Oxfordshire Trip Overview
Oxford zealously guards and protects its architectural heritage which boasts one of the finest collections of historical buildings in the United Kingdom and possibly across the Western World. Our Classic Oxford tour takes visitors on a 60 to 90 minute meander through 1000 years of architectural and social history. Not only do we see some of the most iconic civic and university buildings in Oxford and discuss their origins, the materials they are constructed from, the architects and purpose of their construction but we provide a rich vein of social history of the town and university. Among the sights you will see are Christ Church, the 11th-century University Church of St Mary the Virgin where the University of Oxford first began, the world-famous Radcliffe Camera, Oxford’s Bridge of Sighs, the Bodleian Library, the oldest academic library in the English speaking world, and much more. Customised tours including pre-booking into colleges, galleries and museums can be arranged.
Additional Info
Duration: 90 to 120 minutes
Starts: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Oxfordshire Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Oxford zealously guards and protects its architectural heritage which boasts one of the finest collections of historical buildings in the United Kingdom and possibly across the Western World. Our Classic Oxford tour takes visitors on a 60 to 90 minute meander through 1000 years of architectural and social history. Not only do we see some of the most iconic civic and university buildings in Oxford and discuss their origins, the materials they are constructed from, the architects and purpose of their construction but we provide a rich vein of social history of the town and university. Among the sights you will see are Christ Church, the 11th-century University Church of St Mary the Virgin where the University of Oxford first began, the world-famous Radcliffe Camera, Oxford’s Bridge of Sighs, the Bodleian Library, the oldest academic library in the English speaking world, and much more. Customised tours including pre-booking into colleges, galleries and museums can be arranged.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Carfax Tower, Corner of Carfax and Cornmarket, Oxford OX1 England
Landmark 23m-high bell tower, once part of a 12th-century church, offering city views from the top.
Duration: 2 minutes
Pass By: Christ Church, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1DP, UK
Enter through St Aldates gate, see the splendid views of Christ Church, the Meadow Building, Merton Field where James Sadler became the first English aeronaut, the Deans Garden, Dead Man’s Walk, exit through the Kissing Gate.
Pass By: Magpie Lane, Magpie Ln, Oxford OX1, UK
Traverse the narrow winding and infamous Magpie Lane to the High Street.
Pass By: High Street, Oxford OX1 4BH England
Oxford’s famous High Street is a history lesson in itself, not only in terms of the colleges we see where the likes of CS Lewis, Shelly, Bob Hawke and Bill Clinton studied but its fascinating architecture stretching back hundreds of years.
Pass By: Queen’s College, High Street, Oxford OX1 4AW England
Passing Queens College we enter Queens Lane, claimed to be the most haunted site in Oxford, we pass St Edmund’s Hall the very last medieval hall in Oxford, the ancient St Peter’s Church in the East, New College which is actually built on a plague pit. This is lovely walk through the winding back streets of the city.
Pass By: Bridge of Sighs, New College Ln., Oxford OX1 3BL England
Built in 1913 the iconic Bridge of Sighs adds a romantic touch to our walk.
Stop At: Radcliffe Camera, Radcliffe Square, Oxford OX1 4AJ England
Set in the Radcliffe Square the very heart of Oxford’s world-renowned University precinct, visitors will find themselves surrounded by history on all sides. This is where it all began!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bodleian Library Bodleian Library Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BG England
We move into the Scholastic Quadrangle and discover how Oxford University’s world-famous research library grew from the ashes of the reformation.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ England
See the ground-breaking architecture of renowned English architect Christopher Wren’s first major project, built in 1669
Pass By: History of Science Museum, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ England
Highly significant in the cultural history of the Western world, the very first purpose-built public museum.
