Private tour in Oxford Sophie D
5.0
(3) reviews
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Sophie D.
4.9
Guide rating
48
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8 hrs
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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.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Sophie D.
Explore Oxford through the lives of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, discovering the places that inspired Middle-earth and Narnia. Visit New College (entry included), with its medieval cloisters and gardens reminiscent of Lewis’s magical landscapes. Stroll Merton Lane, where Tolkien spent his later years, and visit Exeter College, his alma mater. See St Mary’s Church, thought to have inspired Narnia’s gateway, and walk along Turl Street to the Eagle and Child pub, where the Inklings met to share ideas that shaped The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. University highlights include Radcliffe Square with the iconic Radcliffe Camera, the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library—a Harry Potter filming location—and the Sheldonian Theatre, Christopher Wren’s architectural masterpiece. This tour offers a perfect blend of Oxford’s literary heritage and university highlights, bringing the stories of Tolkien and Lewis to life.
Broad Street: Begin with the Sheldonian Theatre and the Bodleian Library’s Divinity School, rich in literary, architectural and academic history. Radcliffe Square: View the iconic Radcliffe Camera, All Souls College, and St Mary’s Church, with its doorway said to have inspired the gateway to Narnia. Turl Street: Walk past Exeter College, where Tolkien studied, and Lincoln and Jesus Colleges, hearing about Oxford’s "town and gown" traditions. St Mary’s Passage: Spot the lamppost and lion carvings believed to have inspired Lewis’s vision of Narnia. Merton Lane: Stroll along the lane where Tolkien spent his later academic years at Merton College. A visit to a Medieval College and or the Bodliean library can be integrated into this tour. The pubs where the Inklings would meet and where Tolkien and Lewis discussed The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.
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Transport is not required for this walking tour.
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Martyrs Memorial on Magdalen Street
3 reviews
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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