The best way to see Oxford is on foot - check out our 2013 themed tours programme

1. What better way to Regular Tours
discover our beautiful University and City Tour
city than on foot? This is the most popular introductory tour, taken by
the majority of visitors.The guide will lead you through
Come rain or shine... the best way the heart of the historic city centre, illustrating the
to explore Oxford is on foot. history of Oxford and its University and describing the
architecture and traditions of its most famous buildings
Oxford Official Guided Walking Tours are an enjoyable and institutions. This tour departs daily at 10.45am
and interesting way to explore our beautiful city, its and 1pm (except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day &
history, University, famous people and odd traditions. New Year’s Day) with additional tours at 11am and
We have a wonderful selection of tours. If this is 2pm to meet demand.Tours at 10.45am and 2pm
your first visit to Oxford, we suggest you start with may include the Divinity School except on a Saturday.
the University and City Tour, an excellent Access to the Divinity School is confirmed on Friday for
introduction to Oxford. the following week and tickets are made available then.
If you live locally or have visited before, you may This tour is also available in other
already know a lot about the University and student languages at 1.30pm on the dates below:
Inspector Morse Tour
life. So we invite you to discover more about our In German on Saturday 6th July
fascinating city on one of the Themed Tours. Follow in the footsteps of the city’s celebrated TV
Saturday 10th August detective and his successor, Lewis, created by Oxford
There is a tour for everyone, from In Spanish on Sunday 14th July author Colin Dexter. Visit the scenes of their best-
Stained Glass to Civil War; from Sunday 11th August known cases with lots of lively anecdotes along the
Magic, Murder and Mayhem to Science; In French on Saturday 20th July way. This tour departs at 1.30pm every Saturday
from Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps to Saturday 17th August throughout the year and every Monday and Friday
Oxford Children’s Stories and more. between March and September.
Your official Blue or Green Family Tour
Badge guide will be delighted Fun for all the family! Take part in this informal tour and
to answer any questions along share a light-hearted look at the surprises and delights
the way, take you to Oxford’s Oxford has to offer children and adults alike. Have even
most famous sights and reveal more fun with our free activity sheet and pencil! This
the hidden treasures in tucked tour departs at 1.30pm during the school holidays.
away lanes and passages.
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Follow us on
February
April
From
Monday 11th
Monday 8th
To
Friday 15th
Friday 12th
Twitter May Monday 27th Friday 31st
@OfficialToursOX August Mondays & Wednesdays only
October Monday 28th Friday 1st November
Cover image:
Radcliffe Camera © David Fleming
Please see inside for a full listing of our Themed Tours
Walking Tours with Tea General Information
• Tours are limited to a maximum of 19 people.
Oxford Official Guided
JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour with Tea • Visitors in wheelchairs are welcome to join our tours but access
To commemorate the 40th year of JRR Tolkien’s death we have teamed
up with Pembroke College to offer you an exclusive combined
JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour with Tea (tea/coffee and selection of
cakes) in the Hall where Tolkien dined as Professor of Anglo-Saxon.
to some colleges may be restricted.
• Children (under 16 years old) must be accompanied by an adult
(maximum 2 children per adult).
• A portable hearing loop is available on request (subject to availability).
Walking
He wrote The Hobbit whilst teaching at the college.
Dates
• Guide dogs are allowed on the tours.
Length of tours Tours
Monday 3rd June
Monday 12th August
All tours cover between 1 and 2 miles and last 2 hours except
the Family tour which is 1.5 hours. Programme
Prices of tours with tea
Adult £18.50 Child £16.00
Prices
Adult Senior/
Student
Child 2013
University and City Tour £8.00 £7.50 £4.50
Mad Hatter Afternoon Tea Party University and City Tour with £8.50 £8.00 £5.00
with When Alice Met Harry Tour Divinity School
Quintessential English charm with a twist. Following your tour enjoy University and City Tour £8.00 £7.50 £4.50
afternoon tea served at the old prison. Indulge in delicious teas, slender in French, German and Spanish
finger sandwiches and cakes – Mal style! Turned upside down and back Family Tour £6.50 £6.00 £3.75
to front, you’d be as mad as a hatter to miss it. You are welcome to
dress as an Alice character for the occasion. Inspector Morse Tour £8.50 £8.00 £5.00
Themed Tours except the one below £8.50 £8.50 £5.75
Dates Friday 21st June
Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps £15.00 £15.00 £10.00
Saturday 16th February Friday 30th August
Friday 8th March Friday 6th September Admission fees are included in the price
Friday 17th May Saturday 2nd November
Prices of tours with tea
Meeting point
Adult £18.50 Child £16.00 All tours start outside the Visitor Information Centre.
Access to Colleges
Colleges and other University buildings are privately owned and
therefore subject to unannounced closures at short notice.
How to book
We suggest that you book in advance to guarantee a place
on any of our tours.
In person: At the Visitor Information Centre,
15–16 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AS.
By telephone: You can book in advance on 01865 252037.
