The 14 Best Tours in Oxford

1.Oxford University Walking Tour With University Alumni Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,905 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $41Our pick

Walk through Oxford with a current student or graduate guide such as Tom, Sam, Lucy, or Alex. In about two hours, you see Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library area, Trinity College, Merton College, and other landmarks while learning how Oxford’s colleges work. An optional luxury minibus transfer runs from London.

“Sam was so knowledgeable and delightful - we learned a great deal and enjoyed every minute. His sense of humor and boundless detail made it special indeed.”

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2.University and City Walking Tour with Alumni Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,429 reviews · 2 - 10 hours · from $40

Walk through Oxford with a current student or recent graduate who explains college traditions, admissions, ceremonies, and daily university life. Visit an Oxford college, see the Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera, hear stories about Tolkien and Harry Potter, and learn why Oxford’s buildings and customs still shape the city.

“Our guide Saga was great. A history major student at Oxford, she was knowledgeable about the history of school and also shared about her life at Oxford as well.”

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3.City and University Tour, including college entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,243 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $37

Walk Oxford with an English-speaking university-educated guide, see the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Divinity School, Sheldonian Theatre, and Bridge of Sighs, then enter one historic college. Tours run hourly from Trinity College, with guides such as Simon, Dan, Jonathan, and Joe often praised for clear stories and useful local tips.

“Our guide Joe was incredible! He told us a lot of stories about the college and its history. We really recommend this tour.”

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4.Harry Potter Walking Tour Including New College

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,446 reviews · 1.5 - 10 hours · from $40

Meet an Oxford student guide such as Valentine, Sue, or Ginny for a 90-minute walk through Harry Potter filming sites, New College, and the Divinity School. Expect Oxford history, movie trivia, literary connections, and a Hogwarts house quiz. Christ Church admission is separate, and Divinity School access can be limited in summer.

“Amy was a delightful guide. very friendly and so knowledgeable about Harry Potter and Oxford. Always enjoy tours that are entertaining and walking with Amy is the way to go.”

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5.1.5-hour Oxford City and University Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,383 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $38

Start at Trinity College’s blue gates on Broad Street for a 90-minute Oxford walk covering college courtyards, university stories, and usually New College, seen in Harry Potter films. Guides such as Jonathan, Jane, Simon, and Kamil bring personal detail, but college access can change with opening hours, events, and group size.

“We were paired with Johnathan for the Oxford walking tour. His wealth of knowledge about Oxford University as well as the city was outstanding and he was so informative about the history of the University and its previous students including himself. He kept the tour entertaining and full of information. I would recommend this tour to anyone .”

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6.Oxford Official University & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,134 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $41

Walk Oxford with an English-speaking guide such as Alan, Becca, Nigel, or Richard, learning about its colleges, scholars, writers, and town history. You’ll see Trinity, Balliol, the Sheldonian Theatre, Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Martyrs’ Memorial, and more. Afternoon departures may include a college visit, subject to availability.

“Nigel did a wonderful job showing us around Oxford. Super knowledgeable and funny with great stories!”

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7.City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,042 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Use a 24 or 48-hour pass to tour Oxford by open-top bus, with stops near the railway station, Oxford Castle, Christ Church, the Radcliffe Camera, colleges, and St Giles. Audio commentary is offered in 14 languages, and a seasonal 45-minute walking tour adds a closer look at the old town.

“Excellent knowledgeable guides, new buses, good drivers. We were lucky to have sunny weather too, but even when it rains it is ok”

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8.Harry Potter Walking Tour of Oxford Including New College

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 930 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $41

Walk central Oxford with a current university student guide, visiting Harry Potter filming sites at New College and the Bodleian’s Divinity School. Expect a 90-minute route, a quiz, college stories, and links to Tolkien, Lewis, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Bodleian access can be limited, especially from June to August.

