A Guide to the City of Dreaming Spires: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Oxford
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
This leisurely walking tour takes you around the beautiful city where you'll hear the stories behind the spires.
Carfax Tower
This easy stroll takes you from Carfax Tower, around the historical city centre where the majority of the colleges are situated, to finish on Magdalen Street next to the Martyrs’ Memorial.
Options
A Guide to the City of Dreaming Spires: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Oxford
What‘s Included
Lifetime access to this tour in English
VoiceMap app for Android and iOS
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
4 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Well organized with great content and a good value!
Robert T,Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My wife and I travel half the year and frequently hire both guided and self-guided tours in all price ranges. This was our 3rd self-guided audio tour, but it thoroughly impressed us both. It raises the bar on quality. We loved the ability to book at the last minute, walk at our own pace, take breaks when we wanted, use our favorite wireless ear buds and the cost is a great value. The tour was laid out efficiently with no backtracking and well narrated. Walk to a geofenced location and the narration picks up right on queue and then sends you to the next location. We loved the VoiceMap technology and the great content. We can highly recommend and will start looking for more like this in the future!
Potentially good option. Technology is poor and not recommended.
Lautaro d,Jun 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00I didnt like it. The audio contents are good. The map has poor technology. We were following the recommended route. A road was closed. We had to skip several stops and walked around to the nearest location. I couldnt get the audio to work. The map is terrible. It would be ideal if it could use Apple´s Maps or Google Maps. The map of the application is terrible.
Guided tour by Chris Lochran (City Sightseeing Oxford)
Al Z,Sep 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very knowledgeable and spokey Guide who does like to talk. Has a lot of knowledge and is also willing to answer questions. Just sticking a little close to what he talks not very loud. He is value for money because he does not pay attention to the time and takes the time for explanations and photos. Highly recommended.
Fantastic tour of an ancient city
Kathryn W,Feb 2, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00My tour guide Angelica was great! She took us inside Trinity College and told us all about Oxford life as a student.
Related Experiences
Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours