Top Oxford Culture

See more of the picturesque Cotswolds than you could on your own on this full-day trip from Moreton-in-Marsh or Stratford-upon-Avon. Showcasing the region's must-see villages that can be tricky to find on your own, this excursion visits Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Camden, and lesser-known sights 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.

Even before Harry Potter, Oxford was a magical city. Add even more magic to your day on this unique tour led by an actual magician who’s performed for the British royal family and A-list celebrities. As well as top sights and fascinating trivia, expect mesmerizing tricks and illusions, including a recreation of a famous spell from a Harry Potter movie. Book in advance as tours do sell out.

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. Note: book an afternoon tour to tour inside the colleges (subject to availability).

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.

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. 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.

✤ Fully Private: Just your group (up to 3 adults + 3 children under 12) in a Mercedes-Benz. ✤ Exceptional Value: A modest upgrade for a fully private, comfortable experience ✤ No Tour Buses: Skip the crowds and explore at your own pace. ✤ Local Know How: We use back lanes to avoid heavy tourist traffic. ✤ Flexible Itinerary: Your day, tailored around what you want to see. ✤ Authentic Stops: Optional visits to farm shops for local cheeses, delis & fresh scones. ✤ Door-to-Door Ease: Complimentary pickup within the Cotswolds. ✤ Better Views: Elevated seating for scenic countryside views.

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.

This is the essential tour for Harry Potter fans. Spend the afternoon discovering the sites of Oxford associated with the Harry Potter movies, including the Divinity School inside the Bodleian Library, and learn behind-the-scenes secrets about the Harry Potter actors, and J. K. Rowling. Afterwards, explore Christ Church College which inspired the Great Hall of Hogwarts, on a self-guided tour.

Explore the ‘uncomfortable’ side of the Ashmolean Museum. This tour highlights the contentious histories within museum spaces, bringing forward discussions about colonial origins, object transferal networks, and requests for repatriation. It encourages critical thinking and engagement with the Ashmolean Museum, its collections, and its displays. Delving into the intricate layers of history behind the exhibits, this tour will provide insight into the imperial connections that led to the development of the first public museum in England. Through the questioning of labels, displays, and exhibits, this tour asks participants: What is the purpose of a museum? All our tours are led by university researchers who have completed our official Uncomfortable Oxford training programme. Our guides combine expert knowledge and performance, ensuring each tour is a fun and educational experience. The tour has been developed in collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum staff and curators.

Admire the highlights 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. En 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.

Explore the highlights of Oxford's two major art collections, at the Ashmolean Museum and Christ Church Picture Gallery, with an art historian and Sotheby’s specialist. Join me on a rich and entertaining journey through the history of European art, from Ancient Greece to French Impressionism. On the way, you’ll discover masterpieces ranging from Uccello's Hunt in the Forest, to Monet’s Sunset at Sea. Half way through, we’ll have a coffee break at Ashmolean’s Rooftop café. We’ll then walk to Christ Church Picture Gallery, part of Christ Church, one Oxford’s most famous colleges, to see masterpieces from their collection of mainly Italian paintings and drawings, including Botticelli's paintings of the Sybils, and Head of Young Woman by Verrocchio, one of the most beautiful drawings that remains from the Florentine Renaissance. During the experience, you'll be introduced to specialist skills, including spotting painting restorations and identifying 15th century paper.

Explore Oxford University’s famous regatta course on this Thames River sightseeing cruise. Hop aboard your sightseeing boat in the heart of Oxford and cruise out onto the famous waterway. Learn more about the city’s rich history from your guide, and discover local landmarks such as Folly Bridge, Christchurch College, the Oxford University boathouses and the Meadows.

Set sail for a romantic cruise through the heart of Oxford—and pair your sightseeing with a classic afternoon tea—on this unique, two-in-one boat tour. Tuck into English teatime treats such as finger sandwiches and scones with jam and clotted cream as you glide downstream. Following a scenic route along the University Regatta Course, discover Oxford’s greenery and admire views of the University Boat Houses, Christ Church Meadows, and Iffley lock.

