Harry Potter Oxford Tour: Christ Church & Divinity School

Walk past the filming locations where Harry Potter came to life, then step inside the actual college used on screen.

This private guided walking tour of Oxford covers the Harry Potter film sites and literary landmarks connected to Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien and other Oxford writers. The tour includes guaranteed entry to Christ Church College (worth £18 per person) and access to the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library (worth £3) when open; the first two hours are led by a guide, and the final hour is self-guided audio inside Christ Church. Tours run three hours total and depart daily at 12:45 p.m. in English or one of five other languages with advance notice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Oxford literary and Harry Potter tour

• Pass by Radcliffe Camera
• Pass by Bridge of Sighs
• Pass by Turf Tavern pub
• Pass by various Oxford colleges and sights
• Visit Divinity School film site at Bodleian Library
• Visit Christ Church with self guided audio tour
• Introduce New College Oxford from outside
• Visit Oxford Covered Market briefly

The Experience

The tour starts with your guide walking you through Oxford's colleges and streets, pointing out where scenes were filmed and connecting the city's literary history to the stories that made it famous. You'll pass Balliol College, All Souls, the Bridge of Sighs, and Radcliffe Camera as your guide explains which writers studied where and what Oxford inspired them to write. The Turf Tavern—hidden down an alley that resembles Knockturn Alley—is where the adult actors drank while filming at nearby New College. You'll also stop at Oxford Covered Market, the oldest covered market in England, to see the Harry Potter chocolate cakes and learn how Alice in Wonderland connects to the city.

After the walking portion, your guide takes you inside the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library (when it's open) to see the actual Harry Potter film site there. Then you enter Christ Church College with a pre-booked ticket—no queuing—and explore it on your own with an audio guide for about an hour. This matters because Christ Church tickets sell out online during summer, and the operator holds VIP access to buy them up to three hours before the tour starts, so you're guaranteed entry even when the college's website shows sold out. The self-guided audio lets you move at your own pace through the cloisters and staircase where the films were shot.

Arrive five minutes early at the meeting point; the tour starts on time because entry slots are pre-purchased for fixed times. If you're driving, allow an extra hour to find parking—Oxford's roads are congested and spaces are scarce. The park-and-ride buses on the edge of town run every 15 to 30 minutes and take 10 to 30 minutes to reach the city centre. Trains are faster and more reliable; the station is about 15 minutes' walk from the meeting point.

What’s included

• Guided walking tour of Oxford's Harry Potter and literary sites.
• guaranteed pre-booked entry to Christ Church College (worth £18 per person).
• self-guided audio exploration inside Christ Church for roughly an hour.
• entry to the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library when open (worth £3).
• introduction to New College from outside, where Goblet of Fire scenes were filmed.
• stops at Oxford Covered Market, Balliol College, All Souls, Bridge of Sighs, Radcliffe Camera and other colleges and landmarks.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Visit Oxford Tours

Is this one for you?Book the 12:45 p.m. departure if you're arriving by train or coach and want to start your afternoon with a private guide rather than spend the morning figuring out Oxford's layout. The fixed start time and pre-booked Christ Church tickets mean you don't queue or negotiate entry on the day—the logistics are locked in before you arrive.

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Top questions

What exactly happens inside Christ Church College on this tour?

Christ Church is explored self-guided with an audio guide for roughly an hour after the walking portion ends. You move through the cloisters and staircase where the Harry Potter films were shot, at your own pace. The college entry ticket (worth £18) is included and pre-booked, so you skip the queue.

Is the Bodleian Library's main medieval library part of this tour?

No. The tour includes entry to the Divinity School at the Bodleian (a Harry Potter film site worth £3) when it's open, but the medieval library itself is not accessible to tours or to children under 11, so it's not included.

What happens if Christ Church or the Divinity School is closed on my tour date?

If the Divinity School is closed, the tour visits New College instead, another Harry Potter filming location. If both are closed, the tour focuses on the walking route and Christ Church entry. Check the closure dates listed on the booking page before you reserve.

Can I book this tour in a language other than English?

Yes. The tour is available in Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, Chinese and other languages if you give at least 24 hours' notice when booking. If the language you request isn't available, you'll be refunded or invited to join the English tour with any cost difference refunded.

How long is the walking part, and how long do I spend inside Christ Church?

The guided walking portion is roughly two hours, covering the colleges, streets and film locations around Oxford. The final hour is self-guided audio inside Christ Church. The whole tour runs three hours and starts at 12:45 p.m. daily.

Will I see where Hagrid's actor used to drink in Oxford?

Yes. The guide walks past the Turf Tavern, hidden down an alley that resembles Knockturn Alley, and explains that Robbie Coltrane (who plays Hagrid) drank there with the other adult actors while filming at New College next door. You don't go inside the pub, but you see its location and hear the story.