Head over Broad Street to Blackwell’s bookshop for a truly vast variety of books to choose from
The Famous Five
The Bodleian, or simply ‘the Bod’, is Oxford’s main library and one of the oldest libraries in Europe: it holds over 12 million items. Over the centuries it has expanded along with the university. The Schools Quadrangle was added at the start of the 17th century. The tower over the main entrance is know as the Tower of the Fiver Orders, because it is ornamented with columns from each of the five orders of classical architecture: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite.
Lumos…
A walk around the perimeter of the Schools Quadrangle reveals the latin inscriptions over the doorways, such as Schloa Moralis Philosophiae. The inscriptions read like spells, but that’s not the only magic the Bodleian has seen: many scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot here too. For example, the Divinity School doubles as the Hogwarts hospital wing and Duke Humfrey’s Library is the Hogwarts Library. The students sometimes wear flowing gowns too!
Magnum Opus
The Bodleian, with all its history and wealth, is unsurprisingly home to a fair few treasures. For example, the Bay Psalm Book, although modest in appearance, is actually the most valuable printed book ever sold due to its status as the first book printed in North America. You can also find souvenirs from the Women’s suffrage movement, along with a 1217 engrossment of the Magna Carta and a draft of Wilfred Owen’s war poem Dulce et decorum est, written in his own hand.
Some animals are more equal than others
Most importantly of all, there is an outstanding compendium of beasts from the 13th century, and also a Victorian advert for a performance by Toby the sapient pig. Toby took London by storm in the 19th century with his mind-reading abilities.
Discover the beautiful, world-famous university city of Oxford dubbed the City of Dreaming Spires by the poet Matthew Arnold, on this private day trip from London where you can fully explore the city that gave us the Inklings: Tolkien, Lewis Carroll and C.S Lewis, Narnia, Middle Earth and Alice in Wonderland!
On your private Oxford day trip you will:
On arriving in Oxford, your guide will spend the morning showing you around Oxford Castle and medieval prison, followed by an in-depth tour of one of the 37 colleges.
You’ll then be able to take a lunch break at one of the many delicious eateries or street food vendors at the Covered Market and enjoy a fully guided tour of the city afterwards.
You will learn about the town-gown riots of the medieval period as you pop into Blackwells - the student bookshop, and learn all about life as a student or don at Oxford.
You will also stop by the iconic Radcliffe Camera, the Bridge of Sighs and the Bodleian Library and hear about Matriculation at the Sheldonian Theatre, and wander into the nooks and crannies that would inspire the famous entrances to Narnia.
See colleges like All Souls and Magdalene, Oriel and Jesus and enjoy some peaceful green space as you wander along with the River Isis, through Christchurch Meadow and the Botanical Garden.
After a day spent absorbing the magic of Oxford, you’ll then enjoy a peaceful transfer back to London.
Inspiration for hundreds of novels, and the romantic setting for many TV shows and movies, including, of course, several of the Harry Potter films. Experience the magic of Oxford and the Harry Potter filming locations with your private guide and driver on this enchanting day trip from London.
On your private tour, you will:
Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, one of the most beautiful, eminent and historic cities in the world is your destination for the day.
You’ll be picked up in central London from a location of your choice, by your private guide – a passionate historian, Harry Potter fanatic, and qualified private guide and Black Cab driver! You’ll enjoy a scenic drive to Oxford where you’ll spend the day wandering around the enchanting colleges, streets, markets, and gardens of this magical city.
Birthplace of Alice in Wonderland, Narnia and Middle Earth, and more recently His Dark Materials, Oxford was used as the location for some of the most memorable scenes in the Harry Potter movies – including everyone’s favourite dining room – the Grand Hall of Hogwarts!
Not only will you step into the movie scenes at Christ Church and New College (founded in 1379 – it’s no longer that new!), but your privately guided tour will take you all over the city. You’ll pass by all the must-see landmarks including the Bridge of Sighs, Carfax Tower, the Radcliffe Camera, the entrance to Narnia, the Sheldonian Theatre (which hides an elusive Potter secret!) and Tom’s Tower.
You’ll see many of Oxford’s beautiful colleges from the outside, where some of the greatest luminaries have studied and you will also enjoy some peaceful green space as you wander along the River Isis, through Christchurch Meadow and the Botanical Garden.
You’ll walk past the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford Castle and Prison – the partly ruined Norman medieval stronghold dating back to the 11th century, the Ashmolean Museum of Art, Archaeology and Antiquities, and the Martyrs Memorial where you’ll uncover some grim Tudor History, and the Covered Market – a delicious place for street food where you’ll learn about the Town/Gown riots!
After a day spent absorbing the magic of Oxford, you’ll then enjoy a peaceful drive back to Muggle London.
DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the film series 'Harry Potter' based on the eponymous novels by author J. K. Rowling, produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with, or connection to, the film series 'Harry Potter', the author J. K. Rowling, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
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