Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 3 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour worth booking?
Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour is a 2-hour experience in Oxford, United Kingdom, from $75 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 3 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 55 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (3)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $75 per person
Entry worth £10 per person is included to Magdalen college and deer park, as and when it is open. See what is excluded section for any dates of closures. Besides introducing Oxford heritage, this tour is led by one of O
What you get
- Entry inside at least one or more colleges such as St Johns, Exeter, Balliol or Wadham
- Entry worth £10 per person to Magdalen college is included- except any dates published closures
About this experience
Entry worth £10 per person is included to Magdalen college and deer park, as and when it is open. See what is excluded section for any dates of closures. Besides introducing Oxford heritage, this tour is led by one of Oxford's most experienced local guides and it introduces the best college gardens off the beaten route of most tourists visiting Oxford. For anyone interested in herbalism, this can be a focus interest too, if made known in advance before the tour. You will visit inside at least one or more college -see details of which colleges in the main tour description. This tour is suitable for all ages but it will appeal especially to anyone who has a special interest in gardening.
What's included
Included
- Entry inside at least one or more colleges such as St Johns, Exeter, Balliol or Wadham
- Entry worth £10 per person to Magdalen college is included- except any dates published closures
Not included
- Magdalen college entry ticket for £10 is not included in tour & is an optional add
- Colleges may be closed on graduation dates- see dates below...
- 2026 graduation dates of likely closures of some or all colleges:
- Feb 28, March7, May 15+16+23, July 18+28+31, Aug 1+8, Sep 25+26, Nov 6+7+13+14 of 2026
- 2027 graduation dates of likely closures of some or all colleges:
- Jan 23, Feb 27, March 6, May 14 + 15+ 22 of 2027
- Magdalen is always closed during Christmas from about December 21 until December 31
What you'll see and do
Magdalen College
Entry to Magdalen worth £10 per person is included in the tour. This is probably the gem of Oxford college gardens and it's also famous for where CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien used to walk and talk in the gardens. The college also has a deer park. Note that on any dates, when Magdalen is closed, we will replace instead with entry to another college. See dates of any closures under the section. Magdalen is closed every year from usually about December 21 until December 31st.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Balliol College
This college dates back to 1263! We usually visit this college too- unless it's closed. This college has an amazing dining hall which looks like Hogwarts hall! This college is where Adam Smith studied plus four prime ministers. Entry worth £5 per person included
Pass by without stopping
Magdalen College
Magdalen is ONLY included in our tour, if you agree to pay the extra £10 cost directly to the college. We can discuss the option of whether to include this or not in the tour, on the day but please be aware that it's at least 20 minutes walk away. This college has the most expansive and probably the most pleasant gardens. Addisons Walk is also where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien used to walk and talk. Magdalen is where Cs Lewis taught.
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Bridge of Sighs
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
Pass by without stopping
University Church of St. Mary the Virgin
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
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Brasenose College
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
Pass by without stopping
All Souls College
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
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Hertford College
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
Pass by without stopping
Trinity College
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
Pass by without stopping
Bodleian Library
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
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Wadham College
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours. If however Exeter or St Johns or Balliol college is closed, we may instead visit this college chapel and garden. Its entry fee is £3 per person. This is the college which JK Rowling applied to but she was turned down.
Pass by without stopping
St John's College
This college is always on our tour to visit inside and see the medieval quadrange, the gardens and the chapel. Its free entry. However, it's only open from 1pm to 5pm.
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Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
We walk past and introduce this sight on our tours
Pass by without stopping
Exeter College
This is easily one of Oxford's college gems, founded in 1314 and the student college of Tolkien plus of the pre Raphaelites artists, William Morris & Edward Burne Jones. The chapel is gorgeous & so is the Old Fellows Garden. This college is also where they often filmed Inspector Morse & Lewis shows. This college is usually closed to the public but as a guide, I can get you access with me, as and when the college is open. It is usually closed in term time though. On dates when Magdalen college is closed, we usually replace with entry to Exeter college instead. Exeter alongwith most colleges is closed during Christmas period from about December 20 till about January 4.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Oxford
Meet myself, Alasdair, your guide wearing red lanyard. Meeting next to our black sign, OUTSIDE Oxford Tourist info centre, 15 Broad street, OX1 3AS. This is also next to the Oxfam shop which has a green sign above its shop.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Meet myself, Alasdair, your guide wearing red lanyard. Meeting next to our black sign, OUTSIDE Oxford Tourist info centre, 15 Broad street, OX1 3AS. This is also next to the Oxfam shop which has a green sign above its shop.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Visit Oxford Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 14+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $75 to $200
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Visit Oxford Tours, who run 31 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 56.2.
See everything Visit Oxford Tours runsWhy this scores 55
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Oxford.
How much does Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $75 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Oxford usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Oxford is not rushed.
Is Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 3 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Oxford, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 14. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 2-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Oxford can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Oxford and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Oxford College Gardens Public Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Oxford within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Oxford?
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On Outty we rank every Oxford experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Cotswolds in a Day Tour from Moreton-in-Marsh / Stratford-on-Avon, Oxford University Walking Tour With University Alumni Guide, Oxford Official University & City Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Oxford?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Oxford?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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