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Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice!

10 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 10 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Oxford, England

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On average, this is booked 19 (0) days in advance.

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
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Offered in: English

Overview

Explore the fascinating world of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis on this guided walking tour through Oxford. See iconic locations such as Exeter College, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Bodleian Library, and Magdalen College, where the Inklings met. Discover how these writers inspired and helped one another. Enjoy a visit to Magdalen College, where Lewis spent nearly three decades. This tour provides a unique insight into the lives of these authors and the city that inspired them.

- 2.5 hour guided walking tour of Oxford’s literary landmarks
- Visit Magdalen College, where Lewis worked from 1925 to 1954
- Suitable for teenagers and adults; private tours are also available for families with young children
- Learn from an expert guide about the lives of Tolkien and Lewis and their friendship
- Learn how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) met the young Alice Liddell at Christ Church College and how she inspired him to write Alice in Wonderland!
- Avoid the crowds - maximum group 12 people

What's Included

  • After the tour you are free to visit the riverside café and Addison's walk and deer park.
  • Entry to one College of the University, usually Magdalen College. The entry ticket is included.
  • At Magdalen College, we can usually visit the chapel, dining hall, cloister, café and gardens.
  • Please note: the colleges are usually closed between 21 Dec - 3 January and over Easter.
  • When it is not possible to visit Magdalen college, we will visit another suitable college.
  • Please note, Colleges are working academic institutions. Some areas may close at short notice.
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

22 Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3AS, UK

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Oxford OX1 4AU
UK

The tour ends at Magdalen College. Visitors are free to explore the college further after the tour ends.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Broad Street

Your guide will meet you here and will give you an introduction to the tour.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

University of Oxford

Learn about the workings of the University of Oxford, where Tolkien and Lewis were students and where they taught for most of their careers.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Eagle and Child

See the pub where the Inklings met. The pub is currently closed for repairs and can be viewed from the outside only (2025).
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sheldonian Theatre

See the Sheldonian Theatre, where Tolkien and Lewis matriculated and graduated and attended many other events of importance in their Oxford careers.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bodleian Library

See the world famous Bodleian library.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

History of Science Museum

See the original site of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, where Tolkien worked as a lexicographer on the Oxford English Dictionary. Hear about his time there.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Exeter College

See the College where Tolkien was an undergraduate. Learn about his time in Oxford. We view Exeter College from the outside - internal visits are not normally permitted.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Gusto Italian

See the famous Mitre Inn (now also called Gusto), where C.S.Lewis met T.S.Eliot. Hear about their stormy relationship!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Radcliffe Camera

See the iconic Radcliffe Camera - a great spot for some memorable photos
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Radcliffe Square

Visit Radcliffe Square and see the iconic Radcliffe Camera, Brasenose College, All Souls College and the University Church of St Mary.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Oriel College

See this lovely small college where Tolkien and Lewis sat their scholarship examinations before coming up to Oxford as students.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Christ Church

See the Canterbury gate of Christ Church College. Learn how Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) met the young Alice Liddell at Christ Church College and how she inspired him to write Alice in Wonderland. Learn also about recent developments at Christ Church including the new Alice collection.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Merton College

See the College where Lewis and Tolkien first met in the 1920s, and where Tolkien was Professor of English during the 1940s and 1950s when he was working on the Lord of the Rings.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Merton Street

Walk down beautiful Merton Street, often used as a backdrop when films are made in Oxford
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

University College

See the college where C.S.Lewis was an undergraduate and where we worked as a tutor from 1925 - 1947.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Magdalen College

The tour includes a visit inside Magdalen College, one of Oxford's most beautiful and historic colleges. See the chapel where Lewis worshipped daily after he became a Christian and the College dining hall where he ate. See the New Building where the Inklinks met. If you have time you can walk around Addison's Walk which is a beautiful circular walk around an island on the River Cherwell within the grounds the college. You can recreate the walk which Lewis, Tolkien and Hugo Dyson did in 1931 and which had such important consequences for Lewis. The College also has a Cafe by the river Cherwell serving drinks, light lunches and tea.
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45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
  • Operated by a business

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Tolkien Lewis Walking Tour, with Magdalen College visit, + Alice!?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. 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). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-5576492P4

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Reviews

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Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 10 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

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What's Included

Activity name

  • After the tour you are free to visit the riverside café and Addison's walk and deer park.
  • Entry to one College of the University, usually Magdalen College. The entry ticket is included.
  • At Magdalen College, we can usually visit the chapel, dining hall, cloister, café and gardens.
  • Your Personal Guide - Contrada Tours uses only experienced local guides
  • Please note: the colleges are usually closed between 21 Dec - 3 January and over Easter.
  • When it is not possible to visit Magdalen college, we will visit another suitable college.
  • Please note, Colleges are working academic institutions. Some areas may close at short notice.
  • Crowds! Our maximum group size is 12.
  • The Eagle and Child pub - it is closed for restoration work until 2027.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
  • Operated by a business

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For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Contrada Tours - walking tours of Oxford

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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • 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).

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