Oxford: Christ Church & Bodleian Library Tour with 2 Colleges

Inside Christ Church & the Bodleian: Oxford's Most Famous Colleges in One Day

You enter two Oxford colleges with guaranteed access to Christ Church, explore the Bodleian Library and its medieval Divinity School, and see the university's most significant sites—Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, Sheldonian Theatre—with a guide who explains the history and rivalries that shaped them. All entrance fees are included, and you get independent time inside Christ Church with a multimedia headset, so you're not following a group the whole way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Oxford University and City Highlights

• Pass by Balliol College
• Visit Trinity College
• Pass by Tolkien's College
• Visit progressive College
• Pass by historic rival College
• Visit History of Science Museum
• Visit modern Bodleian Library interior
• Visit important religious site
• Visit Sheldonian Theatre
• Visit historic library model
• Visit Bodleian Library
• Visit Bridge of Sighs
• Visit Radcliffe Camera
• Visit All Souls College
• Visit Oxford University epicentre
• Visit academically inclined College
• Visit Alice's Adventures in Wonderland site
• Enter Christ Church College with audio guide
• Visit Divinity School of Bodleian Library

The Experience

The stone echoes when you walk through Christ Church's cloisters—nearly 500 years of footsteps worn into the flagstones, and you're standing where Harry Potter was filmed, where Alice Liddell (the real Alice) grew up, where cardinals and prime ministers studied. This extended Oxford tour gets you inside two colleges with guaranteed entry to Christ Church itself, which most Oxford tours only show from the outside. You'll also enter the Bodleian Library's Divinity School, a medieval lecture hall so perfect it's been used as a film set for everything from Harry Potter to period dramas. The whole thing takes you through the university's working heart—not just the postcard views, though you'll see those too.

Your guide walks you through the college grounds first, giving you the context—the rivalries between colleges, the religious history buried in the stones, why All Souls is the most exclusive academic institution in the world. Then you get a multimedia headset and time to explore Christ Church at your own pace, which matters because the place is huge and you're not being herded. You'll also stop at the Bodleian Library (over 12 million books, some dating back to the Pharaohs), see the Radcliffe Camera—the most photographed building in Oxford, though not for the reason most people think—and walk past Balliol College, argued to be Oxford's oldest. The Bridge of Sighs, Trinity College with its 1555 architecture, the Sheldonian Theatre finished by Christopher Wren in 1669: these aren't rushed checkpoints. They're the actual structure of how Oxford works.

One thing to know: during peak season (June through August), the Divinity School sometimes closes without warning because it's a working university, not a museum. If that happens on your day, the tour substitutes another college entrance instead of leaving you short. It's worth asking about timing if you're traveling in summer. The tour is wheelchair accessible throughout, and there's public transport nearby if you're coming from London—some people book the pickup option from Gloucester Road Tube Station, which adds to the cost but saves the navigation.

What’s included

• Your day includes entrance to Christ Church College with multimedia audio guide, entry to the Bodleian Library and Divinity School (subject to availability during peak season), access to two historic colleges, and external views of Oxford's most iconic sites including Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, Sheldonian Theatre, and All Souls College.
• All entrance fees and taxes are covered.
• Wheelchair-accessible transportation is available, and public transport options are nearby.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Footprints Tours Limited

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone who wants to see Oxford's most famous colleges and libraries without arranging separate tickets and timing—the guide handles the context and the logistics, leaving you to absorb the history at your own pace inside Christ Church.

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Top questions

Is Christ Church entry guaranteed on this tour?

Yes. This extended tour includes guaranteed entrance to Christ Church College. You receive an external overview from your guide, then explore the grounds independently with a multimedia audio guide for about an hour.

What happens if the Divinity School is closed on my visit?

During peak season (June–August), the Divinity School sometimes closes due to high demand. If it's closed on your day, the tour substitutes entrance to another historic college instead.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. All entrance fees and taxes are included in the tour price.

Can I book pickup from London?

Yes. A pickup option is available from Gloucester Road Tube Station in London, though it costs more than meeting in Oxford. The standard meeting point is 15 Broad Street, Oxford.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas, surfaces, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller.

What if a college closes unexpectedly?

Oxford University is a working institution, so sites occasionally close without notice. The tour operator will show you the best available alternatives, inform you of major changes in advance, and offer a refund if needed.

Will I see the Harry Potter filming locations?

Yes. Christ Church College is one of the most significant Harry Potter film sites in England and is included on this tour. The Divinity School (when open) was also used in the films.