Get your discount tickets for the Oxford University Walking Tour by Alumni™ & Optional New College, save up to 9% !
Select your ticket
Overview
Walk through Oxford with someone who knows it from the inside. Our guides are Oxford students or graduates who combine personal experience with a deep knowledge of the city’s history and architecture. The 90-minute tour includes landmarks like the Sheldonian Theatre, Radcliffe Square, and the Bridge of Sighs. The tour is entirely outdoors, focusing on Oxford’s streets, squares, and college exteriors. If selected when booking, AFTER THE WALKING TOUR ENDS, your experience can be enriched with a self-guided visit to New College, one of the university’s most historic and picturesque colleges. You’ll pass through quiet college lanes and meadows where Lewis Carroll imagined Alice in Wonderland, C. S. Lewis envisioned the gateway to Narnia, and where Tolkien and J. K. Rowling studied, lived, and found inspiration. Along the way, you’ll admire the city’s striking mix of Gothic and Baroque architecture.
Meeting and Pickup
Important: meet the guide OUTSIDE the address, not inside. The location is not part of our business. The meeting point is the RED PILLAR MAILBOX in front of 11 Broad Street. Your guide wears a royal blue item of clothing with a heraldic shield—this may be a jacket, cap, beanie, scarf, or polo shirt.
End Point
If the New College option is selected
Redemption Instructions
Please present your ticket to your guide at the red pillar box outside 11 Broad Street, Oxford. The guide will be wearing a blue uniform item, hat, or scarf with the Alumni Tours heraldic crest. We recommend arriving at least 5 minutes early to allow time to locate your guide and check in. - Please present your booking confirmation at the gate of New College, stating that you have booked with "Alumni Tours". ##IMPORTANT: (the company cannot take responsibility for issues caused by not following these guidelines): Late arrivals cannot be refunded. Once the tour starts, the guide cannot be contacted. Cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance are fully refundable, unless otherwise agreed, especially for large groups. Snacks and drinks are allowed, but not inside college buildings. The walk lasts 90 minutes at a steady pace and includes uneven surfaces. Wheelchair users are welcome, but the tour is not suitable for those with mobility difficulties. No scheduled toilet breaks. If you leave the group for an extended time, you may not be able to find them again upon your return. This is at the customer’s own risk. Dress appropriately and wear suitable footwear. Bring water in warm weather. Standard tours are conducted in English, but guides come from a cosmopolitan mix of students and alumni; please be prepared for a variety of accents. Pets are not permitted inside colleges, except for guide dogs. Complaints must be directed to management by phone or email. Please do not address complaints to the guide, as they are not authorized to handle them. Follow the guide’s instructions and local safety rules. Inform your guide if unwell
Language Offered
Mandarin-GUIDE
English-GUIDE
Spanish-GUIDE
Itinerary
1. Meet the guide OUTSIDE the address, not inside. The location is not part of our business. The meeting point is the RED PILLAR MAILBOX in front of 11 Broad Street. Your guide wears a royal blue item of clothing with a heraldic shield—this may be a jacket, cap, beanie, scarf, or polo shirt.
2. Gain an overview of one of the oldest universities in the world while admiring the first of many architecturally grand buildings.
3. Take a look into some of the strange traditions that come with an old and prestigious university. From pranks to tortoises, student life certainly isn’t boring here!
4. Learn about the 13 busts visible atop the pillars, and get an insiders’ correction of a common misconception.
5. Hear about the intricacies of the Oxford graduation ceremony, and, if possible, take a look inside the Divinity School which was famously used in the Harry Potter films.
6. A library with a long history, find out about some of the treasures kept among the 12 million books here.
7. A dome that is famous for being one of the Oxford Dreaming Spires, and a Camera which has nothing to do with photography? Contradictions abound here, and your guide will make sure you don’t get lost in them!
8. All Souls is a very prestigious college which requires an incredibly stringent examination to be completed by all prospective students. Your guide can give you examples of past questions; how do you think you would fare?
9. The University Church is a great location to understand some of the tensions between so called ‘Town and Gown’, and of course is a stunning building to appreciate!
10. A controversial piece of university history, learn why there have been protests against honouring one of the main funders of the College.
11. One of the most famous sites in Oxford, there are many powerful figures associated with this college!
12. ##IMPORTANT: This option is available only if selected at the time of booking. Access times for New College – Spring/Summer 2025 (10th March to 14th October): Open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. Last entry at 4:30 pm. All visitors must leave the premises by 5:00 pm. The self-guided visit to New College takes place at the end of the walking tour. Access involves a short walk to the entrance on Holywell Street. Please keep these timings in mind when booking this option.
Inclusion
Exceptional access to interiors (WHEN ACCESSIBLE)
Oxford University Student or Graduate Guide
Learn about the Oxbridge application process from a student
Learn about Oxford history and anecdotes
Gain an insight into student life at an elite university
Enter New College (WHEN YOU BOOK THIS OPTION)
Exclusion
Gratuities
Indoor access to structures unless booked in advance
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
##IMPORTANT: Before booking New College, please note the following timings: Spring/Summer 2025 (10th March to 14th October): Open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm Last entry at 4:30 pm All visitors must leave the premises by 5:00 pm If you have any doubts or questions, feel free to contact us.
New College is generally 10 to 15 minutes away from the tour’s end point. Please keep this in mind before booking.
Wheelchair users are welcome on the tour. Please note that one small area is inaccessible, though it only accounts for a few minutes of the route. Some parts of New College may also be difficult to access. We advise caution due to uneven surfaces, curbs, and potential trip hazards. Please also be mindful of vehicles and bicycles, particularly in busy areas.
Not recommended for travellers who cannot complete a 90-minute walk
Reviews
4.8
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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