Oxford University: Tours and Guided Visits

The “city of dreaming spires,” coined by Victorian poet Matthew Arnold, is a fitting moniker for Oxford, England. The namesake university has helped nurture the dreams of some of the world’s most influential and powerful thinkers. However, the world’s second-oldest university is so much more than a place of learning.

Oxford University, the prestigious incubator of creative thought, has fed the minds of countless famed writers, scientists, theologians and politicians. It’s also brimming with ancient buildings, tranquil green spaces and esoteric traditions that make an Oxford University tour much more than you’d expect.

Here's all you need to know about Oxford University, one of the most captivating opportunities for sightseeing in Oxford.

What are the best Oxford University tours?

Oxford University audio tours

Perfect for budget-minded and independent travelers, you can download guided tours to your phone for just a little more than the cost of a pint of lager. Choose between a fully-independent app-guided tour, or opt for a download that tracks live tours that you can join and leave on a whim.

Student- or alumni-guided Oxford University tours

Who better to show you the inner workings and hidden histories of Oxford University than a “gownie?” Follow a current student or a grad on a walking tour in Oxford and visit the vast campus’s nearly 40 colleges, bustling quadrangles, verdant gardens and ancient churches.

Discover the university’s idiosyncrasies that are best explained by a person who’s experienced them first-hand. Learn why students wear robes and what are the differences among the black garments. Enjoy stories of rivalries among colleges, regularly-occurring formal dinners and wearable superstitions like white ties and color-coded carnations.

Oxford University and City tours

Join this comprehensive Oxford city tour to see more than just the university and explore the surrounding town. The area around Oxford has been populated for thousands of years, from neolithic groups to Saxons to Normans and beyond. The city boasts Saxon towers, stone ramparts and a medieval castle and prison.

The borders between the city proper and the university are blurry. There is overlap between the world of the “townies” and “gownies” in spaces like Broad Street, home of Trinity College and the starting point of most tours. While taking in the best of the university, also catch city sites like the Martyrs’ Memorial, Oxford Castle and Carfax Tower.

Oxford University punting tours

With two rivers coursing through Oxford, it’s inevitable that a boating tradition has developed over the centuries. Both punting and riverboat tours in Oxford offer you a peaceful glide past the city and university’s highlights. Riverboats are electric, and punts are human-powered, making both kinds of excursion quiet and relaxing.

Your captain or punter is also a guide who will fill you in on the background of each place you pass. You’ll be privy to history, wildlife, student activity and lesser-known facts about the city and university.

Oxford University walking and bike tours

Not only can you cover more ground on a bike, it’s also more fun! Join a guided bike tour of Oxford's city and university highlights that gives you the chance to dismount and explore. Your Oxford-grad guide will lead you to places like Magdalen College, the Blavatnik Center and structures dating to Saxon times. You’ll even get to enter the Bodleian Library, connected to Radcliffe Camera.

Private tours of Oxford University

If you have specific tastes or needs, personalized private tours are the best way to see the university’s highlights. Whether you need a tour in a language other than English, you’re a prospective student or a Tolkien fan, private tours can be customized to meet your desires.

Some private walking tours allow the opportunity to add on a visit to Christ Church College. There are also private punting tours. For aspiring Oxonians, book a private tour filled with tips and info to prepare you for to be admitted and then thrive at this elite educational institute.

Which places are visited?

College exteriors

With 39 colleges on Oxford’s campus, narrowing down which ones to include on a tour can be daunting. Take in some of the best-known corners of the university, chosen for their age, traditions or famous alumni.

Most colleges charge separate entrance fees to tour the interiors, but many tours offer a chance to go inside one or two colleges. In addition to entry fees, schools are subject to closure at any time due to the university’s schedule.

Authors’ haunts

Walking the well-trodden streets and quadrangles of Oxford, it’s not hard to imagine how some of the English language’s best authors found inspiration here. Classics like “Alice in Wonderland,” the Lord of the Rings and Narnia series got their start right here. Oscar Wilde, Percy Shelley and T.S. Elliot also cut their literary teeth here.