A £1 booking fee is applicable.
Online: www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours
at least 12 hours in advance.
Small and
Friendly Tours
© Arka Cartographics 10/10
Private We can pre-book private tours for individuals
Tours: or groups. Please contact the Tours Admin Team with Official Blue or
on 01865 252037 or owtours@visitoxfordshire.org
to discuss your requirements.
Green Badge Guides
ENTRANCE FEES INCLUDED
Visitor Information Centre
 Follow us on Twitter @OfficialToursOX
15–16 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AS We will welcome your review on www.tripadvisor.co.uk
www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/tours

2. Themed Tours 2013
Tours depart at 1.45pm unless otherwise specified
February
Saturday
Saturday
Friday
2nd
9th
15th
JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
Gargoyles & Grotesques Tour
Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
Saturday 16th When Alice met Harry Tour with Tea
Saturday 23rd Oxford Children’s Stories Tour
March
Friday 1st Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
Friday 8th When Alice met Harry Tour with Tea
Saturday 16th Tudor Oxford Tour (3pm)
Saturday 16th JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
Sunday 17th Literary Tour
Saturday 23rd Oxford’s Benefactors Tour
Saturday 30th Religion at Oxford Tour
April
Friday 5th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour
Saturday 6th JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
Friday 12th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
Saturday 13th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour
Saturday 27th Oxford Film Sites Tour
Sunday 28th Literary Tour
May
Friday 10th William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour
Saturday 11th Stained Glass Tour
JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour Science at Oxford Tour
Sunday 12th Gargoyles & Grotesques Tour
Two university lecturers and friends, JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, wrote Take a fascinating tour about the study of science at Oxford. By the
Friday 17th When Alice met Harry Tour with Tea
some of the most popular books of the 20th century. Share the 14th century Oxford was famous for the work of Bacon and
environment in which they studied, lived and spent their leisure time in Grosseteste and for developments in mathematics and astronomy. The Friday 24th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
their beloved Oxford. 17th century saw Harvey, Boyle, Hooke and Halley make their ground- Saturday 25th Oxford’s Benefactors Tour
breaking discoveries. In the 20th century, it was the penicillin scientists Sunday 26th North Oxford Tour
Civil War Tour under Professor Florey who made the greatest impact. Find out about Friday 31st JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
Oxford in the Civil War was at the centre of the national stage, with Oxford’s role at the leading edge of science right up to the 21st century.
King Charles making his headquarters at Christ Church. Ramparts June
enclosed the city, college silver was melted down to make coins and Stained Glass Tour Saturday 1st Stained Glass Tour
Oxford became a garrison rather than a university town. Join this tour The city of Oxford has some of the finest stained glass in the UK. Monday 3rd JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour with Tea
to hear more about life in Oxford during the Civil War. Almost every style and period of English glass-painting is represented, Friday 7th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
from medieval to modern, including particularly beautiful 17th century Sunday 9th Plaques of Oxford Tour
Gargoyles & Grotesques Tour windows and a wealth of 19th century glass by William Morris and Co. Saturday 15th Science at Oxford Tour
Symbols, emblems, motifs, animals and demons cling to the roofs and Enjoy the opportunity of seeing some fascinating craftsmanship. Friday 21st When Alice met Harry Tour with Tea
walls of buildings in Oxford. Medieval and modern stonemasons used Bring your binoculars! Saturday 29th Civil War Tour
imagination and humour in creating a wealth of amazing stone carvings.
Let our guide highlight the inventiveness and delights to be seen. The Jericho Tour Sunday 30th Magic, Murder & Mayhem Tour
Bring your binoculars! Jericho, Oxford’s first suburb to the north-west of the city, is less known July
than other parts of Oxford but not lacking in history and stories. Home Monday 1st William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour
Jewish Heritage Tour of Oxford University Press and the remarkable church of St Barnabas, Friday 5th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour
Walk around what was once the medieval Jewish Quarter and learn it also encompasses the Oxford Canal, St Sepulchre’s Cemetery and
about Jewish life in the city and significant events before the expulsion Saturday 6th Oxford West End Tour (3pm)
was used as a setting for Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, the
of 1290. Come up to date with the story of the Jewish population since Monday 8th Science at Oxford Tour
Inspector Morse murders and Philip Pullman’s Lyra stories.
