Private tour in Oxford Sophie D

2 hours - Oxford Women Past and Present

-
Hours icon 2 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 2 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Sophie D.

4.9

Guide rating

48

Reviews

Tours delivered

8 hrs

Avg. response time

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.

Overview of your Oxford tour

Explore the fascinating history of women who have shaped Oxford and the evolving roles of women through the ages. The woman's Oxford tour can include tour iconic and lesser-known sites setting the scene and highlighting key moments from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day However can be personalised to meet your specific interests. We will cover the early influence of Anglo-Saxon women, the impact of puritanism, literacy, and the Reformation, as well as the growth of Oxford's libraries. Learn about the non-conformist and Oxford movements, suffragettes, and other forces of progress in the 20th and 21st centuries. Sites visited include university landmarks, where you'll hear stories of arts, patrons, architecture, science, and politics and gain insight into the experiences of female members of the university today.

Your Oxford tour itinerary

You will explore the lives, achievements, and influence of women in Oxford, past and present. The itinerary is usually adapted to the interests of each group. The tour may focus on one or more of the following themes: - Women in Art and Literature Writers, scholars, artists, and intellectual networks connected with Oxford. - Women’s Emancipation and Institutional Progress The struggle for access to education, degrees, and professional recognition, and the pioneers who led these changes. - Key Landmarks for Inclusion within the University Colleges, buildings, and spaces linked to women’s admission, residence, and participation in academic life. - Outstanding Achievements by Women Connected to Oxford Women whose work has had national and international impact in science, politics, education, culture, and public life. Tours may be tailored in consultation. A standard introductory “Women of Oxford” itinerary is also available, offering a balanced, off-the-shelf overview.

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Walking

Transport is not required for this walking tour.

What's included
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Meeting location

Oxford, England, United Kingdom

ByGuide: On forecourt of University Museum of Natural History, OX1 3PW or by arrangement. Most on street parking in Oxford city centre is limited to two hours. Underground car parking is more flexible. There are several Park & Ride on the outside of the city with regular buses into the city centre.

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Off The Beaten Path
History
City Highlights
Tour reference number
1207409
Languages
English
French
Activity level
Minimal
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessible
Kid Friendly

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Oxford best suited for?

This private tour in Oxford is perfect for those interested in the history and influence of women throughout the ages. It's ideal for travellers who want to explore the roles of women from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day, including their contributions to art, literature, science, and politics. The tour is also suitable for families, as it is kid-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

Can this private tour in Oxford be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 2 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 2 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
Explore more of Oxford
From Oxford: Undiscovered Cotswolds TourFrom Oxford: Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace Private Tour2.5 -Hour Tour – An Architectural and Historical Journey Through Oxford, with a Touch of Fantasy Featuring J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis2 hour Fantasy literature - CS Lewis, Tolkien and Carroll and their work. Why Oxford?Welcome to Oxford: 2hr tour4 hours Christ Church Hall and Cathedral, Bodleian library with University's architectural and historic highlights Oxford: Town and Gown Private Walking Tour3 hours Magdalen, CS Lewis and the Botanic Gardens - JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis with Magdalen CollegeBlenheim Palace experence 6 hours - Introduction to University historical and architectural highlights including a visit inside the Bodleian Library and a Medieval University College The best of Oxford: half-day tourOxford Walking Tour: Books, Beasts and BardsOxford Experience - City Highlights Walking TourIvory Towers and Dreaming Spires - The University of Oxford History & Science TourCotswolds Day TripHistoric Oxford - the City and University that has shaped British, and world, history.2 hour - Christ Church plus Oxford's Architectural and historical HighlightsOxford University, past and present.3 hours Architectural and Literary and religious History of Oxford, with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien,'Town versus Gown' : discover Oxford University historyHarry Potter tour, visiting filming locationsLiterary OxfordOxford to Stonehenge - Prehistoric Day TourTolkien, Lewis and the Inklings' OxfordSouthampton Cruise Port to Stonehenge and Oxford - Full Day Tour2 Hour - Introduction to Oxford's Architectural and Historical Highlights - including Christ ChurchCastles and Grand Stately Homes90 minutes Just Christ Church - Inside the college founded by Thomas Wolsey & King Henry VIII - of Harry Potter fame 5 hours Oxford city and Discover Blenheim Palace Harry Potter, facts versus fiction90 minutes - Introduction to Oxford's Architectural and Historical Highlights - including a Medieval college90 minutes - Historical tour and orientation to the university, colleges and city of Oxford: - Includes includes a look inside a Medieval CollegeExploring Oxford architectureUnique Views of Oxford - Half Day Walking Tour2 hours - Arts and stained glass - including stunning medieval collegeArt-lovers' Oxford tour: half dayCuriouser and Curiouser: Alice in Wonderland tourFull day Oxford & the Cotswolds by Bentley motor car and an evening of Shakespeare at Stratford upon Avon's TheatreThe wonders of Christ Church2 hours - Oxford Women Past and Present