Tour guide in Oxford Sophie D.

Oxford, United Kingdom

English, French

Tours Delivered,
Since May 15, 2023

8.0

Hours, Avg. response time

I'm Sophie D., your private tour guide in Oxford

Guide #59335

4.9 (49)

After completing my BA (Hons) in Art History and History at Oxford Brookes University, I moved to France, where I spent over 20 years restoring a medieval château and welcoming guests from around the world. In 2009, I co-founded a highly acclaimed tour company, offering seamless multi-day experiences that combined historic sites, handpicked accommodation, and exceptional guiding. I now bring those same skills and passion to my work in Oxford. Returning to Oxford felt like a natural continuation of my work with travellers. The city offers a captivating window into the past, with its rich collection of artefacts, stories, and architecture all within easy reach. The University, its colleges, and the city together offer a unique opportunity to explore British history in one of its most beautiful settings. My tours are often described as 'surprising and insightful.' Areas of expertise include art history, the English Civil War, literary tours (notably Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien), and religious history in Oxford. Popular destinations include colleges, Radcliffe Square, and the Bodleian Library. As a member of the Oxford Guild of Guides, I can arrange access to colleges not usually open to the public and am one of the few guides accredited to lead tours inside Christ Church. Tours can typically accommodate groups of up to 19 participants, though some sites may have smaller group limits. Outside of guiding, I enjoy theatre, travel, and writing. I recently published my first book about rural France. Associate of the Institute of Tourist Guiding Member of the Guild of Guides Co-founder of Cathar Country Tours (Langue d’Oc, France) BA (Hons) in Art History and History, Oxford Brookes University Certified to guide in French If your preferred date isn’t showing as available, feel free to get in touch. As an Oxford resident, I love creating custom tours tailored to specific interests and schedules.

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4.9

Traveller reviews for this guide

49 reviews

  • William W.United States
    2 days ago

    Sophiee was very enthusiastic knowledgeable, personable, and accommodating. We are older travelers and walk slowly and we were accompanied by our grandson who walks fast and she accommodated us beautifully. We had particular interests that she responded to for example, my wife likes to take pictures of trees and plants to see what they are.

    Replied from the guide, Sophie D.

    August 2026

    Thank you Bill It was a real pleasure to meet you, Jane and Knox and hear about your families history. All my best to Knox with what sounds like an excellent programme.

  • Sam F.United States
    2 weeks ago

    Taking Sophie’s walking tour was my favorite part of our Oxford stay! We have young children (one is still in a stroller and the other has trouble sustaining attention) and I was afraid they would be a problem. But Sophie interacted with them in a gracious and light hearted manner, all while managing to espouse the rich history of Oxford as we walked through it. It was a...

    Replied from the guide, Sophie D.

    July 2026

    Thank you Sam It was an absolute delight to share Oxford with you all.

  • Diane L.United States
    2 weeks ago

    Sophie was a wonderful tour guide and tailored the tour to our interests as the tour went on. She is very knowledgeable about Oxford history

    Replied from the guide, Sophie D.

    July 2026

    Thank you Diane It was a pleasure to enjoy your interest and curisoity.

  • Bradley B.United States
    June 2026

    Entertaining. Informative, particularly if one has a special interest in late 19th and early 20th century English literature. Excellent history of the colleges of Oxford. Good history of England and its evolution since 1066. Three hours well spent.

    Replied from the guide, Sophie D.

    June 2026

    Dear Bradley Thank you for the feedback. I'm sorry I dropped that plate for you. It was a movement, John Newman being a key player that wished to revive the ritual and cermeony of the catholic church in Anglicanism. It's interest spread far into the arts with the revival of Medieval Arts and images. John Newman later actually became a Catholic, and a Cardinal and...