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.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace is home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Set in over 2,000 acres of beautiful Parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, the exquisite 18th century Baroque Palace is surrounded by sweeping lawns, formal gardens and the magnificent lake. Discover over 300 years of history, architecture and artefacts Stroll around the majestic Formal Gardens and 10 other gardens Explore the Butterfly House and Stables Exhibition

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.

Avoid wandering Oxford without context or missing its hidden corners on this roughly 90-minute walking tour of Oxford University’s historic colleges. Benefit from the insider knowledge of a local guide as you follow the footsteps of alumni such as Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, and J.R.R. Tolkien, admire landmarks including Trinity College, New College, and the Radcliffe Camera, and step inside selected colleges and chapels to understand the traditions and stories that have shaped one of the world’s most famous universities.

Explore the fascinating world of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis on this guided walking tour through Oxford. See iconic locations such as Exeter College, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Bodleian Library, and Magdalen College, where the Inklings met. Discover how these writers inspired and helped one another. Enjoy a visit to Magdalen College, where Lewis spent nearly three decades. This tour provides a unique insight into the lives of these authors and the city that inspired them. - 2.5 hour guided walking tour of Oxford’s literary landmarks - Visit Magdalen College, where Lewis worked from 1925 to 1954 - Suitable for teenagers and adults; private tours are also available for families with young children - Learn from an expert guide about the lives of Tolkien and Lewis and their friendship - Learn how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) met the young Alice Liddell at Christ Church College and how she inspired him to write Alice in Wonderland! - Avoid the crowds - maximum group 12 people

With narrow, often busy country lanes, complex geography, and limited parking, the Cotswolds can be challenging to explore independently. Leave route planning, navigating, and parking to your personal driver-guide on this flexible private tour that hits all the highlights direct from your door. Upgrade to add a professional photographer who can capture your group amid the beauty and create memories that can last a lifetime.

As darkness falls, Oxford’s haunted history stirs to life! Journey through the oldest parts of the medieval city, uncovering its grim and gruesome past. Hear of murders and executions, phantoms and spirits, ancient libraries and unsolved mysteries—and the fascinating history behind them! From Martyrs Cross, where bishops burned in Bloody Mary’s reign, wander down shadowy streets to Dead Man's Walk, where a spectral soldier guards the city walls. Learn how Oxford’s brooding architecture has inspired storytellers like Tolkien, Lewis and Wilde, and hosted literary icons from Hamlet to Harry Potter. As you walk the moonlit passageways, your guide will share horrible histories and spectral stories from across the ages. They may even tell of their eerie experiences on Oxford's most haunted lane... if they're sure the poltergeist isn’t listening! Join us—and the ghosts of centuries past—for a tour of Oxford's macabre history, fantasy heritage and sinister tales to haunt your imagination…

Discover the hidden gems of Oxford on a self-guided walking tour that combines history with fun. Navigate through charming alleys and historic squares while listening to audio guides that share intriguing stories about landmarks like the Radcliffe Camera and the Sheldonian Theatre. Engage in interactive quizzes that unlock the next part of your adventure, allowing you to explore at your own pace. This tour is perfect for solo travelers, families, or friends looking to enjoy a unique experience without the pressure of a group setting. - Walk 2.8 km in approximately 1.5 hours, any time of day - Enjoy 10 quizzes that challenge your knowledge as you explore - Use your smartphone for audio guides and smart maps - No group pressure – go solo or team up with friends.

Admire Oxford from the water on this cruise, and see a side to the city that many travelers miss. Float along the tranquil Thames River as your skipper points out places of interest such as Christchurch College, the Meadows, Port Meadow, and Folly Bridge—which you can enjoy without having to jostle the land-based crowds. A picnic lunch midway keeps you fueled throughout.

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.