Top Oxford Private Sightseeing Tours

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.

Discover the Pre-Raphaelite movement and artists in Oxford, and see city and university landmarks on this private guided tour. Learn about two prominent artists of the movement, William Morris and Edward Burne Jones. Then explore Exeter College and Oxford Union with included entry when open, before taking in city landmarks on a walking tour.

Enjoy a different way to explore the sights of scholarly Oxford—and pair your sightseeing with a cocktail of your choice—on this evening cruise. Board your boat before the sun sets, and head out onto the calm waters with just your guide and a small group for company. Sip a cocktail or a soft drink as you soak up the views, and spot attractions including Christ Church Meadow.

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.

There is nothing better than spending time in the country. The stunning scenery, including golden fields in the spring, the vibrant rainbow-coloured country gardens in the summer, and the myriad of dark crimsons, yellows, & silvers in the autumn & winter, always take our breath away. Add the gorgeous historic towns & villages made of soft creamy sandstone, many of which regularly top the best places to visit in the Cotswolds & the UK, plus the local wildlife of ducks, geese, bees & even the odd snake, & the fantastic food and you have the perfect refresher to staying in the noisy city. Visiting many of the villages that are annually voted the best places in the Cotswolds, this tour offers you the opportunity to see some of the prettiest parts of Britain with someone who is passionate about the past, loves to eat (and knows the best places to stop for food), and who knows where to take a photo that will make your friends back home jealous of this unique, almost perfect, day out.

Enjoy Oxford’s pubs and illuminated historical sights on this private evening walking tour. With a local guide, delve into twilit streets and visit two or three pubs as you hear urban legends, stories about student antics, and tales of this university town’s past. Discover pubs favored by famous alumni, relax into the sociable atmosphere, and admire the exteriors of well-known colleges on route.

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).

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.

Explore Christchurch, Oxford’s most prestigious college on an ancient site. Harry Potter was filmed, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland were conceived here, and 13 British Prime Ministers educated and famousHarry Potter scenes filmed. Visit the Hall, staircase, medieval cathedral, and more of its architectural marvels. The tour continues with a beautifully curated introduction to Oxford’s architectural and historical highlights, featuring its most iconic sites, offering a concise yet immersive journey through centuries of history and culture. An Institute of Tourist Guiding (ITG) certified guide is one of the few permitted to lead visitors inside Christchurch. You will enjoy an informed and enriching experience. ITG green and blue badge guides meet strict standards of historical knowledge, guiding expertise, and visitor safety. This tour is available in English, French, or both.

Are you looking for a way to see Oxford without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • Discover why Oxford’s time is 5 minutes behind the rest of the country and find out why students are forbidden from jumping into the River Cherwell • Hear from producer Ian Grover, a licensed tour guide who’s produced a number of popular VoiceMap tours • Do it all in 90 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Perfect for history buffs and those looking for a unique gift idea. This tour offers exclusive access to some of the university's oldest colleges, beautiful gardens, and historic chapels.[Enter St Johns and Keble College]This small-group experience, limited to just ten participants, ensures a more personal and engaging atmosphere. This walking tour includes entry to two of the iconic colleges of Oxford University. Discover the unique architecture and philosophy of these storied institutions as you soak up the ambience of this enchanting city. It's a perfect gift for anyone eager to explore the world of academia and enjoy the charm of one of the UK’s most iconic cities.

Spend half a day with an award-winning guide who knows and loves Oxford, to get a thorough overview of its extraordinary history, architecture, and stories. Whether you are interested in the city's ancient origins, the rise of the university, the many fascinating personalities who have studied here, or its famous film locations, this bespoke tour will take you off the beaten track, guide you amongst the dreaming spires, and give you the inside story of this beautiful and eccentric city. You will see inside one of Oxford's most fascinating colleges, including its chapel and dining hall. You will visit the oldest classroom in the world and learn not just about the ancient university but how it works today. And you will hear many stories about the city's famous - and infamous – inhabitants, including its connections with Tolkien, CS Lewis, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and Wonka. The timings include a coffee break and walking times between stops.

Oxford History Tours offer real history for genuine history lovers. 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 student life of today. 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.

Visit Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, in style with this luxury private tour. Travel from Oxford to Blenheim in a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce or Bentley. Spend the morning or afternoon learning about the site from a former history master and enjoy the included morning coffee or afternoon tea. Entry fees not included.

Blenheim Palace is known for being the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and the former home of the Duke of Marlborough. Learn more about this magnificent building by going on a guided tour. A guide enriches the experience with fascinating historical stories about how the palace was built, its most notable features, and entertaining stories such as when the main architect was refused entry.

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 the Great Hall of Hogwarts, on a self-guided tour. Your ticket includes up to £30 in entry fees per person.

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.

Feel like you’ve gone back in time on this 1-hour tour of Oxford Castle. Led by a costumed guide who plays a real-life character from history, you’ll explore the Norman castle’s medieval remains, from the prison to the 900-year-old crypt. Climb up the steps to the top of St. George’s Tower, discover the Debtors’ Tower and the prison’s D-Wing, and make your way to the mound of the 11th-century motte-and-bailey castle.

Learn all about Oxford’s history, architecture, and student culture from a local tour leader who knows about modern life in the city and the university first-hand. Your guide will be a former or current Oxford student, and they can’t wait to show you around the town and its famous university, from Trinity College to Sheldonian Theatre to the Bridge of Sighs, and much more on this private tour.

Visit these two amazing World Heritage sites in one day for a trip to remember - a fascinating journey through 5000 years of English history. Experience the unforgettable atmosphere of Stonehenge. Step inside reconstructed Neolithic houses to see how the builders of this must-see monument lived. Dig deeper into the story of this enigmatic site at the world-class exhibition center. In Bath you can enjoy free time to explore at your leisure. You could visit the world-renowned Roman Baths or stunning Bath Abbey, then grab some lunch at one of the many traditional tearooms or pavement cafes. • Travel in style in our spacious and luxurious vehicles. • Skip the Stonehenge queues with tickets pre-booked and collected by your guide. • Enjoy a private guided tour of Bath.

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.

Explore the lives of two of Oxford's greatest writers, and their friendship, with an award-winning guide. On this tour we will follow in the footsteps of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. We will see where they studied, taught, lived, worshipped, lectured, wrote and - most importantly - drank with their friends the Inklings. Out of these friendships and conversations emerged Aslan, Gandalf and many other much-loved characters and stories. Both men became extremely famous in their lifetimes, but never gave up their day-jobs of teaching in the English department. We will explore CS Lewis's conversion to Christianity and late-life marriage to Joy Gresham, and hear about Tolkien's student pranks and life-long deep love for trees. We will end at the beautiful college of Magdalen, where Lewis taught for nearly 30 years and the Inklings met every Thursday. If you want to go inside it, you will need to pay the entrance fee, which is £9.50 adults/£8.50 concessions.

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.

On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll follow Radiohead’s journey from their schooldays through to global stardom, visiting the venues, pubs, and hidden corners around Oxford that shaped their sound and story. This tour starts at Oxford’s O2 Academy, the spot where Radiohead filmed their iconic Creep music video. You’ll weave through the city’s historic centre, hearing about the complex relationship between Oxford’s most famous band and its world-famous University. You’ll visit venues like the New Theatre Oxford and the Old Fire Station, where Radiohead cut their teeth playing gigs in their early years. I’ll also tell you how Oxford inspired many of Radiohead’s most famous songs. The tour finishes at The Jericho Tavern, a legendary watering hole where Radiohead played their first ever gig and signed their first ever record contract.