City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Oxford, England
- 40 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Enjoy open-top views as you move effortlessly between attractions
- Set your own sightseeing schedule, hopping on and off at any stops you choose
- Benefit from onboard commentary and gain context you'd miss if exploring on your own
- Cover more ground than you would on foot as you travel by bus
What's Included
- 24 or 48-hour bus pass
- 60-minute Oxford Uncovered Walking Tour
- On-board audio commentary available 14 languages + free headphones
- Vouchers are valid for 12 months from travel date selected at check-out
- Mobile tickets accepted
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Operating hours
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Itinerary
With your 24- or 48-hour ticket, see the best of the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ by bus, with onboard audio commentary offering fascinating snippets of local history. Hop aboard the bus at any of the route’s stops (full itinerary listed below) and enjoy the flexibility of choosing your own itinerary, pace and tour duration.
Grab a comfortable seat in either the indoor or open-air seating section and take in the sights along the route. Feel free to stay on for the entire loop, or hop off at any stop to see one of Oxford’s historical or cultural landmarks—buses depart regularly.
Between stops, explore the city’s local color and soak up the rich character of this celebrated hub of global education. To end your tour, disembark at any stop along the route, any time you like.
Grab a comfortable seat in either the indoor or open-air seating section and take in the sights along the route. Feel free to stay on for the entire loop, or hop off at any stop to see one of Oxford’s historical or cultural landmarks—buses depart regularly.
Between stops, explore the city’s local color and soak up the rich character of this celebrated hub of global education. To end your tour, disembark at any stop along the route, any time you like.
Historic City & University Route
18 Stops
16 Points of Interest
Duration: 40 minutes
Operating Schedule: Until 17th July: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 6pm. Frequency: every 15 minutes. 18th July - 1st September: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 6:30pm. Frequency: every 15 minutes. 2nd September - 23rd October: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 5pm. Frequency: every 15 minutes (Saturday & Sunday), every 20 minutes (Monday - Friday). 24th October - 1st November: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 5pm. Frequency: every 20 minutes
1
Oxford
2
Park End Street
3
Gloucester Green
4
Oxford Castle & Prison
5
Westgate Shopping Centre
6
Speedwell Street
7
St Aldates (Stop G2)
8
24 High St
9
The Queen's College
10
St.Cross Road
11
South Parks Road
12
Wadham College
13
53 Broad St
14
Parks Road
15
Park Town
16
Plantation Road
17
St Giles Church
18
Martyrs' Memorial
Points of interest passed by on this route
Christ Church
Brasenose College
Sheldonian Theatre
Queen's College
Trinity College
City Sightseeing Oxford
Oxford Castle & Prison
Westgate Oxford
Oxford Playhouse
Bodleian Library
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
Pitt Rivers Museum
Carfax Tower
Arts at the Old Fire Station
Oxford Town Hall
Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Until 17th July: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 6pm. Frequency: every 15 minutes
- 18th July - 1st September: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 6:30pm. Frequency: every 15 minutes
- 2nd September - 23rd October: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 5pm. Frequency: every 15 minutes (Saturday & Sunday), every 20 minutes (Monday - Friday)
- 24th October - 1st November: First departure from Stop 1 at 9:30am. Last departure from Stop 1 at 5pm. Frequency: every 20 minutes
- Duration: 40 minutes
- Live Guided Bus Tour: Departs from Stop 9. Departure Times: 10:55am, 11:55am, 12:55pm, 1:55pm, 2:55pm and 3:55pm. Last tour concludes at approximately 4:55pm at Stop 9
- Oxford Uncovered Walking Tour: Duration: 60 minutes. Departure Point: Visitor Information Point, City Sightseeing Oxford, 44-45 High Street, OX1 4AP. Schedule: Daily, every hour from 11am - 4pm (subject to availability)
- Please note that the guided walking tour is seasonal, and customers should enquire upon arrival for more information.
- Mobile or paper vouchers accepted. Paper vouchers must be redeemed at City Sightseeing shop in Oxford Railway Station.
- Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the travel date selected at check-out
- Sunday 10th May - Town and Gown Run: Our buses will operate Stops 1 - 9 only until approximately 12pm. After this, the tour is expected to run to normal service (every 15 minutes with all 18 stops in service). The timings may vary slightly depending on when the run closes
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 1,096 reviews
Michael_C, Apr 2026
It is narrated by a real person which makes the experience much better. It is not a recording. The tour was only an hour and a half which was perfect.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Dear Michael,
Thank you very much for sharing your feedback with us.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience on our Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off tour. It is especially great to know that you appreciated the live narration, as we believe it adds a more personal and engaging touch to the journey.
We are also pleased that you found the duration of the tour ideal for your visit.
Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you on board in the future.
Kind regards,
City Sightseeing Team
Darla_S, Mar 2026
This was by far the best narrated tour I have been on for a hop on hop off. My husband and I have been very fortunate to have travel extensively as we always take the hop-on-hop offs to get familiar with the cities.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hello Darla,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your City Sightseeing Oxford tour was the best narrated Hop-On Hop-Off experience you’ve had. It’s fantastic that you and your husband enjoy exploring cities this way, and we’re delighted we could make your visit to Oxford so enjoyable.
We look forward to welcoming you again for another memorable City Sightseeing adventure!
Warm regards,
City Sightseeing Oxford Team
Larisa_B, Jan 2026
I booked a sightseeing tour in Oxford a couple of days ago. The weather wasn’t great—cold and windy—but at least it stayed dry. I decided to join the included walking tour, and it ended up being just two of us plus our guide, Lesley. She walked us through the old town, sharing stories and answering all our questions. She even gave us great advice on what to see since we were short on time. Thank you, Lesley! I highly recommend this walking tour.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much Larisa for taking the time to share your experience with us.
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the walking tour despite the chilly weather; and especially that Lesley made it such a memorable visit. Her knowledge, friendliness, and willingness to tailor the tour and offer helpful tips truly make a difference, particularly when time is limited.
Thank you for recommending the walking tour and for choosing City Sightseeing Oxford. We hope to welcome you again on a sunnier day!
Julie_T, Jan 2026
Dress warmly. Great experience. So much to see, I went round twice. Make sure to have your phone / caamera bettery full! Highly recommended tour.
Elena_E, Nov 2025
This hop on bus is the easiest way to visit Oxford in a short period of time, the guide is very knowledgeable and includes some fun facts and jokes. After you can decide where to stop. I highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much Elena!
We’re delighted to hear that our hop-on hop-off tour helped you make the most of your time in Oxford. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the guide’s knowledge and the fun facts and jokes too!
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board on your next visit.
Doreen_P, Oct 2025
Martin did a wonderful job showing us all the sides in the area. He took us to. He’s very knowledgeable and friendly.
Dennis_B, Oct 2025
Sit on upper deck. Foot traffic will be very crowded on all of the streets. Use the audio earplugs provided or you will miss the audio completely.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you for sharing your tips! We appreciate your advice about sitting on the upper deck and using the provided audio earplugs to fully enjoy the commentary.
We’re glad you shared this helpful information for future passengers!
Neil_M, Oct 2025
Excellent commentary through headphones, gave a really good overview of Oxford. We travelled on the top, in the open section, very nice. The operator told us where to get off for lunch and we found a very nice pub (Ploughman’s Inn) to eat. Overall a great way to see Ixford when you only have a little time.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your opinion with us.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering Oxford aboard our service. It’s wonderful that the commentary through the headphones gave you a great overview, that you enjoyed traveling on the open top deck, and that our operator’s advice helped you find a nice pub for lunch. We’re glad the tour provided a great way to see Oxford even with limited time.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again very soon in one of our more than 100 destinations.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing!
Best regards,
Quality Department
Ken_D, Sep 2025
Our guide Martin was wonderful. He was so knowledgeable and funny, we enjoyed hearing his descriptions and history explanations!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your opinion with us.
We are delighted to hear that Martin made your tour so enjoyable with his knowledge and sense of humor. It’s wonderful to know that you appreciated his descriptions and explanations of the city’s history.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again very soon in one of our more than 100 destinations around the world.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing!
Best regards,
Quality Department
James_S, Sep 2025
If you arrive by train, right outside the terminal is the 1st stop for the hop on hop off, HOHO. The commentary was very informative, the views give you a very good idea of what's around. The drivers are very good at the driving skills.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your opinion with us.