the 17th century re-admission and remarkable facts about the Jewish Friday 12th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
contribution to Oxford University in the 20th century. Tudor Oxford Tour Saturday 13th Gargoyles & Grotesques Tour (3pm)
The Tudor period roughly coincided with the great change in church life Sunday 14th The Jericho Tour (3pm)
Literary Tour
known as the Reformation. Walk and hear history in the making in Monday 15th JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
Over the centuries many famous writers: poets, novelists, critics and Oxford, from Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, Queen Mary’s Friday 19th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
children’s authors have studied or lived in Oxford. Explore this rich persecution of Protestants for their faith, to Queen Elizabeth I’s Saturday 20th Oxford Film Sites Tour
heritage with one of our knowledgeable guides. encouragement of University revival. Saturday 20th North Oxford Tour (3pm)
Magic, Murder & Mayhem Tour When Alice met Harry Tour Sunday 21st Magic, Murder & Mayhem Tour
An alternative tour of Oxford to find out about secret societies, Thursday 25th Stained Glass Tour
Alice in Wonderland was inspired by Alice Liddell. She spent her early
alchemists, martyrs, traitors, rogues and criminals. Discover too, one of years in Oxford, and her friendship with Charles Dodgson, better Saturday 27th Oxford’s Benefactors Tour (3pm)
the world’s largest collections of amulets, talismans and magical items. known as Lewis Carroll, led to the writing of the two Alice books. Sunday 28th Literary Tour
Oxford’s Benefactors Tour Another favourite, Harry Potter, appeared here when some of his film
scenes were shot in Oxford locations. Join this tour to explore their
August
Oxford University owes its collegiate system to the generosity of early Saturday 3rd Magic, Murder and Mayhem Tour (3pm)
worlds of wonder and wizardry.
benefactors, who founded colleges and endowed scholarships for Friday 9th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
“poor young clerics”. Oxford has continued to attract benefactors over William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour Saturday 10th Stained Glass Tour
succeeding centuries: in particular John Radcliffe, Cecil Rhodes and Saturday 10th North Oxford Tour (3pm)
The Pre-Raphaelites were closely connected with Oxford. Edward
Lord Nuffield. This tour will explore their legacy. Monday 12th JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour with Tea
Burne-Jones and Morris studied here, and together with Holman Hunt
Oxford Children’s Stories Tour they left the city some outstanding artistic works. Join a tour with Friday 16th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
emphasis on this delightful period of Victorian art. Saturday 17th Oxford Film Sites Tour
Explore the Oxford of Alice and the Dodo, Lyra & Will, Prince Caspian
& Aslan, characters created by well-known Oxford authors in Alice in Sunday 18th Literary Tour
North Oxford Tour
Wonderland, His Dark Materials trilogy (filmed as The Golden Compass) and Friday 23rd William Morris & Victorian Oxford Tour
Discover this leafy suburb described by Poet Laureate, John Betjeman, Tudor Oxford Tour
The Chronicles of Narnia. Delight in the make-believe, as you discover places Saturday 24th
which inspired Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis and Philip Pullman amongst others. the home of JRR Tolkien, Lawrence of Arabia, Iris Murdoch, Thom Yorke
Sunday 25th Gargoyles & Grotesques Tour
of Radiohead and Colin Dexter. On this tour you will stroll around streets
of exquisite Victorian houses, the first women’s colleges, the Dragon Monday 26th Science at Oxford Tour
Oxford Film Sites Tour
School attended by Emma Watson, and the splendid University Parks. Friday 30th When Alice met Harry Tour with Tea
Oxford is one of Britain’s busiest and most instantly recognisable film
Saturday 31st Oxford Children’s Stories Tour
and TV drama locations. See the backdrop for historical re-creations
and literary adaptations from fantasies to thrillers. Hear of the links with Saturday 31st Oxford’s Benefactors Tour (3pm)
For more information
some of the biggest names in cinematic history.
on any of the tours September
Plaques of Oxford Tour Friday 6th When Alice met Harry Tour with Tea
featured above please visit Saturday 7th JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
The many and varied plaques adorning the buildings and monuments www.visitoxfordand
of Oxford are a delightful and beguiling feature of the city. Each brief Friday 13th Civil War Tour
inscription hides a fascinating story. Join this walk to find out more
oxfordshire.com/tours Saturday 14th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
about the amazing men and women commemorated in the plaques Friday 27th Jewish Heritage Tour
and the events which shaped Oxford’s history. Saturday 28th Oxford Film Sites Tour
Sunday 29th Literary Tour
Oxford West End Tour
The Western Quarter of Oxford is one of the city’s little known secrets October
containing a late 18th century prison, now a hotel, and the remains of Saturday 5th JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
a Norman Castle.There is evidence of occupation from the Bronze Age Friday 11th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
and the Roman period and of early Anglo Saxon settlements. The tour Sunday 13th Gargoyles & Grotesques Tour
offers riveting stories of the area’s long history and its ancient buildings Friday 25th Oxford Children’s Stories Tour
where friars lived and beer was brewed. Saturday 26th Oxford Film Sites Tour
Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour Sunday 27th Magic, Murder & Mayhem Tour
Tour the locations where memorable Harry Potter scenes were November
inspired and shot and enter the magical wizarding world yourself. Friday 1st Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour
Saturday 2nd When Alice met Harry Tour with Tea
Religion at Oxford Tour
Saturday 16th Stained Glass Tour
Join this tour to learn how religion and faith shaped the early University.
Saturday 23rd JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis Tour
Follow in the footsteps of the martyrs, the founders of Methodism, the
Oxford Movement and Oxford’s recent saints. Saturday 30th Pottering in Harry’s Footsteps Tour