Oxford and Cambridge walking tour: Two universities in one day
Two centuries of university architecture, two towns, one coach ride from London
A 12.5-hour walking tour of Oxford and Cambridge departing from London by coach with a professional guide in English or Chinese. The day splits between Oxford's college courtyards and the Bodleian Library, then moves to Cambridge to visit Senate House and the Corpus Clock. Children from age 3 are welcome. The coach is air-conditioned and the pace is moderate.
12h 30m
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Oxford and Cambridge universities
- Walking tour of Oxford
- See Bodleian Library and dreaming spires
- Travel to Cambridge
- Visit Senate House at Cambridge University
- Explore Corpus Clock at Corpus Christi College
The Experience
The coach leaves London in the morning and arrives in Oxford, where you walk the college courtyards and cobbled lanes that shaped C.S. Lewis, Bill Clinton and generations of students before them. The Bodleian Library, one of the oldest in Europe, anchors the tour, and the narrow alleys and ancient squares give the town its shape. Your guide leads you through the famous 'dreaming spires' and points out the sights that make Oxford what it is.
After Oxford, the coach carries you to Cambridge. Senate House is where degree ceremonies happen now, though it once held the Council of the Senate for official meetings. You'll explore it and its history before moving to the Corpus Clock. This invention sits outside the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College and was revealed to the world by Stephen Hawking. It's made from 24-carat gold-plated stainless steel and has no numbers, instead, lights shine through individual slits to show the time. It's the kind of detail that stays with you.
The tour runs 12.5 hours total, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The coach is air-conditioned, and your guide speaks English or Chinese depending on the departure you book. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Children from age 3 travel as regular passengers. Entry to the sites themselves is not included in the tour price, so budget for that separately if you want to go inside.
What’s included
- Professional guide in English or Chinese.
- luxury air-conditioned coach from London.
- walking tours of Oxford's college courtyards, cobbled lanes and the Bodleian Library.
- visit to Cambridge's Senate House and the Corpus Clock.
Operated by Golden Tours Gray Line London
Is this one for you?Choose this if you're starting from London and want to visit both Oxford and Cambridge in one day. The coach handles transport between them, so you move straight from one university city to the other without gaps.
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Top questions
What exactly do I see inside the Bodleian Library in Oxford?
The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and a centerpiece of the walking tour. Your guide shows you the building and its role in Oxford's history as you walk the college grounds. Entry to the interior is not included, so you see the exterior and the courtyards around it as part of the route.
How long do we spend walking in each town?
The day splits the 12.5 hours between Oxford and Cambridge, with travel time between them. Both towns are explored on foot with your guide leading the route through the courtyards, lanes and key landmarks. The exact time in each depends on the group pace and the stops your guide makes.
Is the Corpus Clock something I can get close to, or do we just see it from a distance?
The Corpus Clock sits outside the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, and you visit it as part of the walking tour. It's a 24-carat gold-plated invention with no numbers that shows time through lights in individual slits: the kind of detail worth seeing in person.
Can I bring my 4-year-old on this tour?
Children from age 3 are welcome. Younger infants sit on an adult's lap. The tour involves walking through both towns, so consider whether your child is comfortable with that pace and distance before booking.
What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?
The tour includes the coach from London, the professional guide, and the walking routes through Oxford and Cambridge. Entry to any of the sites (including the Bodleian Library or the interior of Senate House) is not included and costs extra if you choose to go inside.
Do I need to book this tour in a specific language?
Your guide speaks English or Chinese depending on which departure you choose at checkout. Let the operator know your preference when you book.
Oxford and Cambridge walking tour: Two universities in one day
12h 30m · EN · CM
from £ 99 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.5988 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider