The Best Oxford Walking Tours,
2 Incredible Routes

Walking Tours of Oxford with CityDays

Discover the wondrous history lurking in the streets of Oxford with our self-guided walking tours of Oxford, UK.

Our Oxford walking tours have been created to show you the best of Oxford’s history, introduce some notable figures and divulge their secrets. 

The Best Self-Guided Walking Tours in Oxford

Fall in love with Oxford’s fables, foibles and facts with CityDays’ Oxford walking tours!

From being a Norman stronghold to becoming the shining jewel in England’s academic crown, Oxford has seen it all. Students, monks, authors and castle escapees have left their distinctive marks on the well-trodden cobblestone streets - now it’s your turn to add another layer to this dynamic city’s history by following in their footsteps.

By going on a CityDays walking tour of Oxford, you get an experience that goes beyond the typical sightseeing experience. 

Our self-guided Oxford walking tours deliver fascinating facts while leading you around the city’s most intriguing sites, landmarks and hidden gems. Here’s more info about which trail might suit you best…

Expect More From Your Oxford City Walking Tours

We do more than just give you directions to notable landmarks and scenic sites in Oxford. 

Our Oxford self-guided walking tours are designed so you can independently explore landmarks, areas, pubs, cafes, restaurants and more at your own pace. 

By providing you with riddles, puzzles and clues based on your surroundings, we ensure you’re interacting with the city around you as you take it all in. Only by looking up, down, left and right will you be able to complete the route and unlock the city’s secrets - a far more interesting way to explore than just lending us your ears! 

Get The Most Out of Walking Tours Oxford

You’ll notice that our walking tours in Oxford include recommended rest stops at pubs, cafes and restaurants at convenient locations along the route.

That’s because we want you to get the most out of your adventure! 

We encourage you to find a new favourite local or dip inside a place you’ve walked past a million times before because it enriches your experience of a city. We’re fussy about finding businesses that we consider to be hidden gems or must-visits, and we endeavour to select independent businesses that help stimulate the local economy.

Of course, if you’re not thirsty or raring to go - you can always skip your stop and carry on exploring! 

Oxford Walking Tours - Learn Fun Facts About Oxford

Oxford has been cemented as an ancient place of learning and the home of British academia for centuries. But it’s also a place steeped in mystery and lesser-known heroes that changed history around the world… 

These facts about Oxford give you a flavour of the kind of thing you can expect from us. 

The Sheldonian Theatre Was Designed By The-Then Professor of Astronomy - And You Probably Already Know His Name!

Better known to most people as the designer of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design the Sheldonian Theatre in the mid 17th-century while he held the position of Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University!

Ex-Planet Pluto Was Named By An 11-Year-Old Girl From Oxford

In the early 1900s, a US astronomer named Percival Lowell believed he had discovered a new planet which he dubbed “Planet X”. 

Unfortunately, Lowell died before he could prove his theory right. Less than two decades later, the theory of Planet X’s existence was proved, and the public were asked to name the latest addition to the solar system.

An 11-year-old school, Venetia Burney, suggested “Pluto”, a nod to the Roman god of the underworld. Her suggestion was favoured due to the first two letters representing the original discoverer’s initials, and little Venetia was given a £5 reward.

Venetia went on to become an accountant and teacher, and was the granddaughter of the esteemed Old Bodleian Library librarian, Falconer Madan.

Oxford Botanic Garden Received a Rose Species For Its 400th Birthday

As England’s old botanical garden, Oxford Botanic Garden holds a special place in British history.

When the garden turned 400, a new species of rose was developed by Peter Beales Roses LTD in collaboration with the garden and named the Oxford Physic Rose. You can still find it in the garden today - it’s distinctive for its delightful pale pink colour! 

Scholars and Spires

Venture beneath the surface of this scholarly having, tracing hidden tunnels and chilling tales of yesteryears where the shadows of history still linger.

This Oxford walking tour takes you on a winding expedition through the city’s storied streets. Along the way, expect to uncover the secrets of grim executions and tales that fuelled Tolkien’s dark imaginings, behold the grander of the Town Hall, the towering presence of Carfax Tower and the venerable walls of Merton College and discover a house where stars once aligned to guide the learned…

Engage in enigmatic riddles, challenges and surprises, take a pause in cosy pubs and quaint cafes, and then resume your journey into uncovering Oxford’s many quirks.

This cryptic adventure invites you to uncover the deep, untold stories of this timeless city at your own pace and in your own way…

Ancient Echoes

Delve deeper into Oxford’s reputation as a cradle of knowledge by embarking on a walking tour of Oxford that plunges you into the depths of its tumultuous past. 

You’ll navigate the city’s labyrinthine alleys and vibrant streets while solving enigmatic clues and unlocking tales of the past that have long since been forgotten. Along the way, you’ll encounter the prehistoric creature that etched its legacy into Oxford’s fabric, delve into the harrowing destinies of its prisoners and unravel the stories of the martyrs of the Reformation.

Expect to wander past the relics of the Norman castle, explore the austere Houses of Correction, and marvel at a collection of historic buildings, each a testament to architectural grandeur. You’ll also uncover a link to the Jurassic Age, get the chance to wander through an 18th-century market and, much, much more!