Historic Oxford - the City and University that has shaped British, and world, history.

Although Oxford is best known for its University the city itself has a long and fascinating history which has been influenced by religion, royalty, war, science and commerce. The city has been the scene of many events which have changed the course of British history. Our tour, which can be customised for you, will start at Oxford castle, built following the Norman invasion and the defeat of the English at the battle of Hastings in1066. We will progress through the centuries taking in city buildings and the changes in history and science that they represent. We will, of course, also visit the key University and college buildings to understand how Oxford grew into one of the world's foremost universities. The tour will also cover how the city developed alongside the University, enabled by the Oxford canal, completed in 1790, the railway (1844) and the development of the British car industry led by William Morris. We will finish with a visit to some of the best modern architecture the UK has to offer.

We will meet at pleasant city-centre cafe to discuss the day's itinerary and make final adjustments. We will then visit: - Oxford Castle, built in 1071-73, some of the original castle still exists. - Anglo-Saxon St Michael at the North Gate church (circa 1040), the oldest building in Oxford. - Outline of the medieval city - the tour will take in some of the key sights of the old city. - Town Hall and Museum. - A couple of the historic University colleges, an insight into what life in an Oxford college is, and was, like. - University Church of St Mary the Virgin, the centre from which the University grew. - Radcliffe Square, the cobbled square which is the real centre of the University. - Bodleian Library - the University's central library. - University Science area where many globally important scientific discoveries have been made. - Award-winning Natural History and Pitt Rivers museums. - Radcliffe Observatory Quarter. - Oxford University Press. - Oxford canal, completed in 1790.