Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice!
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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 13 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice! worth booking?
Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice! is a 2.5-hour experience in Oxford, United Kingdom, from $20 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 13 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 72 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (13)
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- From
- $20 per person
Explore the fascinating world of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis on this guided walking tour through Oxford. See iconic locations such as Exeter College, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Bodleian Library, and Magdalen College,
What you get
- Your Personal Guide - Contrada Tours uses only experienced local guides
- After the tour you are free to visit the riverside café and Addison's walk and deer park.
- Entry to one College of the University, usually Magdalen College. The entry ticket is included.
- At Magdalen College, we can usually visit the chapel, dining hall, cloister, café and gardens.
About this experience
Explore the fascinating world of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis on this guided walking tour through Oxford. See iconic locations such as Exeter College, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Bodleian Library, and Magdalen College, where the Inklings met. Discover how these writers inspired and helped one another. Enjoy a visit to Magdalen College, where Lewis spent nearly three decades. This tour provides a unique insight into the lives of these authors and the city that inspired them. - 2.5 hour guided walking tour of Oxford’s literary landmarks - Visit Magdalen College, where Lewis worked from 1925 to 1954 - Suitable for teenagers and adults; private tours are also available for families with young children - Learn from an expert guide about the lives of Tolkien and Lewis and their friendship - Learn how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) met the young Alice Liddell at Christ Church College and how she inspired him to write Alice in Wonderland! - Avoid the crowds - maximum group 12 people
What's included
Included
- Your Personal Guide - Contrada Tours uses only experienced local guides
- After the tour you are free to visit the riverside café and Addison's walk and deer park.
- Entry to one College of the University, usually Magdalen College. The entry ticket is included.
- At Magdalen College, we can usually visit the chapel, dining hall, cloister, café and gardens.
Not included
- Please note: the colleges are usually closed between 21 Dec - 3 January and over Easter.
- When it is not possible to visit Magdalen college, we will visit another suitable college.
- Please note, Colleges are working academic institutions. Some areas may close at short notice.
- Crowds! Our maximum group size is 12.
- The Eagle and Child pub - it is closed for restoration work until 2027.
What you'll see and do
Broad Street
Your guide will meet you here and will give you an introduction to the tour.
10 minutes here
University of Oxford
Learn about the workings of the University of Oxford, where Tolkien and Lewis were students and where they taught for most of their careers.
10 minutes here · Admission not included
See the pub where the Inklings met. The pub is currently closed for repairs and can be viewed from the outside only (2025).
10 minutes here · Admission not included
Sheldonian Theatre
See the Sheldonian Theatre, where Tolkien and Lewis matriculated and graduated and attended many other events of importance in their Oxford careers.
10 minutes here · Admission not included
Bodleian Library
See the world famous Bodleian library.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
See the original site of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, where Tolkien worked as a lexicographer on the Oxford English Dictionary. Hear about his time there.
5 minutes here
Exeter College
See the College where Tolkien was an undergraduate. Learn about his time in Oxford. We view Exeter College from the outside - internal visits are not normally permitted.
10 minutes here · Admission not included
See the famous Mitre Inn (now also called Gusto), where C.S.Lewis met T.S.Eliot. Hear about their stormy relationship!
5 minutes here · Admission included
Radcliffe Camera
See the iconic Radcliffe Camera - a great spot for some memorable photos
5 minutes here · Admission not included
Visit Radcliffe Square and see the iconic Radcliffe Camera, Brasenose College, All Souls College and the University Church of St Mary.
5 minutes here
Oriel College
See this lovely small college where Tolkien and Lewis sat their scholarship examinations before coming up to Oxford as students.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
See the Canterbury gate of Christ Church College. Learn how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) met the young Alice Liddell at Christ Church College and how she inspired him to write Alice in Wonderland. Learn also about recent developments at Christ Church including the new Alice collection.
10 minutes here · Admission not included
Merton College
See the College where Lewis and Tolkien first met in the 1920s, and where Tolkien was Professor of English during the 1940s and 1950s when he was working on the Lord of the Rings.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
Walk down beautiful Merton Street, often used as a backdrop when films are made in Oxford
5 minutes here
University College
See the college where C.S.Lewis was an undergraduate and where we worked as a tutor from 1925 - 1947.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
Magdalen College
The tour includes a visit inside Magdalen College, one of Oxford's most beautiful and historic colleges. See the chapel where Lewis worshipped daily after he became a Christian and the College dining hall where he ate. See the New Building where the Inklinks met. If you have time you can walk around Addison's Walk which is a beautiful circular walk around an island on the River Cherwell within the grounds the college. You can recreate the walk which Lewis, Tolkien and Hugo Dyson did in 1931 and which had such important consequences for Lewis. The College also has a Cafe by the river Cherwell serving drinks, light lunches and tea.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Oxford
We meet near the Italiamo Cafe on Broad Street, near the red telephone box.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The tour ends at Magdalen College. Visitors are free to explore the college further after the tour ends.
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
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Contrada Tours - walking tours of Oxford
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 13 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
13 verified traveler reviews for Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice!. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great tour and wonderful tour guide
Eve was our guide for this tour, and she did a fantastic job! She is knowledgeable, patient and responsive when dealing with questions, and great to work with general. We were fortunate in that it was just my wife and I on the tour, so we essentially had a private tour and were able interact with her easily. Highly recommended!
via Viator
High marks
Extremely knowledgable guide who tailored our experience to our level of familiarity.
via Tripadvisor
Would Recommend
A great tour with lots of wonderful surprises including access to some of the colleges. I my wife and I are both big C.S. Lewis fans and learn a lot!
via Viator
Great experience for our family of 4.
Our family thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Tim was a very knowledgeable guide. We learned a lot about Tolkien and Lewis and saw many beautiful sites in Oxford. My 13-year-old daughter commented that the tour was a highlight for her.
Response from the operator: Thank you! It was lovely to meet you, and I enjoyed our conversations. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the tour, and that it was a trip highlight for your daughter!
via Tripadvisor
Very much enjoyed!
Great tour by Eve! It was a small group of six - so easy to hear her and move around. We got to see several sights and she tied them all in with both Lewis and Tolkien. Great history. She also showed as several photos that helped us understand. Recommend this tour!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
- Price range
- $20 to $55
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 5
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 72
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice!: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Oxford.
How much does Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice! cost?
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Prices start at $20 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 Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice! take?
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Plan for about 2.5 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 Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice! worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 13 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 Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice!?
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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 Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice! suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice!?
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Around 5 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 2.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice! 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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