We are delighted to hear that you found our hop-on hop-off service convenient and informative, and that the views helped you get a great sense of the surroundings. It’s also wonderful to know that you appreciated the skill of our drivers.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again very soon in one of our more than 100 destinations around the world.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing!
Best regards,
Quality Department
Sheri_R, Sep 2025
Easy and enjoyable trip around Oxford, it helps you get your bearings and to see so much in a short time.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear customer,
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you found the trip around Oxford easy and enjoyable. It’s wonderful to know that the tour helped you get your bearings and explore so much in a short time.
We hope to welcome you on board again soon for more great sightseeing experiences!
Best regards,
The City Sightseeing Team
Stephen_E, Aug 2025
A great way to enjoy and learn about the city of Oxford. Friendly bus drivers & excellent information through the provided headset. Being able to get on & off enables further exploration of places of personal interest.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed learning about Oxford and appreciated the friendliness of our drivers and the informative headset. It’s great to hear that the hop-on, hop-off option helped you explore the city at your own pace. We look forward to welcoming you again soon!
Jayne_d, Jul 2025
A good way of getting your bearings in this city , bus service was frequent , drivers were friendly and helpful but the highlight for me was the walking tour , our guide was very knowledgeable, helpful and it was well worth doing .
Karen_W, Jun 2025
Great driver. You get a concise overview of Oxford that is so helpful. Easy on/off the coach and finding of stops. I would recommend this experience.
Edward_W, May 2025
It was ok , nothing special, good driver and very punctual and quick, i think the thing most disliked was the live commentaries with local guides, I traveled with Spanish friends and hard to hear the earphones with s commentator speaking in English, the ear phones have english so not sure why live commentators needed and certainly not help others listening to headphones who have no English and hearing the live commentators
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear Customer,
We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
At City Sightseeing, our mission is to ensure that every passenger enjoys a comfortable and pleasant sightseeing experience. We regret any inconvenience you may have faced during your tour.
Your feedback is crucial as it helps us to continually improve our services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all our passengers have a satisfactory experience while exploring the city.
We look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you back on board in the future, where you can experience the improvements we have made based on your suggestions.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing and for providing your valuable feedback.
Best regards,
Quality Department
Staci_A, May 2025
This is a great way to see any new place and learn some interesting history. We do these tours in every city we visit as a good base overview. Nice to have it available in so many locations.
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear Sir,
We would like to thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. At City Sightseeing, our main goal is to ensure that every customer enjoys exceptional service.
It gives us great satisfaction to know that our team lived up to your expectations. Your comments about your service are very valuable to us and reflect the commitment we have to each traveller.
The effort and dedication of our staff is fundamental to create unforgettable moments in every destination.
We look forward to welcoming you again in any of the more than 100 cities in which we operate.
Yours sincerely,
Quality Department
martavisu, Apr 2025
Excellent knowledgeable guides, new buses, good drivers. We were lucky to have sunny weather too, but even when it rains it is ok
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your opinion with us.
We are glad to hear that you were able to experience the fun of discovering a new city aboard our service. We are pleased to hear that you found our service excellent and that you enjoyed your visit to the city.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again very soon in one of our more than 100 destinations.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing!
Best regards,
Quality Department
Diana_R, Nov 2024
Great tour content and route. Enjoyed flexibility of hop on and off tour. Would highly recommend to all ages
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear Diana,
We sincerely appreciate your assessment. At City Sightseeing we continuously strive to provide excellent service to our clients.
We are pleased to know that our colleagues were at your disposal to help you, and we appreciate the kind feedback you have given us about them.
Without a doubt, our staff is a fundamental key to the company to be able to offer the best possible service.
We look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you again soon on board our services at any City Sightseeing destinations.
Best regards,
Quality Department
Merle_N, Nov 2024
It was a rainy day but there were patches of sunlight and we got to see Oxford, walk around, and see this colorful town had a good time!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear Merie,
We sincerely appreciate your assessment. We are pleased to know that you enjoyed our tour of Oxford and were able to discover the main monuments from a unique perspective.
We are also happy to know that thanks to our Hop On-Hop Off system you were able to plan your visit and enjoy everything the city has to offer.
We look forward to welcoming you back soon on board our buses in one of our more than 100 destinations around the world.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing.
