Free tour

Oxford tour celebrating 'Town and Gown'

4.98

Excellent(101)

Oxford

Duration: 2 hours

Languages: English

Guru: David

Registered on 10 January 2025

Hello, I am an Oxonian, being born, raised and educated in Oxford. I am a retired teacher, who loves showing people around my home city.

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Hello, I am David, an Oxonian, born, raised, and educated in this wonderful city of 'dreaming spires', a term used to describe Oxford's stunning architecture.

I will bring its hidden history to life and explain what student life is like today compared to medieval times. You will gain an understanding of the complex relationship between the 'town' (Oxford) and 'gown' (University) over the centuries.

You will see the important University locations from the outside (e.g., Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre, University Church of St. Mary the Virgin) and some of the most famous city sights (e.g., Martyrs' Memorial, St Michael-at-the-Northgate, Carfax Tower, Covered Market). Filming locations for Inspector Morse and Harry Potter, as well as places associated with J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll, will be pointed out. The highlight of the tour will be Radcliffe Square, the heart of the University.

I will always aim to include a visit to a College, especially for the afternoon tour.

At the end of the tour, I will recommend other places to see and visit.

All tours will start and finish on the steps to the entrance of the Weston Library in Broad Street.

It would be fantastic for you to join me on one of my tours - I love showing off my home city and have a wealth of knowledge to impart and share with you.

*NB The tour is not suitable for children under 14.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

Weston Library

I will be at the top of the steps by the entrance to the Weston Library, carrying a green rucksack. The tour will also finish here.

Outside visit

Martyrs' Memorial

Learn about the burning of 3 Protestants during the Reformation and Counter-reformation period of the 16th century.

Outside visit

St Michael at the North Gate

See Oxford's oldest building as well as a beautiful surviving medieval timbered building.

Outside visit

Carfax Tower

Carfax is the heart of this famous city. Learn about the most notorious of the Town and Gown riots that took place in the 14th century in what is now a bank!

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours don't have a fixed price. At the end, each person contributes to the guide the amount they consider fair based on their satisfaction. As a guideline, Guruwalk recommends between €15 and $50 per participant.