Oxford, walked your way
Every tour we run is private. You book the guide, choose the date and the length, and the walk is drawn around what interests you. Tell us who is coming and we will do the rest.
Choose a starting point
Every one of these can be shortened, lengthened or combined. If you are not sure, ask for Discover Oxford and let your guide surprise you.
Discover Oxford — Private City & University Tour
Enjoy a private introduction to Oxford, with the freedom to tailor the stories, pace and focus to your interests.
- Radcliffe Square, the Sheldonian Theatre and the Bridge of Sighs
- The Bodleian Library, the Divinity School and the University Church
Harry Potter in Oxford
Explore real filming locations and magnificent historic interiors connected with the wizarding world.
- New College cloisters and the Divinity School, with a small entry charge on the day
- Pitched for the ages in your party, from young readers upwards
Inspector Morse, Lewis & Endeavour
Follow in the footsteps of Oxford’s famous fictional detectives and discover the real locations behind the much-loved television series.
- Locations from Morse, Lewis and Endeavour across the city centre
- The pubs that appear in the series, the Turf Tavern among them
Photo: Jps3, CC BY-SA 4.0Oxford Colleges & University Life
Discover the traditions, history and daily life of the university, with college visits arranged where available.
- Colleges (Balliol, Trinity, New), architecture, the university and its history
- Inside a college, subject to opening on the day
Oxford and Beyond
Enjoy a private half-day or full-day excursion to Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath or Stonehenge.
- Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon
- Bath and Stonehenge for a longer day
Photo: Adam Hopkinson, CC BY-SA 2.0Tolkien, C. S. Lewis & the Inklings
Discover the Oxford lives, friendships and literary influences behind some of the world’s best-loved imaginative writing.
- The colleges of Lewis, Tolkien, Auden and Golding
- The pubs and meeting places of the Inklings
Alice in Wonderland in Oxford
Explore the Oxford connections behind Lewis Carroll’s extraordinary tale and the curious world of Alice.
- The Christ Church of Lewis Carroll and Alice
- Pitched for the ages in your party, from young readers upwards
Oxford’s Ghosts, Legends & Curious Stories
Uncover atmospheric lanes, ghost stories, eccentric characters and the stranger side of Oxford.
- Ghosts, legends, unusual stories, eccentric characters, hidden curiosities
- Secret places, lesser-known stories, hidden corners, unusual buildings and details
Science, Medicine & Discovery
Explore the scientists, medical pioneers and discoveries that helped change our understanding of the world.
- Boyle, Hooke and the birth of experimental science
- The penicillin story and Oxford's medical pioneers
Oxford’s Architecture & Art
Look beyond the façades to discover Oxford’s architectural styles, artistic details and remarkable craftsmanship.
- Medieval colleges, cloisters and the old city wall
- Wren's Sheldonian, Hawksmoor's All Souls and Gibbs's Radcliffe Camera
Photo: Mike Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0Oxford’s History & People
Explore the people, conflicts and events that shaped Oxford, from its medieval beginnings to the modern city.
- Medieval, Civil War, religious history, political history
- Significant people and events
Bespoke Oxford
Create a tailor-made tour combining the places, themes and experiences that matter most to you.
- Mix and match from what you’ve seen here
- Gardens, natural history, women’s history, LGBTQ+ Oxford, Jewish heritage, politics, religion and music
What private guests have said
Read authentic reviews from people who walked Oxford with us.
Victoria did an absolutely wonderful tour. She personalised everything, and the breadth of her knowledge was amazing. She addressed each of our questions and took us to specific sites for our areas of interest, from the history of the colleges to Inspector Morse and Harry Potter scenes.
Elizabeth Hudson made Oxford a favourite for us! She showed us all the colleges and more. Her knowledge of Oxford and her passion for it shone through. She was kind and beyond informative.
Our guide was just fantastic, so knowledgeable and friendly. We felt like experts by the time the tour had ended. What a wealth of history and stories to cover in a few hours. Such good value.
A guide to yourselves
You want the guide to yourselves
Your guide walks with your party and nobody else. No strangers, no headsets.
You have particular interests
Morse, Tolkien, science, architecture: say so and the route is built around it.
You want the rest of the day sorted
Your guide points you to the right museum, punt station and table for lunch.
Three steps, no forms to fight
- 01
Tell us your date, party and interests
Use the enquiry form or call. A date, the number of people and a line about what you would like to see is enough to start.
- 02
We match you with the right guide
We come back with an accredited guide who suits your interests, a proposed route and the fee. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
- 03
Meet in the city centre and walk
Your guide can meet you wherever you like. Then it is your Oxford for as long as you have booked.
The most common meeting points are the Ashmolean Museum, the Martyrs' Memorial and the train station.
Good to know
LengthUp to two hours, up to four hours, or a full day.
A full day is built around a hand-picked experience. Two hours suits most first visits.
Meeting pointWherever you like.
We can meet wherever you like. The most common meeting points are the Ashmolean Museum, the Martyrs' Memorial and the train station.
LanguagesEnglish as standard, other languages on request.
French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian and other languages are available subject to guide availability, so ask early.
Ready to walk?
Send us your date and we will come back with a guide and a quote, usually the same day.