
Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 19 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option worth booking?
Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option is a 7-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $455 per person. It scores 62 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 19 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 62 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (19)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $455 per person
Explore the charming city of Oxford on this private walking tour from London. Visit prestigious universities, including Christ Church College, with skip-the-line tickets. Your local guide will showcase the best of Oxford, from its iconic Colleges to a bookstore renowned worldwide and a blackboard featuring Einstein’s preserved formulas. Enjoy a traditional British lunch in a historic 14th-century tavern. Stroll through medieval streets, discovering stunning churches, bridges, and historic buildings while soaking in the city’s intellectual and scholarly atmosphere. With your expert guide, dive into the rich history and culture of Oxford, making this an unforgettable experience.
What you get
About this experience
Explore the charming city of Oxford on this private walking tour from London. Visit prestigious universities, including Christ Church College, with skip-the-line tickets. Your local guide will showcase the best of Oxford, from its iconic Colleges to a bookstore renowned worldwide and a blackboard featuring Einstein’s preserved formulas. Enjoy a traditional British lunch in a historic 14th-century tavern. Stroll through medieval streets, discovering stunning churches, bridges, and historic buildings while soaking in the city’s intellectual and scholarly atmosphere. With your expert guide, dive into the rich history and culture of Oxford, making this an unforgettable experience.
What's included
Included
- Lunch in a traditional british tavern (Full option)
- Skip-the-line entry to Christ Church College (Full Option)
- Round-trip train tickets from London to Oxford
- Skip the line tickets to Divinity School and University Church of St Mary (all options)
- Full day private tour with a local guide in Oxford
Not included
- Children must be over 8 years old to climb the tower of Saint Mary Church
- Gratuities to the guide
What you'll see and do
Oxford Castle Prison
See Oxford's 1000 year old castle and prison, a piece of Oxford´s history.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Carfax Tower
Discover the only remaining ruin of a 12th-century church in the center of Oxford.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Martyrs' Memorial
Find out the tragic story around the Martyrs' Memorial.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Balliol College
Appreciate the architecture of the oldest college of Oxford University.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
History of Science Museum
See Einstein's Blackboard, the masterpiece of the oldest museum in the United Kingdom.
20 minutes here
Bodleian Library
Check out the University library, one of the largest in Europe, with more than
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Visit Divinity School: enter the University's oldest purpose-built teaching and examination room. It is also a location made famous from featuring in the Harry Potter films.
20 minutes here · Admission included
Bridge of Sighs
Take a look at Oxford's most popular bridge, better known as the Bridge of Sighs.
15 minutes here
Radcliffe Camera
See the circular dome of the Radcliffe Camera, the distinctive landmark of the city.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
University Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Climb the 127 steps to the top of the 13th-century tower, the oldest part of the church, and enjoy the best views across the heart of the university city.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Lunch Break. Enjoy a traditional English lunch and a beer in this typical 14th-century British tavern, very popular with students, including several celebrities who studied at Oxford. (Full Option)
50 minutes here · Admission included
Merton College
See the 13th-century chapel stands at the heart of one of the ancient Oxford Colleges.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Christ Church
Upgrade you tour visiting the most prestigious College of Oxford University, which provided the location for many Harry Potter scenes and inspired the story of Alice in Wonderland.
45 minutes here · Admission included
You can return to London with the guide, or if you wish to continue enjoying Oxford, you can say goodbye to the guide at the Christ Church College and return on your own using your return train tickets. During the tour your private host will give you all the tips you need to know about the local life, the things you can do, to make the most of your visit to the city!
40 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
London
Paddington Train Station. Gate 1, at the door of the Pret A Manger shop
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Paddington Train Station. Gate 1, at the door of the Pret A Manger shop
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Local CoolTour
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You can return to London with the guide, or if you wish to continue enjoying Oxford, you can say goodbye to the guide at the Christ Church College and return on your own using your return train tickets
- Christ Church College tickets and lunch inluded in the Full Option
- Children must be over 8 years old to climb the tower of Saint Mary Church
- This tour is not suitable for travelers with mobility impairments. Please contact us before booking if you require any accessibility accommodations.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 19 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
19 verified traveler reviews for Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A Brilliant Oxford Tour
Emma, our tour guide, was simply amazing. I’ve experienced many campus tours, but no one brings the history and the traditions and rivalries of each College to life with such humour, and being able to skip the long lines at places like Christ Church made it even better. She speaks with her body, and each time we make a stop to learn something, she never lets us down, even during our traditional pub lunch.
via Tripadvisor
Maria is a perfect tour guide
Maria was wonderful! She was so knowledgeable and patient. Highly recommend her to future groups.
via Tripadvisor
A lovely way to discover Oxford
We had a wonderful tour with Emma. She is so knowledgeable and shared her passion for Oxford with us. With all the historical details and fascinating stories she shared along the way, we felt like we discovered some hidden sides of this beautiful place and truly connected with the city. Thank you, Emma.
via Tripadvisor
Wonderful experience of history, religion, and the University in Oxford
This is a deep immersion into the centuries of history that have formed and shaped Oxford over the years. Our tour guide was Maria. She was very knowledgeable. Her presentation style was not a memorized speech. It was that of a family friend showing us a new city. Highlights included churches: St. Mary’s and then Christ Church. We saw the Martyr’s monument, as she narrated the history of Henry VIII as he established the Anglican faith and outlawed Catholicism. We saw several of the colleges, each anchored by a church. This was a very enlightening tour for us. I’d highly recommend it.
via Viator
Experiencing centuries of history and religion in Oxford.
This was a well thought-out immersive experience of seeing Oxford: The centuries old town, the colleges, and the churches that are integral parts of them. We saw St. Mary’s and then Christ Church. Those visits were meaningful. The history of Henry VIII’s conversion from Catholicism to the Anglican faith is noted there as we saw the Martyr’s Memorial. Other old buildings and museums provided historic context and an insight into people’s lives there today. We were especially blessed to have Maria as our guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable and presented a huge amount of knowledge to us in an easy conversational manner.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $455 to $621
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Local CoolTour, who run 83 experiences we rank across 11 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 64.4.
See everything Local CoolTour runsWhy this scores 62
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.
How much does Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option cost?
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Prices start at $455 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option take?
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Plan for about 7 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 London is not rushed.
Is Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 62 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 19 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option?
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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 Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option?
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Around 7 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 London 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 London and add a light layer if any part of the 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option 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 London 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 London?
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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour, Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs. 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 London?
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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. 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 London?
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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.
What is included in Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option?
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Included: Lunch in a traditional british tavern (Full option); Skip-the-line entry to Christ Church College (Full Option); Round-trip train tickets from London to Oxford; Skip the line tickets to Divinity School and University Church of St Mary (all options); and Full day private tour with a local guide in Oxford. Not included: Children must be over 8 years old to climb the tower of Saint Mary Church; and Gratuities to the guide. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option?
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Paddington Train Station. Gate 1, at the door of the Pret A Manger shop Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: This tour is not suitable for travelers with mobility impairments. Please contact us befor. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Oxford Private Day Trip from London: Lunch & Colleges Option?
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Across 19 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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