Oxford: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Walking Tour

Oxford's Colleges & Pubs on Your Own Schedule

You board a double-decker bus at any stop along the route and ride as many loops as you want over 24 or 48 hours, with on-board audio in your language and an optional guided walking tour to fill in the details. The river cruise adds a 40-minute boat trip to Iffley Lock if you want it. Buses run every 15 minutes, so you're never waiting long to move on.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Oxford by hop-on hop-off bus

• Start at Railway Station
• Hop on double-decker bus
• View Christ Church College
• See Brasenose College
• Pass The Plain
• Visit Sheldonian Theatre
• Stop at Trinity College
• Visit The Eagle and Child pub
• Enjoy on-board audio commentary
• Take guided walking tour

The experience

The woman at the Visitor Information Point on High Street didn't rush you through the options. She just handed over the headphones and said the bus would be back in fifteen minutes if you missed the first one. That's the whole thing, really. You pick up your ticket, walk to any of the stops along the Historic City & University Route, and climb onto the open-top deck whenever you're ready. The bus loops past Christ Church College, the Sheldonian Theatre, Trinity College, and all the colleges that line the streets, and you can jump off at any stop to explore on foot, then catch the next one that comes along. The audio commentary plays in fourteen languages, so you're not dependent on a guide's pace or someone else's idea of what matters.

If you want a bit more structure, there's a 60-minute Oxford Uncovered Walking Tour that departs hourly from the same information point between 11am and 4pm. It's a closer look at the local streets and stories: the kind of detail you miss from the bus window. The Eagle and Child pub, where Tolkien and Lewis used to meet, is one of those stops that makes sense when someone explains the history. You can do the walking tour on its own or combine it with however many bus loops you want to do across your 24 or 48 hours. If you've booked the Bus & River Cruise ticket, you also get a 40-minute return trip to Iffley Lock: boats run hourly from 11am to 5pm, April through September, weather permitting.

The buses run every fifteen minutes until early evening (last departure at 6pm most of the year, 5pm in autumn), so there's no real pressure to plan the day in advance. You can spend an hour at the Bodleian Library or the Ashmolean Museum, or just ride the top deck for the views and hop off at Carfax Junction or Oxford Botanic Garden whenever something catches your eye. Mobile tickets work at any stop, and if you've got a paper voucher, the City Sightseeing shop at Oxford Railway Station will sort you out. The voucher stays valid for a year, so if you book it now and plans change, you've got time.

What’s included

• Your 24 or 48-hour ticket includes unlimited hop-on hop-off bus travel on the Historic City & University Route, on-board audio commentary in 14 languages with free headphones, and a 60-minute Oxford Uncovered Walking Tour departing hourly from the Visitor Information Point on High Street (11am–4pm, subject to availability). If you select the Bus & River Cruise ticket, you also get a 40-minute return boat trip to Iffley Lock, with departures daily from 11am to 5pm, April through September. Mobile and paper vouchers are accepted.
• paper vouchers are redeemed at the City Sightseeing shop at Oxford Railway Station.

Options for this experience

2 options

24-Hour Bus TicketGuide in English · No fixed timeA 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour and a seasonal 45-minute Stepping Through Oxford walking tour are both covered by this ticket.

48-Hour Bus TicketGuide in English · No fixed timeThis ticket covers a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour along with a seasonal 45-minute Stepping Through Oxford walking tour.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Polish and Russian

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by City Sightseeing Ltd - UK and Ireland

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Oxford's colleges and landmarks without arranging your own transport or timing: the frequent buses and walking tour option let you move at your own pace while someone else handles the route.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6): free.

Can I get on and off the bus as many times as I want?

Yes. Your 24 or 48-hour ticket lets you hop on and off at any stop along the Historic City & University Route for the full duration. Buses run every 15 minutes, so you won't wait long between trips.

Is the audio commentary in English?

Yes, and 13 other languages. Free headphones are included with your ticket.

What's included in the Bus & River Cruise ticket?

The hop-on hop-off bus tour plus a 40-minute return boat trip to Iffley Lock. River cruises run daily from 11am to 5pm, April through September, subject to weather.

Do I have to book the walking tour in advance?

No. The Oxford Uncovered Walking Tour departs hourly from 11am to 4pm from the Visitor Information Point on High Street. It's 60 minutes and included with your ticket, but check availability when you arrive as it's seasonal.

Where do I pick up my ticket?

If you have a mobile voucher, you can redeem it at any bus stop. Paper vouchers must be redeemed at the City Sightseeing shop at Oxford Railway Station.

How long is the full bus route?

One complete loop takes 60 minutes. You can ride it once or multiple times during your 24 or 48-hour window.

What time do the buses start and finish?

First departure is 9:30am. Last departure varies by season: 6pm until mid-July, 6:30pm mid-July to early September, then 5pm through October. Buses run every 15 minutes.

How long is my voucher valid?

12 months from the travel date you select at checkout.

Is the bus accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the bus is wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller.