Oxford Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt
Overview
Eight centuries of scholarship, hidden doors, and medieval bridges — Oxford has it all, and this hunt takes you right through it.
This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Oxford on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time.
• Stand before the Radcliffe Camera, Oxford's most iconic dome and the beating heart of its ancient library system
• Find the legendary Narnia Door and uncover the literary secrets hidden in plain sight around the city
• Cross the Bridge of Sighs, Oxford's answer to Venice, connecting two centuries of academic tradition
Around 2 hours, any group size, available in English.
Oxford is a city of layers — and this tour peels them back one riddle at a time.
What's Included
- Free download of the Explorial App from your appstore (iOS or Android smartphone required)
- Points and scoring system: Compete between players of your group and beat the cities high score.
- Live Location: navigate within the map with marked locations. Always know where you are.
- Learn about the cities stories, history, and local legends
- Total flexibility: no waiting, start anytime, walk at own pace and do as many breaks as you want.
- Self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
- Entrance fees are not required for this game. All puzzles relate to the public areas of the sights
- This is not an audio guide but an sightseeing, gaming and learning experience
- Live-Guide: 100% self-guided; no one will meet you or join your group. Start anytime you want.
Meeting Location
35 Beaumont Street
Oxford OX1 2PG, UK
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Starting at 35 Beaumont St in central Oxford, you'll open the Explorial app, enter the 6-digit game code that you received by text and Viator chat message, and set off into one of England's most storied cities. The tour is fully self-guided — no guide, no fixed start time, just your group and the streets.
The route leads you first to the Radcliffe Camera, the stunning circular library that has defined Oxford's skyline since 1749. The riddles here will test your knowledge of the city's academic history and the architectural quirks that most visitors walk right past.
Next up is the Narnia Door — a carved wooden entrance tucked into the university grounds that inspired C.S. Lewis's most famous creation. The clues will ask you to look closer than most tourists ever do.
The tour finishes at the Bridge of Sighs, Oxford's neo-Venetian crossing linking Hertford College's two buildings. It's one of the most photographed spots in the city, and the riddles add a layer of history that the photos never capture.
Allow around 2 hours to enjoy the walk without rushing. Oxford has centuries of surprises — this tour makes sure you find them.
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Weather & Health Guarantee: If bad weather or illness prevents you from starting the tour, you can simply reschedule it for another day. You can also rebook to a different city or request a refund
- Smartphone required: Bring your own fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection to the start of the tour. Please disable any VPN and avoid city Wi-Fi, as these will cause the app to malfunction or disconnect.
- Recommended attire: It’s best to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes — approx. 2 hours of light walking
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Max 15 people per booking. For larger groups, make multiple bookings.
- After booking you receive a text message and a Viator message with your game code. Download the Explorial app from your appstore. Open the app, enter your 6 digit game code
- Operated by a business
Frequently Asked Questions
(6)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Oxford Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt?
Cancellation Policy
Still have questions?
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Activity code: C-298466P143
Reviews
Average 4.67 out of 5 stars based on 3 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (6)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).
- Free download of the Explorial App from your appstore (iOS or Android smartphone required).
- Points and scoring system: Compete between players of your group and beat the cities high score.
- Live Location: navigate within the map with marked locations. Always know where you are.
- Learn about the cities stories, history, and local legends.
- Total flexibility: no waiting, start anytime, walk at own pace and do as many breaks as you want.
- Self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
- Entrance fees are not required for this game. All puzzles relate to the public areas of the sights.
- This is not an audio guide but an sightseeing, gaming and learning experience.
- Live-Guide: 100% self-guided; no one will meet you or join your group. Start anytime you want.
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Oxford Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt is as follows:
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Weather & Health Guarantee: If bad weather or illness prevents you from starting the tour, you can simply reschedule it for another day. You can also rebook to a different city or request a refund
- Smartphone required: Bring your own fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection to the start of the tour. Please disable any VPN and avoid city Wi-Fi, as these will cause the app to malfunction or disconnect.
- Recommended attire: It’s best to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes — approx. 2 hours of light walking
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Oxford Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- Free download of the Explorial App from your appstore (iOS or Android smartphone required)
- Points and scoring system: Compete between players of your group and beat the cities high score.
- Live Location: navigate within the map with marked locations. Always know where you are.
- Learn about the cities stories, history, and local legends
- Total flexibility: no waiting, start anytime, walk at own pace and do as many breaks as you want.
- Self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
- Entrance fees are not required for this game. All puzzles relate to the public areas of the sights
- This is not an audio guide but an sightseeing, gaming and learning experience
- Live-Guide: 100% self-guided; no one will meet you or join your group. Start anytime you want.
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Weather & Health Guarantee: If bad weather or illness prevents you from starting the tour, you can simply reschedule it for another day. You can also rebook to a different city or request a refund
- Smartphone required: Bring your own fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection to the start of the tour. Please disable any VPN and avoid city Wi-Fi, as these will cause the app to malfunction or disconnect.
- Recommended attire: It’s best to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes — approx. 2 hours of light walking
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Max 15 people per booking. For larger groups, make multiple bookings.
- After booking you receive a text message and a Viator message with your game code. Download the Explorial app from your appstore. Open the app, enter your 6 digit game code
- Operated by a business
