Top Oxford Pop Culture

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.

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.

Step into the shadows of history and embark on an uncomfortable ghost tour as we learn about the events that have sparked the eerie and profound tales of hauntings in Oxford. This tour was researched and designed by two historians who study the history of hauntings and ghost stories, and explores how certain moments live on through oral histories. Our Haunted Oxford tour delves into the structure of stories of the supernatural, revealing the unsettling moments from the past that continue to haunt the present. This unique tour examines haunting through the echoes of gender disparities, oppression, violence, social division, and the powerful grip of memory. Tour lasts 1.5 hours and runs in all weather so please dress appropriately. Dogs welcome.

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.

Several of Oxford’s “Harry Potter™” filming locations sit within the city’s historic colleges, making them easy to miss on your own. Walk with a small group and a guide who studied at Oxford University, visiting sites such as New College. Along the way, hear about J.K. Rowling’s links to the city.

Exploring Oxford’s historic streets and colleges can be confusing on foot, especially if you’re short on time. This hop-on hop-off bus tour makes it easy to get around the city while seeing its top sights, with a choice of 24- or 48-hour passes that let you create your own itinerary. Ride past highlights such as University of Oxford colleges (including filming locations from the “Harry Potter™” movies), Oxford Castle, and the Bodleian Library, one of the world’s oldest public libraries.

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.

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…

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! From the gates of Trinity College, embark on an enchanting Harry Potter experience with your witch or wizard guide. Receive your wands, and be sorted into Hogwarts Houses, before a visit to Oxford's own Flourish & Blotts! Enter the Bodleian Library Divinity School, where Harry was visited by Dumbledore in The Philosopher’s Stone. Wander through the medieval corridors of New College (founded in 1379), following the footsteps of Hogwarts students in the films. See the oldest dining hall in Oxford, where students have been eating meals in gowns for nearly 650 years. Marvel at the ancient tree where Draco Malfoy tried to curse Harry Potter—but ended up transfigured into a ferret! Gaze at the windows of the Restricted Section of Hogwarts, where real-life books were also chained to the shelves. Dance where Professor McGonagall taught Ron Weasley how to waltz in The Goblet of Fire. Test your knowledge in our Harry Potter quiz along the way!

With more than 1,000 years of written history plus lashings of ancient buildings, Oxford has a tale or ten to tell. Discover them on this ghoulish walking tour that pairs spine-chilling stories with historical sights. See where Protestant martyrs burned at the stake, stroll Dead Man’s Walk, discover one of England’s most haunted roads, hear about the ghost that rolls his head across the floor, and more.

Discover Oxford’s little-known dark side on this spooky, evening ghost tour through the city center. Listen to gruesome tales and stories of bizarre local happenings as you comb shadowy backstreets with your costumed guide. Discover major historical sights along the way. Entertaining and imaginative, family-friendly walking ghost tours are suitable for all ages.

Walk in the footsteps of two of the most famous authors from Oxford: CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. Learn about the authors’ lives and works as you walk around past key sites in their lives, including Exeter College (where Tolkien studied), University Church (where Lewis preached) and the Eagle & Child Pub (where the two met weekly as part of The Inklings).

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.

Follow in the footsteps of Oxford’s iconic detectives on this immersive walking tour through the city’s historic streets and colleges. Discover key filming locations from Inspector Morse, Lewis, and Endeavour — including the Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, and the famous Morse Bar. Along the way, enjoy insider stories, behind-the-scenes trivia, and a few mysterious tales from Oxford’s darker corners. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, this tour brings the city’s crime-solving legacy vividly to life. Keep your eyes open — in Oxford, clues are everywhere.

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.

If you’ve been captivated by TV’s “Clarkson’s Farm”, discover the real world locations from the series on this convenient tour. You don’t need a car. As the meeting point is a station with easy access to London and Oxford, you can simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Visit locations including the farm shop, Clarkson’s pub, his brewery, and pretty Chadlington, where farmhand Gerald Cooper lives (and builds walls).

Discover the rich literary heritage of Oxford on this private guided tour. Learn about Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and see many of the sites featured in Harry Potter, including the Divinity School of Bodleian Library. Afterwards, explore Christ Church College, where many Harry Potter scenes were filmed, on a self-guided audio tour, with guaranteed entry and up to £30 in included entry fees.

This is the essential tour for Harry Potter fans. Spend the afternoon discovering Oxford sites from the Harry Potter movies, including the Divinity School inside the Bodleian Library, and learn behind-the-scenes secrets about the actors and J. K. Rowling. Afterwards, explore Christ Church College, which inspired Hogwarts' Great Hall, on a self-guided tour with guaranteed entry included up to £30 per person.

Many of Oxford’s “Inspector Morse” filming locations sit within the city’s colleges and are easy to pass without realizing. Walk with a private guide to landmarks such as Exeter College, the Sheldonian Theatre, and Oxford Covered Market, hearing how they appeared on screen. Entry to one of Wadham, St. John’s, Exeter, or Balliol College is included, subject to opening.

Discover Hogwarts on a Harry Potter tour, visiting film sites from the Philosophers Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. Enter into New Colleges Cloisters, Dining Hall, Gardens and Chapel.

Explore the enchanting world of Oxford, where history meets magic. This private walking tour invites you to uncover the university's storied past while visiting iconic locations that inspired the Harry Potter films. Delight in tales of medieval power struggles, view magnificent college architecture, and step into the breathtaking Christ Church College, the inspiration for Hogwarts. You'll also discover the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library, and the picturesque Bridge of Sighs. With informative insights and a cozy break at the Covered Market, this tour is ideal for families, film enthusiasts, and anyone eager to experience Oxford’s rich culture and its Hogwarts connection. - 3-hour private walking tour of Oxford’s historical and magical sites - Visit famous landmarks of Oxford - Learn fascinating stories tied to Harry Potter and the university's history - Perfect for families and first-time visitors wanting a unique perspective

On this self-guided walking tour, you'll uncover centuries of executions, riots, and murders that shaped this seemingly genteel city. You'll also hear how religious persecution, medieval street violence, and courtroom curses left their mark on streets still walked today. The tour starts close to where three Protestant bishops – Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer – were burned at the stake on the orders of Queen Mary I. You'll pass the History of Science Museum, now on the site of the world's first public museum, where fresh corpses from the town gallows were once delivered for dissection. Winding through Brasenose Lane and along Cornmarket Street, you'll hear about a fatal midnight brawl between tailors and drapers, the city's extraordinary medieval murder rate, and the 1355 St Scholastica's Day Riot, which lasted three days and left dozens dead. The tour ends at Oxford Castle, where a condemned servant named Anne Greene was hanged in 1650 – and somehow survived.

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.