1.5-hour Oxford City and University Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Short on time but want to make the most of your visit to Oxford? Our City and University Tour is the perfect 90-minute introduction to the iconic city and its world-famous university. Designed for first-time visitors or those wanting a good overview of the history and main sights, this guided walking tour covers all the key central landmarks, stories, and highlights that make Oxford so unique.
Led by an expert local guide, the tour takes you through Oxford’s historic heart — from the grandeur of the Bodleian Library and the Sheldonian Theatre to the iconic Radcliffe Camera and picturesque college quadrangles. Along the way, you'll learn about the University of Oxford's rich history, traditions, and quirky customs, as well as the city’s role in everything from royal intrigue to scientific discovery.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Up to a mile (1½km) of walking is involved in total
Dress suitably for the weather
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
Wheelchair accessibility: some parts of the tour may involve stairs where, due to the age of the buildings, there is no wheelchair access. There are also some uneven surfaces and curbs. If assistance is required, passenger must provide their own carer
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Oxford Walking Tours
Your tour will begin at the blue gates of Trinity College and take you into some of the oldest colleges, usually including New College, which was founded in 1379 and made an appearance in the Harry Potter films.
What‘s Included
Local guide
All entrance fees included
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Options
Private Tour
Private tour: Private tours do not include college entry.
Public Walking Tour
Our daily public tour
Option 1
Reviews
1,402 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Jonathan is AMAZING!
Sunny S,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was honestly the best tour and tour guide I have ever had. We has Jonathan as our guide and we were a group of co-workers in Oxford for work and the tour was our social element. Everyone, literally every single person in the group commented on how enjoyable the tour was and how great Johnathan is. His knowledge about the area was fantastic. We had an age range of 26-56 and the people / films / books he talked about, as well as historical figures were relatable to all. I mentioned my daughter was a HP fan and my husband a LOTR fan and he incorporated fun facts throughout the tour. I have told him I will come back with the family as I told them all about how fantastic he is and they are really looking forward to a tour with him too. Highly recommend, you will not be disappointed.
University tour
G7181NLkyleg,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thanks for a great tour, Simon! Knowledgable, engaged and happy to answer questions. We were able to enter some beautiful college buildings, too.
A memorable spring day in beautiful Oxford.
joecM144CV,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An excellent tour which delighted us, especially my step-daughter for whom this was a birthday treat. We all know the city a bit, but the tour took us to new streets and viewpoints. The visit to beautiful Balliol College was a highlight. As the tour was over lunchtime we couldn't go into the dining hall, but Kate, our excellent and knowledgeable guide, gave us the tickets so that we could return later when the hall was open. The unexpected spring sunshine and our friendly and helpful guide added a lot to the experience. 1.5 hours was just the right length for the tour, long enough to see some highlights and short enough to stave off fatigue.
10 out of 10!
maggiebW5508KZ,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour provided insight far beyond the history and landmarks of Oxford. Simon’s depth of knowledge and seamless story telling made the tour engaging and impactful. The experience was far more valuable than it’s modest price.
Great tour with Simon!
O8385KM ,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simon was a great tour guide: his knowledge of the town, history and all specifics of the city were astonishing! We saw libraries, churches and witnesses graduation from Oxford!
A great walking tour!
TrailBlazer798093,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simon was a very informative and friendly tour guide. It was a great walking tour, we recommended.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
beatrizmU5675QM,Feb 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We loved the visit! Simon was our guide and he was lovely guy. Super friendly and very informative. Portugal xxx
Dan is the best to ever do it!
pavloc73,Feb 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Dan is an incredible guide, very funny and made our tour a start into wanting to know more about this university, town and country.
Great introductory tour of Oxford with a very knowledgeable and engaging guide
StanOP,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Simon was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. We really enjoyed the tour. At times he did use some terminology that was rather more British, which wasn’t very easy to comprehend for one of us. He recommended a lot of interesting activities in the city, but at the same time we wished he would tell more stories about the city and the colleges.
Great walking tour.
VarunB007,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simon was brilliant. His information, insights and opinions were very interesting and informative.
From £27.50
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Oxford Walking Tours