Harry Potter Oxford tour: New College entry included

Walk Oxford's Harry Potter film sites and step inside the cloisters where a key Goblet of Fire scene was shot

This guided walking tour of Oxford's Harry Potter filming locations includes entry to New College, where you explore the medieval cloisters featured in the films. The guide takes you past the Bridge of Sighs, Trinity College, Balliol College, All Souls College, and the Bodleian Library, describing how each was used in the wizarding films; the tour ends outside the Bodleian. Groups stay under 20 people per guide, and the walk takes around 90 minutes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Harry Potter Oxford tour highlights

• Visit New College film site
• Explore cloisters where Malfoy turned ferret
• See medieval hall and gardens
• Pass by Radcliffe Camera
• Pass by Bodleian Library
• Pass by Sheldonian Theatre
• Pass by All Souls College
• Pass by Balliol College
• Pass by Trinity College
• Pass by Bridge of Sighs
• Learn about Divinity School from outside Bodleian
• Option to enter Divinity School

The Experience

The tour moves through Oxford's college streets on foot, with your guide pointing out filming locations as you pass them. You'll see the Bridge of Sighs, walk by Trinity, Balliol, and All Souls colleges, and pass the Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian Library from outside—the guide shares stories about how each was used in the films and what happens inside them. The Sheldonian Theatre and other college courtyards appear along the route, each with its own connection to the Harry Potter production.

New College is where the tour shifts from passing by to stepping inside. Entry worth £12 is included, and you usually spend about 40 minutes here. You walk through the medieval cloisters where Malfoy was transformed into a ferret in Goblet of Fire, see the chapel and gardens, and learn about the college's role in the films. The medieval hall is visible but Warner Bros requested permission to film there and were declined, so the guide explains what happened instead. The tour ends at the entrance to the Bodleian Library, where you can choose to pay £3 for self-guided entry to the Divinity School—the room that appears as Hogwarts' hospital wing in the films.

The guide weaves in stories about real student life at Oxford and how the university inspired the Harry Potter universe, so the tour works for families with younger children as well as adult fans. Because groups max out at 20 people, the pace stays manageable and the guide can answer questions as you move between sites. Arrive 5 minutes early at the meeting point; if you're driving, Oxford's roads are congested and parking is difficult, so plan to arrive about an hour before the tour starts, or use the park-and-ride services on the edge of town. Trains are faster and more reliable if you're coming from elsewhere; the station is about 15 minutes' walk from the meeting point.

What’s included

• Entry to New College (worth £12) and the cloisters where Malfoy was transformed into a ferret.
• a guide who shares stories about each filming location and real Oxford student life.
• walking past the Bridge of Sighs, Trinity College, Balliol College, All Souls College, the Radcliffe Camera, and the Bodleian Library from outside.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Visit Oxford Tours

Is this one for you?The tour is a walking route through Oxford's streets with about 90 minutes on your feet, so wear comfortable shoes; if you're driving, allow an extra hour to find parking or use the park-and-ride services on the edge of town and catch a bus into the city centre.

Top questions

What happens inside New College on this tour?

New College entry is included, and you spend roughly 40 minutes walking the medieval cloisters where Malfoy was turned into a ferret in Goblet of Fire, viewing the chapel and gardens, and learning how the college was used in the films.

Can I go inside the Bodleian Library on this tour?

The tour ends outside the Bodleian Library, and the guide introduces the building and the Divinity School from the courtyard; entry to the Divinity School costs £3 extra if you want to see the room that appears as Hogwarts' hospital wing.

Does this tour visit Christ Church?

This tour does not include Christ Church; the operator runs that as a separate tour.

How many people walk on this tour?

Groups stay under 20 people per guide, so the pace stays manageable and the guide can answer questions as you move between sites.

What's the best way to get to the meeting point if I'm arriving by train?

Trains are faster and more reliable than driving; the train station is about 15 minutes' walk from the meeting point, so aim to arrive an hour or earlier before the tour starts in case of delays.