tell. Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Burford boasts ancient streets lined with honey-colored cottages, quaint shops, and cozy pubs. Starting at Tolsey Museum, you’ll learn about its medieval role in law enforcement before strolling past landmarks like the Lamb Inn, Burford Priory, and St John the Baptist Church. Along the way, hear tales of ghosts, Civil War conflicts, and infamous residents like Lord and Lady Tanfield. You’ll also discover hidden gems, from the oldest pharmacy in England to a mansion tied to Parliament. Narrated by experienced guide Ian Grover, this 75-minute tour brings Burford’s past to life, offering fascinating stories, stunning architecture, and a true taste of Cotswold charm.

Discover the exciting nightlife of Oxford with our exclusive Party Passes. Our Party Passes offer a flexible way to experience popular weekend nightlife venues. Designed for both small and large groups, they provide pre-arranged guestlist access to selected bars and clubs across the UK. You are free to visit as many or as few of the included venues as you wish, at your own pace, making this a great option for those who prefer an independent night out rather than a fixed itinerary. This experience is not a guided tour. There is no host and no timetable to follow. Instead, your group is placed on the guestlist at each participating venue. On arrival, simply give your name at the door to receive guestlist entry. Where a standard door charge applies, entry is included at no additional cost.