Filming locales

Scores of movies and television shows have borrowed points on Oxford’s campus for backdrops. The Divinity School, New College, Radcliffe Square and Bodleian Library have all made cameos in a variety of films, from the “Harry Potter” series and “X-Men:First Class”, to the C.S. Lewis biopic “Shadowlands”  and the “Bridge of Sighs”.

Harry Potter tours in Oxford are a must for visiting Potterheads of all ages! See how the Bodleian Library transformed into Hogwarts’ Infirmary and peer at Christ Church College dining hall, which inspired the set of the Hall of Hogwarts. New College is peppered with “Harry Potter” filming locations, from the cloisters featured in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” to the tree where Malfoy is turned into a ferret by Mad-Eye Moody.

Other spots are popular enough to have made their way into multiple television series and films. Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour tours in Oxford will take you to many iconic locations, from Exeter College to the Randolph Hotel.

Waterways

The Thames River is best known as the busy tidal artery that cuts London in half. In reality, this major watercourse runs nearly the width of England, from near the Welsh border to Mulberry Harbor on the North Sea. Its grandiose proportions are hard to believe, judging by its placid stretches through Oxford.

The Thames takes on the name of “The Isis” as it winds through the city and university. A tour by electric boat is a calming way to see the sites without the crowds. Although you won’t enter any of the buildings or wander college grounds, you’ll gain an understanding of the university’s boating traditions.

The shallow waters of the River Cherwell are ideal for cruising on a punt. Originally used for fishing, punts are now mainly associated with recreation on rivers near Oxford and Cambridge. Learn about your surroundings as your guide propels you by a pole that pushes you forward from the river bottom.

City center

The city of Oxford has been “official” for well over 1,000 years. The illustrious town is studded with architecture dating from Saxon times all the way to the 21st century. Spy the city walls and castle, Cornmarket Street with its covered market, its bevy of museums and pubs once frequented by fictional and real Oxonians alike.

How much do Oxford University tours cost?

Oxford University audio tours are the most budget-friendly option, costing about £10 per download. Tours by app that follow live guides through the city are £15 per download, and with the app you join existing tours at spots that you choose.

Punting tours on the River Cherwell cost £10 to £20 per person for a 30-minute outing, depending on group size. Thames River cruises cost around £20 each, while combination walking and punting tours are £55 per person.

Group walking university tours led by students or alumni cost £20 to £30 per person, depending on group size, while full-day tours are available for £75 each. Oxford city and university group tours cost around £25 per person for a 2-hour tour.

Biking and walking university combination tours cost £50 per person for a 3-hour tour.

What is included?

All guided Oxford University tours include engaging commentary from a live or pre-recorded guide. Some higher-cost tours include entrance to one or two colleges that are accepting visitors that day. Bike tours of Oxford city and university include all gear needed for a safe ride.

Where does it start?

Most Oxford University walking tours, including biking and walking tours, start at various points on Broad Street. Thames River cruises meet at the Folly Bridge, and punting tours meet at the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse.

How long does it last?

Small-group and private Oxford University walking tours as well as city and university tours last 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Private university tours that include entrance to Christ Church College last 3 hours. There are also longer university tours that last 5 hours.

River cruises typically last 50 minutes, punting outings are 30 minutes, and punting and walking combo tours last 2.5 hours. Biking and walking tours last 3 hours.

Is it wheelchair friendly?

Oxford University tours are advertised as wheelchair friendly, however, it’s advised to travel with a companion to help in places where surfaces are not very smooth. There are some stairways that won’t be accessible for you. Boat and bike tours are generally not wheelchair friendly.

When is the best time for an Oxford University tour?

The best time for an Oxford University tour is typically during spring (April to June) or early autumn (September to October). During these periods the weather is pleasant and the university is in session, providing a more authentic experience of student life. Summer (July to August) can also be appealing, but it's busier with tourists. Avoid exam periods (usually late April to June) when access to colleges may be restricted.

Travel tips

• Oxford involves a lot of walking, often on cobbled streets, so comfortable footwear is essential.
• British weather can be unpredictable. Carry an umbrella and wear layers to adjust to changing conditions.
• While the main colleges like Christ Church and Magdalen are popular, lesser-known colleges also offer unique charm and fewer crowds.
• Remember that Oxford is a working university. Be respectful of students and staff, and observe any restricted areas.