The Inklings Oxford Writers Tour - Private Groups Daily
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Our tour includes entry into CS Lewis's college called Magdalen college worth £10 per person, as and when open. See published dates below that Magdalen is closed. On such dates, we visit an alternative college- unless it's a graduation date or over Christmas vacation period mentioned also below, when most colleges closed.
This tour focuses on the Inklings' Oxford but also introduces the city history + university life. See inspiring sights relating to CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien on an average 2.5 hour plus tour of the sights where they worked & relaxed, including the pubs they enjoyed. Locations visited include Magdalen college.
Various start times are offered by time of year.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
While children are welcome, this tour is not aimed at children's attention span or interests
What To Expect
Exeter College
Only on dates when Magdalen is closed, do we instead only visit inside Exeter college with £5 entry ticket included. This is where JRR Tolkien studied. JK Rowling is also an honorary fellow of this college.
Magdalen College
Entry worth £10 per person is included in the tour. This is where CS Lewis taught & it has a beautiful deer park with deer. If this college is not open, then instead we'll visit Merton college, where JRR Tolkien taught or Exeter college, where Tolkien studied.
Options
Inklings tours private
Inklings tours
What‘s Included
Tour is led by award winning guides with hundreds of existing 5 star ratings for this tour!
On any dates, when Magdalen is closed, entry replaced to an alternative college except Xmas dates
Entry to Magdalen college worth £10 per adult included in ticket price
On any other new dates when Magdalen college is closed, we will always forewarn you here....
Magdalen is closed every year during Christmas typically from December 22 to 31
On dates outside Christmas or outside university graduation dates, we visit an alternative college
Magdalen 2026 closures includes Feb 24 and June 26, 27, 28 and Sep 25 and Oct 24
Magdalen college will be open from 10am to 1pm only on Thursday September 24th 2026
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
112 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Tom was very...
Amy R,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Tom was very knowledgeable! Magdalen College was our favorite part of the tour. Tom was very good about asking us if we had any questions.
GOOD tour not great tour
Vicky D,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00We truly enjoyed walking the campuses, seeing buildings, interesting details & histories of Oxford, and going inside some chapels and other places. We learned some tidbits of insight into influences on Tolkien and Lewis and saw some of their haunts. I suppose I thought I would be regaled with more lore of the Inklings and even get to pause at a site or two for a fun story. Our guide was good. Nothing wrong. Just not special.
Inkling Tour
Sam G,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We loved the our tour. We loved our tour guide. Very polite and knowledgeable. He was prompt, helpful and answered all our questions.
Our tour guide never...
Lorien C,May 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Our tour guide never showed up and the provider had to refund our money. Because we had not prebooked entrance to the spots that were included in the tour, many were sold out and we could not even visit them on our own. Extremely disappointed.
Great tour!
Kimberly C,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Michael was amazing!!! So knowledgeable and accommodating!!! Learned so much! Definitely would recommend.
We hit all the major aspects of the Inklings with fantastic commentary.
Dos-Hermanos17,Mar 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Michiel was a fantastic tour guide! He brought to life Tolkien and Lewis throughout the tour with incredible stories and detail that made us wanted to stay longer than we could. I highly recommend this tour and would do it again on a return trip.
Excellent experience!...
Naomi P,Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent experience! Loved seeing a variety of locations in Oxford while talking about CS Lewis, Tolkien, and others.
Exceptional
Levi L,Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Learned a ton, very inspiring tour especially Magdalene college addison’s walk. We focused mostly on Lewis because we had a train to catch and compressed the tour to two hours but it flew by and wished it lasted 2x as long. Ray was fantastic. Excited by the material and enjoyable to talk to.
Great tour!
Lauren T,Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My dad is visiting from the US and it was a big deal for him to go to Oxford and learn more about CS Lewis. George was a terrific guide who was able to keep it interesting for my dad and for me (with almost zero knowledge of Lewis).
Michiel was personable,...
Mark D,Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Michiel was personable, highly informed and tailored the tour to our background and interests. Highly recommended.
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Operated by Visit Oxford Tours