“We had a fantastic day Olivia was brilliant well informed yet another Harry Potter location off our list”

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9.University Walking Tour with Christ Church Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 820 reviews · 3 - 10 hours · from $107

Walk Oxford with a student guide such as Jasper, Megan, Antonia, or Ebrahim, visiting college courtyards, Bodleian Library sites, the Weston Library, and Christ Church. Expect about three hours with the guide, followed by independent Christ Church exploration using its multimedia headset. Access can change during university closures.

“Aaron, our guide, was fantastic! He was funny, friendly, witty, engaging, and entertaining. He really knew his stuff, and his voice was clear and easy to hear through the headphones we had. By the way, those headphones were better than any of the cheap earbuds I’ve used on other European walking tours. My favorite parts were the stories about CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll, as well as the unique traditions of different colleges. Overall, it was a wonderfully planned and executed introduction to Oxford.”

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10.Harry Potter Insights Divinity School Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 783 reviews · 1h 45m · from $40

Walk central Oxford with a guide such as Peter, Ben, or Hamish, learning about Harry Potter filming spots, J.K. Rowling’s inspirations, and real university life. The 105-minute small-group tour includes entry to the Bodleian Library’s Divinity School, photo opportunities with gowns, quizzes, and an Oxford city map.

“Our guide, Ben, was excellent! So personable, a native of Oxford, and able to answer all our questions. Because it was just our family on the tour, Ben was able to give us all the Potter info, plus added some great tidbits (since we were interested) relating to CS Lewis, Tolkien and Evelyn Waugh (Brideshead Revisited). He also pointed out interesting shops, bookstores, and food stops along the way and we ended at the indoors covered market area where, on his recommendation, I had the best cookie of my life at a shop called Ben's Cookies (no relation to our guide). (Milk chocolate and orange cookie, btw) Wonderful time. New…”

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11.Morse, Lewis and Endeavour Walking Tour of Oxford

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 710 reviews · 1h 45m · from $33

Meet your English-speaking guide outside St John’s College for a 105-minute walk through Morse’s Oxford. Visit filming spots near Balliol College, the Randolph Hotel, Broad Street and the White Horse pub. Guides such as Rebecca, Heidi and Magnus add episode details, Colin Dexter stories and still photos from the shows.

“A knowledgable and fun guide made this a delightful experience. It's thorough in terms of information and run at a nice pace. The guide knows her history of York so well, & was able to provide a great context around the novels/movies. You don't have to be an obsessive fan to enjoy this tour, it has broad appeal as you wend your way through the beautiful city visiting the street scenes and places used in the movies.”

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12.City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 706 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $26

Ride Oxford’s 40-minute open-top loop past the castle, Westgate, Christ Church, the Radcliffe Camera, and the university colleges. Hop off to explore, then rejoin the bus. Your ticket includes a multilingual audio guide and seasonal walking tour. Choose the Carfax Tower option for views over central Oxford.

“Very interesting and enjoyable, the guide was very informative and very friendly”

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13.Sightseeing River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 694 reviews · from $25Best value

Set out from No. 1 Folly Bridge on a 45-minute cruise along Oxford’s University Regatta Course. Your English-speaking skipper points out Christ Church Meadows, rowing houses and Iffley Lock while sharing local stories. The Edwardian-style electric boats are quiet, elegant and fitted with blankets. Arrive early for a drink at The Folly.

“Was such a peaceful and interesting experience learning about the history of Oxford. The skipper was so polite and kind and was an ex head teacher so his knowledge was incredible.”

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14.Oxford Harry Potter Insights entry to Divinity School PUBLIC Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 358 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $34

Walk central Oxford with a cloaked guide, visiting the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library and spotting film locations near New College, the Turf, Exeter College, and more. Expect Harry Potter stories mixed with Oxford history, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, and student life. The 90-minute to two-hour tour begins and ends near Broad Street.

“Our tour guide Peter made this a memorable and fun experience. He obviously enjoys his job and is very knowledgeable about all things Oxford, his enthusiasm is catching 😆. Oxford itself is a beautiful, history filled city that is well worth a visit. We loved our visit, and this tour was the highlight.”

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