Oxford's Bridge of Sighs

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:

• See historic Oxford Castle and prison, and learn how King Charles I and the Royalists took over Oxford during the English Civil War;
• Visit Oxford University, one of the world’s best-known universities and explore the array of 37 colleges, including New College, Christchurch, Merton, Brasenose, Exeter, Oriel and Pembroke;
• Stroll down Cornmarket Street, explore the covered market and Carfax Tower;
• Marvel at the Radcliffe Camera, and take photos at the iconic Bridge of Sighs, the Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre;
• Learn about some of the illustrious professors and former students of Oxford, hear about daily life as a student here and the formal ceremonies such as matriculation and graduation.
• Pop into some of the popular pubs for a cheeky pint, such as the Turf Tavern (where Bill Clinton didn’t inhale) or the Eagle and Child, where the Inklings met;
• See how it came to be the university town that inspired Lewis Carroll's Wonderland, Tolkien's Middle Earth, and Lewis's Narnia and is one of the most popular filming locations for TV series like Morse and Lewis, and iconic movies like Harry Potter.
  

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:

• Travel in the comfort of a private and iconic London taxi or Black Cab;
• Experience the magical atmosphere of Oxford – the city of dreaming spires;
• Step into all the Harry Potter movie locations in Oxford, accompanied by your private guide who happens to be a complete Harry Potter fanatic;
• Explore Christ Church College, and step inside the grand dining room, better known as the Great Hall of Hogwarts;
• Walk, skip, but don’t run along the cloisters of New College, used for filming the scenes in Hogwarts’ corridors between classes;
• Marvel at one of the oldest and largest libraries in Europe, used in the movies as the Hogwarts Infirmary - managed by the efficient Madam Pomfrey, and where Professor McGonagall taught the pupils to dance, in preparation for the Yule Ball in Goblet of Fire;

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.