Oxford private pub and city evening walking tour

Walk Oxford's streets at night with a guide who knows the student stories and pub history

A private evening walking tour of Oxford lasting around three hours, led by a guide in English, Spanish or French, who takes you through the city's streets and into two or three historic local pubs while introducing colleges and landmarks like the Radcliffe Camera and Bridge of Sighs. Your first drink (a half pint of local ale or beer) is included. Minimum age is 18. If you appear under 30, bring valid photo ID to enter the pubs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Bridge of Sighspass by
2. Radcliffe Camerapass by
3. Bodleian Library5m
4. Balliol Collegepass by
5. Trinity Collegepass by
6. All Souls Collegepass by

Evening walking tour and pub visits

• Walk Oxford city streets at night
• Pass by Bridge of Sighs
• Pass by Radcliffe Camera
• Visit Bodleian Library
• Pass by Balliol College
• Pass by Trinity College
• Pass by All Souls College
• Visit Turf Tavern pub

The experience

The tour moves through Oxford at night, passing the Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, Bridge of Sighs and several colleges including Balliol, Trinity and All Souls. You won't go inside the colleges, they close at 5pm, but you'll see them lit up and hear why they matter to the city. The guide introduces each one as you walk, weaving in stories about famous alumni and the university's place in Oxford's life.

Two or three stops at historic local pubs anchor the evening. The Turf Tavern, hidden just outside the medieval city walls, was once a gambling site and later a haunt of the actor who played Hagrid during Harry Potter filming. At each pub, you'll hear the stories and urban legends tied to the place, learn which students favored it, and have time to socialize. Your first drink (a half pint of local ale or beer) comes with the tour. Anything after that you buy yourself.

The walk takes around three hours and covers the city's main streets. Arrive about an hour before your start time if you're traveling by train or coach. If you're driving, Oxford's roads are congested and parking is tight, so aim for a park-and-ride on the edge of town and take the bus in. The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels, though it is a walking tour through a city center with uneven historic streets.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English, Spanish or French.
• first drink (half pint of local ale or beer).
• walking tour of Oxford's city center and university sights at night.
• entry to two or three historic local pubs with stories and urban legends about each one.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:45

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Visit Oxford Tours

Is this one for you?The tour is a steady three-hour walk through Oxford's streets and pubs, so it suits anyone comfortable on their feet for an evening out. The pace is social and unhurried, built around stops for drinks and conversation rather than rushing between sights.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What is the Turf Tavern and why is it part of this tour?

The Turf Tavern is a historic pub hidden just outside Oxford's medieval city walls, originally built as a gambling site centuries ago. It's included because it's where the actor who played Hagrid in Harry Potter filmed nearby and used to drink, and it carries the stories of Oxford's student life that the tour centers on.

Do we go inside the Oxford colleges on this tour?

No, you don't enter the colleges themselves, they close at 5pm, but you pass them during the walk and the guide introduces each one, explaining their history and connection to Oxford's famous alumni and student culture.

What happens if I look under 30?

If you appear under 30, you must carry valid photo ID to enter the pubs: a passport, driving license, UK proof-of-age drinking card, or military ID with your date of birth visible in English. Without it, the pubs can ask you to leave.

Is food included, or just the first drink?

Your first drink (a half pint of local ale or beer) is included with the tour. Food and any additional drinks are available to purchase at the pubs.

How do I get to the meeting point if I'm coming by train?

The train station is about 15 minutes walk from the meeting point on Broad Street. Aim to arrive about an hour before your tour starts, since trains can be delayed. If you take the Oxford Tube coach from London, ask to get off at High Street near Carfax Tower, then walk 10 minutes to Broad Street.