Private Walking Tour: Oxford Highlights, including entry to one College

Starting right in the centre of Oxford at Carfax Tower, this is the only remaining structure of St Martin’s church. The tower is just over 23m/74ft high and it’s a point of reference for architects, as no building is allowed to be taller than this. Look for the quarter boys and listen to them hammering into the bells every 15 minutes. Carfax is an unusual name, let your guide explain what it actually means.

Walking down Saint Aldate street passing many shops and The Town Hall takes you to Tom Tower. This is a great chance to look into the Tom Quad of Christ Church college. Built by famous architect Christopher Wren in the late Gothic style, even though at that point it was many centuries out of date. Find out who or what Great Tom is, also the difference between Oxford time and Greenwich time.

This is our first example of a college, it’s also the largest with some impressive Royal connections. Fans of Harry Potter will remember the dining hall, see if you can spot where JK Rowling might have taken her inspiration. We will explore the quads, the dining hall and the Cathedral of this spectacular College.

Next we pass another of Oxford’s 38 Colleges, Merton. Staking a claim as one of the oldest, it is also one of the smallest. Don’t let the size fool you though, this prestigious institution once homed famous Nobel laureates, TS Eliot and JRR Tolkien.

Heading back towards the busier part of the town, we snake through narrow lanes towards a magnificent view of St Mary’s University church. Lets wander through the church, soaking up the atmosphere and your guide will explain how this Church formed the very beginning of Oxford University.

Our next stop is Radcliffe camera, this impressive building dominates Radcliffe square. Featured in all guide books and on many postcards it is perhaps one of the most iconic sights in Oxford. Today it serves as a reading room for the Bodlian library, home to hundreds of thousands of books. Where do they all fit you might wonder, your guide will explain where they are hidden.

One more college en-route, this time with a very unusual name. Find out the history of the name and its meaning from your guide.

In a University town like Oxford you are surrounded by sources of knowledge, but this is perhaps the most impressive. Over the years, the library expanded and today you will find various library buildings around the city, but this is the original. It is open only to its members, who must sign a formal declaration on the first admission. It serves mainly as a reference library and members are not allowed to remove books. This rule was even upheld in the 17th century, when King Charles I wanted to borrow a book.

Just like that, we are inside this spectacular room. Look up and admire the beautiful vaulted ceiling. In the past it was home to the study of theology, these days its used in a ceremonial role. This is where the students don their gowns and get ready before they cross the yard to The Sheldonian theatre for their graduation ceremony.

We now make our way to look at the Bridge of Sighs, named after its famous counterpart in Venice. It is forms part of Hereford college, famous as one of the first colleges to accept women as students.

This is the second building we visit designed by Christopher Wren, the beautiful, classical, Sheldonian Theatre. This is where students celebrate the start and the end of their academic life with matriculations and graduations. Once inside you have a spectacular painted ceiling offering the illusion of open sky.

We have spent our tour surrounded by beautiful architecture, listened to stories of various colleges, we learnt about famous alumni. We finish here at the Weston library, to give you idea on how the University works and looks today. Whilst much more modern in appearance, the core value of learning remains the focus. Our tour finishes here, your guide will happily direct you to gift shops, restaurants and other sites which you may like to visit.