(800) 814 COOL Questions? Call Us Now!

Oxford: Architectural & Historical Highlights Tour

22 Reviews 4.91 out of 5 stars Based on 22 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Oxford, England

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.

1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation

Overview

Experience Oxford's rich history on a 90-minute walking tour led by an Institute of Tourist Guiding professional and Guild of Guides member. Explore the city's origins from Anglo-Saxon times, the evolution of the university, its stunning architecture, libraries, and the vibrant student life of today. Oxford History tours offer real history for genuine history lovers.

Stroll through Oxford's iconic sites, including:

Radcliffe Camera
Divinity School
Bridge of Sighs
Bodleian Library
Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theatre
Medieval Colleges around every corner

Discover stories of patrons, artists, politicians, saints, scholars, rebels, and martyrs who shaped over 1,000 years of Oxford's history. This tour also includes practical tips to enhance your stay in Oxford.

The route passes famous film, television locations and literary legend.

What's Included

  • Advice to help explore and eat after the tour
  • Entrance fee to a medieval college
  • Complimentary map and guidebook

    Meeting and Pickup

    Pickup point
    OR
    Meeting point

    Broad Street
    Oxford OX1 3BG, UK

    Show on Google Maps

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    Golden Cross
    Oxford OX1 3EU, UK

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    What To Expect

    Martyrs' Memorial

    Important Victorian monument to the Protestant martyrs of the 16th century.
    Read more

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    St Michael at the North Gate

    This Anglo Saxon Tower was part of the Medieval city gate and is probably the surviving oldest building in Oxford today. Many stories over the centuries
    Read more

    4 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Exeter College

    Exeter's chapel was inspired by the Oxford Movement and modelled on Paris' St Chapelle. Graduates include Philip Pullman, JR Tolkien and Alan Bennett.
    Read more

    4 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Lincoln College

    Lincoln College's original face onto Turn Street tells a story about the University's origins and its relationship with the city. Lincoln College recently got it first Priminister Rushi Sunak, and was also home to the ~Methodist Wesley Brothers
    Read more

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

    The University Church was the University's first building. It is listed in the Doomsday Book. Ot is possible to climb its magnificent spire. Today we will admire its famous stained glass and learn how it inspired CS Lewis.
    Read more

    7 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Oriel College

    Oriel college is one of the Universities oldest Colleges and today famous for rowing. Its front Quad with Oriel windows is stunning. It is neighbours with Corpus Christi who famously host the annual tortoise race.
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Christ Church (Pass By)

    We pass east of Christchurch. Visitors might like to go back and enjoy the fabulous Christchurch Picture gallery tucked behind the imposing Eastern entry to the college.
    Read more

    Corpus Christi College

    Corpus Christi's early 16th century architecture contains many moving and beautiful figures of animals, including a pious pelican. Corpus Christi is set upon a cobbled street which is listed as a national treasure.
    Read more

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Merton College

    Merton is Oxford's third College. The original and beautiful 15th century frieze over the gatehouse is one of my favourite creations in the whole of Oxford and tells the tale of the founding of colleges in the universities earlier days. The flying buttresses of the chapel are richly decorated. Thomas Bodley, founder of the Bodleian Library, was a graduate from Merton college. Merton College's library is the oldest continuously surviving library in Oxford.
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Examination Schools

    Oxford University had its first written exam in the early 19th century. This Victorian extravaganza of Jacobean and Tudor architectural styles was the height of modernity in the 1870's. Inspired by an egalitarian spirit of making g education more widely .available to the masses.
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Queen's College

    Queen's college is Alma Mater to rowan Atkinson from the celebrity world. It was founded for poor scholars from the North of England , one of whose became so wealthy that a donation from him funded an 18th century rebuilding of the college with designs contributed by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor.The High Street was the road to `London and has transformed over the years. Frank Cooper's Marmalade was first made here. It went on to become a world wide Fad. It is also the site of England's first coffee house founded when Jewish people were welcomes back into the UK having been banned in the thirteenth century during Oliver Cromwell's Republic.
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    New College

    New college's wonderful gates house tells the tale of its foundation after the plagues of the fourteenth century. Its charming setting has been used in many film sets.
    Read more

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Bridge of Sighs

    Oxford's iconic bridge belonging to Hertford College. Although it looks like an old Venetian Bridge, it was built in the twentieth century! It is also next to the house of Edmund Halley who had the comet named after him.
    Read more

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Sheldonian Theatre

    We will admire this 17th century home to the ceremonies of Oxford University. It is believed to be the first building by Christopher Wren. The architect of St Paul's Cathedral in London was also Astronomer of Photography at Oxford University.
    Read more

    6 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Oxford Central Library

    Built on top of the exquisite medieval perpendicular Divinity School the Duke Humphrey Library was built in fifteenth century to house a gift of over 200 books from the `King's brother. Both of these rooms were selected by JK Rowling to be used for Harry Potter scenes.
    Read more

    4 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Bodleian Library

    Today the Bodlein Library has over 13 million books. We will admire the 17th century buildings and learn about the origins go the library and how it still works today.
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Radcliffe Camera

    Oxford's first science Library. Learn about one of Oxford's most eccentric and generous benefactors, the Royal Physician sir John Radcliffe
    Read more

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Balliol College

    undergraduates started to have access to the University and its colleges.
    Read more

    15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Show 16 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

    Frequently Asked Questions

    (7)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Oxford: Architectural & Historical Highlights Tour?

    A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-402859P2

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    4.91
    22 reviews

    Average 4.91 out of 5 stars based on 22 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    20
    4 stars
    2
    3 stars
    0
    2 stars
    0
    1 star
    0

    Loading Options
    Don't miss out!
    On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.

    Similar Tours & Activities

    Stonehenge and Bath Tour from Oxford
    Likely to Sell Out

    Stonehenge and Bath Tour from Oxford

    2
     9 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    $203.85

    Discovering Cheltenham: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

    Discovering Cheltenham: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

     90 to 120 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    $11.99

    Harry Potter + Self Guided Christ Church- PRIVATE 9.30am

    Harry Potter + Self Guided Christ Church- PRIVATE 9.30am

    4
     3 hours  Free Cancellation
    from
    $171.01

    Oxford’s Famous Alumni: Self-Guided Story Puzzle Walk

    Oxford’s Famous Alumni: Self-Guided Story Puzzle Walk

    2
     70 to 100 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    $6.17

    Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

    90 Minute Classic Walking Tour of Oxford
    Likely to Sell Out

    90 Minute Classic Walking Tour of Oxford

     90 to 120 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    $35.57

    Oxford Official University & City Tour

    Oxford Official University & City Tour

     2 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    $38.31

    Shared | Alumni-led Walking Tour w/opt New College

    Shared | Alumni-led Walking Tour w/opt New College

     90 to 150 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    $34.20

    Harry Potter Walking Tour of Oxford Including New College

    Harry Potter Walking Tour of Oxford Including New College

     1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    $41.03

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Advice to help explore and eat after the tour
    • Entrance fee to a medieval college
    • Complimentary map and guidebook
    • Guided tour led by an experienced, licensed guide

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

    Report Product Issue

    Activity name

    Language
    Currency

    Site Settings

    Activity name

    Currency

    Activity name

    Non-refundable

    Activity name

    This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

    • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

    Sorting, ranking, and search results

    Activity name

    City Boat Tours wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

    On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

    If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through City Boat Tours over a 12-month period.

    The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.