Private Tour
Welcome to Oxford: 2hr private Oxford walking tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
This magical walking tour is led by an award-winning Green Badge tour guide. It will introduce you to the extraordinary history and people who've shaped our city of dreaming spires. From Alice in Wonderland to JRR Tolkien, Oxford has inspired many timeless stories. But its real history is just as fascinating, and often just as strange…
As we walk around Oxford's famous buildings and explore its world-renowned university and colleges this glorious city will reveal its secrets to you.
This is a great tour if you only have a short time in Oxford or are visiting for the first time. I can tailor it to your interests so let me know if you are particularly interested in Harry Potter, Tolkien, CS Lewis, Morse, Alice in Wonderland etc. If you want to visit a specific college or the Divinity School you will have to pay an extra entrance fee - we can discuss the options when you book.
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Entrance to Divinity School (£2.50) and some colleges (£2-£9.50)
What To Expect
St. Michael At The North Gate
We will visit the oldest building in Oxford: the Saxon tower at St Michael's at the North Gate, and learn about how medieval Oxford developed long before the University emerged.
Broad Street
We will visit picturesque Broad Street, where bishops were burned, medieval colleges were founded and the largest room in the world selling books can be found.
Options
Welcome to Oxford: 2hr private Oxford walking tour
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fascinating and original walking tour of Oxfords Radicals- highly recommend
JStrachan2014,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This 'Rebels and Radicals' was an excellent, fascinating and original tour of Oxford sites which Jess conducted with verve and humour. We visited some interesting places around the centre of town associated with rebellious people over the history of the town starting back in the 14 century all the way to the present day. Jess was ready to answer questions and tell more stories if asked! Would highly recommend this for a group for a different, fun and thought provoking perspective on the history of Oxford, for locals and visitors.
Brilliant, inspiring and consummately well-researched
Guide650261,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I joined a small group on Jess' brilliant Rebels and Radicals tour. Jess was absolutely fantastic. She told us all sorts of fascinating information about riots, rebellions, uprisings, many inspiring heroes (and at least one villain). I'm now hoping I'll remember her amazing stories to impress my friends! I would whole-heartedly recommend Jess - she's so articulate and well prepared, and I'd love to go on another tour with her. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Brilliant bespoke tour for new Oxford University Research Students
chemical girl,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thanks so much for helping to welcome our students to Oxford. We had a new group of science DPhil students, some had lived in Oxford for years, some were new to the city (and UK). It was such a well thought out tour making sure all students were included. There were lots of new stories I hadn't heard before and it was so well tailored to the interests of their course. I really enjoyed it and learned loads. Jess is BRILLIANT
Excellent, fun and engaging tour
J5655KOtobiasb,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely excellent tour. I'd lived in Oxford for 4 years and learnt many new and interesting facts! Really lovely!!!
A remarkably good guide
AlisonR55,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We (13 lucky partners of conference delegates) enjoyed a brilliant walking tour by Jess on a damp and windy morning. For most, English was not the first language, so Jess spoke carefully and clearly and kept us all engaged and entertained. We really couldn’t have asked for better, so would thoroughly recommend her. Her timing was also impressive, returning us on the dot to where we needed to be, having managed to cram in all the Oxford highlights. Well done, Jess and thank you.
Oxford tour
Stacy B,
Jun 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Jess was an incredible guide. She communicated well prior to our tour and went above and beyond. It was informative and fun. We would highly recommend her to anyone.
A truly exceptional guide!
Longviewer1,
Apr 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I can't recommend Jess highly enough. I met her when I took one of the regular literary tours offered by the Oxford Bodleian Library, and I was so impressed by her guiding that I hired her as a private guide. I'm very glad I did! I told her my interests--some of them out-of-the-way--and she designed the perfect tour for me. It was totally engaging: tailored to my interests, but also with stops that were a delightful surprise. And she was great company throughout--warm, funny, and deeply knowledgeable. (I don't think I asked a single question she couldn't answer.) She gives great group tours through the Bodleian--but, if you can possibly manage it, do arrange a tour with her around your particular interests. Jess is really exceptional!
Fascinating
600hazeld,
Mar 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was brilliant. Jess is so knowledgeable and has fascinating stories about the alternative Oxford. Loved the town and gown contrast over time and the riots.
Great private tour for two hours that gave us a great insight.
pandtReading,
Mar 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jess was very engaging, full of facts and tailored to our needs. We really enjoyed the tour and the history was well presented and made interesting. Punctual and adapted the tour to fit the graduation that was happening on the day of our visit. Good communication and presentation.
Great tour in Oxford by Jess would recommend it very much!
Robert L,
Jul 1, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Jess made our tour to our demand. She’s very friendly and knowledgeable about Oxford and has stories that are not in the tourist books. So we enjoyed it very much!
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