Why choose this Oxford tour ?
Explore the lives of two of Oxford’s greatest writers, and their friendship, with an award-winning guide.
On this tour we will follow in the footsteps of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. We will see where they studied, taught, lived, worshipped, lectured, wrote and – most importantly – drank with their friends the Inklings. Out of these friendships and conversations emerged Aslan, Gandalf and many other much-loved characters and stories.
Both men became extremely famous in their lifetimes, but never gave up their day-jobs of teaching in the English department. We will explore CS Lewis’s conversion to Christianity and late-life marriage to Joy Gresham, and hear about Tolkien’s student pranks and life-long deep love for trees.
We will end at the beautiful college of Magdalen, where Lewis taught for nearly 30 years and the Inklings met every Thursday. If you want to go inside it, you will need to pay the entrance fee, which is £9.50 adults/£8.50 concessions.
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What makes Tolkien, Lewis and the Inklings Oxford Tour a unique experience ?
We will walk up St Giles to see the Eagle and Child and Lamb and Flag – the Inklings’ two favourite pubs. We will go into the Lamb and Flag and see where they used to sit and read to each other from their writings
Where CS Lewis was stationed for his officer training before going off to fight in the First World War
The Old Ashmolean, where Tolkien had his very first job working on the Oxford English Dictionary
Where Tolkien was an undergraduate and suffered an attack of the ‘Oxford sleepies’
Where Lewis preached and worshipped
Where Lewis’s undergraduate studies were interrupted by war
Where Tolkien was English Professor and finally completed the Lord of the Rings
Where both Tolkien and Lewis lectured, close to the rooms where Tolkien lived at the end of his life, and the Eastgate Hotel where the two men used to meet, and where Lewis first met Joy Gresham
Where Tolkien used to visit a particular tree he loved
We will go inside this college, where Lewis was a fellow for nearly 30 years and the Inklings met every Thursday evening. We will see the college buildings, cloisters, chapel, dining hall (if open), gardens and deer park.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- Tolkien, Lewis and the Inklings Oxford Tour
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Not Included
- Admission fee if you want to go inside a college. Magdalen is £9.50 adults/£8.50 concessions.
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Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by Lady Gargoyle Oxford Tours.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/London.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.