Best regards,
Quality Department
Alexander_T, Oct 2024
Not the longest of HOHO routes but provides easy access to the usual Oxford highlights. Clean bus and friendly staff though audio at times not well synced to actual location
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us.
We are happy to hear that you were able to experience how much fun it is to discover a new city from the top of one of our red buses.
We look forward to welcoming you again very soon.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing.
Receive a cordial greeting,
Lawana_B, Sep 2024
An informative tour. Recommend getting there early. Several stops along the way made the city easily accessible for those who do not wish to walk too much. I recommend this tour and the auditory ear plugs offer several universal languages if English is your second language.
David_T, Sep 2024
Good route although you don't see the bridge of sighs or the library. The bus driver was friendly but the audio guide cut off many times through the route and then restarted later. Overall worthwhile though.
Graham_F, Aug 2024
This tour of Oxford from an open top bus is brought to life by an interesting audio commentary. The ability to hop on and hop off over a two day period was very useful for visiting the major attractions. The drivers are all polite, friendly and helpful.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Dear Sir,
We sincerely appreciate your assessment. At City Sightseeing we continuously strive to provide excellent service to our clients.
We are pleased to know that our colleagues were at your disposal to help you and we appreciate the kind feedback you have given us about them.
Without a doubt, our staff is a fundamental key in the company to be able to offer the best possible service.
We look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you back soon on board our services in Toledo or any other City Sightseeing destination.
Best regards,
Quality Department
Jill_D, Aug 2024
Always find these tours useful for first time visits. Had 48 hour pass. Historic information was excellent, drivers were friendly and helpful. Used it several times over two days .
Sharon_S, Aug 2024
Very friendly drivers and enjoyable commentary learnt a lot about the history of Oxford very informative
Prasad_H, Jul 2024
The Hop on Hop off Bus is conveniently located in front of the Railway Station. Busses are a Convenient way to see the City of Oxford in this Gloomy Weather.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Dear customer,
Thank you very much for sharing your comments with the Viator community.
We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed our tour. We look forward to seeing you again in any of our 100+ destinations.
Best regards,
Customer Service Agent.
Frank_B, Jul 2024
We arrived in the late afternoon and our driver was very personable and the female tour guide and on tape tour guides were very informative - Oxford was great!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Dear customer,
We sincerely appreciate your assessment. At City Sightseeing we continuously strive to provide excellent service to our clients.
We are pleased to know that our colleagues were at your disposal to help you and we appreciate the kind feedback you have given us about them.
Without a doubt, our staff is a fundamental key in the company to be able to offer the best possible service.
We look forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you again soon on board our services in Oxford or at any other City Sightseeing destination.
Best regards,
Quality Department
William_S, Jul 2024
Audio commentary was very good. Quick way to get a view of all the city and colleges. Bus was comfortable and pleasant to ride in.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Dear customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us.
We are happy to hear that you were able to experience how much fun it is to discover a new city from the top of one of our red buses. We are pleased to hear that you found our service excellent and that you enjoyed your visit to the city.
We look forward to welcoming you again very soon in Oxford or in one of our more than 100 destinations.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing.
Receive a cordial greeting,
Quality Department
Aileen_M, Jun 2024
Definitely the best way to see oxford. Great view of the buildings from the top deck. Good comentry. Did hop on and off at different stops, even though Oxford is small and accessible it's great for getting your bearings. Also the smell of the trees etc was lovely.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear customer,
We sincerely appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us.
We are happy to hear that you were able to experience how much fun it is to discover a new city from the top of one of our red buses. We are pleased to hear that you found our service excellent and that you enjoyed your visit to the city.
We look forward to welcoming you again very soon in Seville or in one of our more than 100 destinations.
Thank you for choosing City Sightseeing.
Receive a cordial greeting,
Quality Department
Ashish_S, May 2024
Best way to travel… Take a view and mental map of what you want to cover and then just sail thru whatever you want to see… we enjoyed the whole day and loved the fact that we ran out of time
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Ashish,
hat sounds like an amazing way to travel!
You highlighted the beauty of having a flexible plan and the joy of discovery. This approach allows you to prioritize what interests you most and explore at your own pace.
Thank you so much for your feedback!
From $26.87
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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