Oxford University Tour by Alumni™ with optional New College
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 3 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
This is the original Alumni Tour™ — the first of its kind and the most professional experience in the city. Our tours are led by Oxford students and graduates who combine genuine personal experience with a deep knowledge of the city’s history and architecture. The 90-minute tour includes iconic landmarks like the Sheldonian Theatre, Radcliffe Square, and the Bridge of Sighs. The tour is entirely outdoors, focusing on Oxford’s historic streets, squares, and college exteriors. If selected when booking, your experience can be enriched after the walking tour ends with a self-guided visit to New College, one of the university’s most historic and picturesque colleges. You’ll pass through quiet college lanes and meadows where Lewis Carroll imagined Alice in Wonderland, C.S. Lewis envisioned the gateway to Narnia, and where Tolkien and J.K. Rowling found world-famous inspiration. Available in English, 中文, and Español upon request.
Inclusions
What's included
- When corresponding option is selected, admission to historic New College
- Available in English, Mandarin, and Spanish, if arranged before booking
- Storytelling from an insider guide, trained by The Original Alumni Tour™
- When open to tourist access, gain entry into celebrated college spaces
- Learn about the Oxbridge application process from a student
- Gain an insight into student life at an elite university
What's not
- Indoor access to structures (unless booked in advance)
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Guaranteed access inside buildings beyond publicly accessible areas
- Hotel pickup and drop-off services
Itinerary
Meet the guide OUTSIDE the address, not inside. The location is not part of our business. The meeting point is the RED PILLAR MAILBOX in front of 11 Broad Street. Your guide wears a royal blue item of clothing with a heraldic shield—this may be a jacket, cap, beanie, scarf, or polo shirt.
Gain an overview of one of the oldest universities in the world while admiring the first of many architecturally grand buildings.
Take a look into some of the strange traditions that come with an old and prestigious university. From pranks to tortoises, student life certainly isn’t boring here!
Learn about the 13 busts visible atop the pillars, and get an insiders’ correction of a common misconception.
Hear about the intricacies of the Oxford graduation ceremony, and, if possible, take a look inside the Divinity School which was famously used in the Harry Potter films.
A library with a long history, find out about some of the treasures kept among the 12 million books here.
A dome that is famous for being one of the Oxford Dreaming Spires, and a Camera which has nothing to do with photography? Contradictions abound here, and your guide will make sure you don’t get lost in them!
All Souls is a very prestigious college which requires an incredibly stringent examination to be completed by all prospective students. Your guide can give you examples of past questions; how do you think you would fare?
The University Church is a great location to understand some of the tensions between so called ‘Town and Gown’, and of course is a stunning building to appreciate!
A controversial piece of university history, learn why there have been protests against honouring one of the main funders of the College.
One of the most famous sites in Oxford, there are many powerful figures associated with this college!
##IMPORTANT: This option is available only if selected at the time of booking. Access times for New College – Spring/Summer 2025 (10th March to 14th October): Open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. Last entry at 4:30 pm. All visitors must leave the premises by 5:00 pm. The self-guided visit to New College takes place at the end of the walking tour. Access involves a short walk to the entrance on Holywell Street. Please keep these timings in mind when booking this option.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 5350
- 415
- 38
- 25
- 18
Ratings come from 386 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Alumni tour of Oxford
Laurence was a fantastic guide! We really enjoyed our tour
5Fantastic guide
Brilliant guide! Super friendly, very knowledgeable, and made our day unforgettable. Highly recommend
5Cambridge with 3-degree graduate
Dr John was very knowledgeable and kept the tour moving at a good pace. Excellent!
5Wonderful tour of Oxford
Decent directions for the meeting point, though we started a few minutes late. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and even came up with a trivia game to play during the tour with a small prize at the end. We learned a lot and saw some incredible locations on the tour.
5Great
It was great Himalaya Wes are gide and he was great
5Must when visiting Oxford!
Prasita was a phenomenal guide, and she gave amazing insight as a current student at Oxford and her love for Oxford was infectious. We learned so much! Would highly recommend!
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Meet the guide OUTSIDE the address, not inside. The location is not part of our business. The meeting point is the RED PILLAR MAILBOX in front of 11-12 Broad Street. Your guide wears a royal blue item of clothing with a heraldic shield—this may be a jacket, cap, beanie, scarf, or polo shirt.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 25 travellers
- Operated by
- Oxford Alumni Tours
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- ##IMPORTANT: Before booking New College, please note the following timings: Spring/Summer 2025 (10th March to 14th October): Open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm Last entry at 4:30 pm All visitors must leave the premises by 5:00 pm If you have any doubts or questions, feel free to contact us.
- New College is generally 10 to 15 minutes away from the tour’s end point. Please keep this in mind before booking.
- Wheelchair users are welcome on the tour. Please note that one small area is inaccessible, though it only accounts for a few minutes of the route. Some parts of New College may also be difficult to access. We advise caution due to uneven surfaces, curbs, and potential trip hazards. Please also be mindful of vehicles and bicycles, particularly in busy areas.
How it compares in Oxford
- Its from-price is 69% below the median of the 267 experiences we list in Oxford.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 13 of 267.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Oxford
Oxford is England's famous university city, with honey-coloured colleges, libraries, museums and river meadows beside the Thames and the Cherwell.
Oxford has been a university town since the 12th century, and its dreaming spires belong to colleges that stand shoulder to shoulder around quadrangles and gardens. The Radcliffe Camera, a round domed library, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre and Christ Church, whose dining hall inspired scenes in the Harry Potter films, are the best known. The Hertford Bridge, a covered footbridge nicknamed the Bridge of Sighs, links two parts of one college.
Top-ranked sights in Oxford: Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Trinity College .
Special offers in Oxford
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
