Literature, Books, Libraries and Museums

Visit Oxford’s Libraries and Museums and Discover the Literary legacies of Oxford

Oxford’s Literary heritage is vast. Discover some of it’s legends and the past with a literary tour.

GLAM is an acronym for Oxford’s galleries, libraries, archives, and museums. Many of these are open to the public or can be visited by special arrangement. Let Oxford History Tours make the plan and guide you there.

Included are the Botanic Gardens and the completely unique Pitt River’s Museum. The Ashmolean Museum, and more intimate version of the British Museum, has an impressive collection of Pre-Raphaelite and Impressionist artworks.

It is possible to visit the Bodleian Library at various levels. The History of science Museum has extraordinary astrological tools once core to the research of the Colleges and the University Museum is housed in a building as fascinating as its story and as its collection.

GLAM - Take a tour of Oxford’s Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums

  • Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum has been described as a cross between London’s British Museum and National Gallery. It is the University’s Art and Archaeology department

    But did you know that around the corner is it’s original building,

    The first museum to open to the public in 1683, still welcoming the public. Today it is the History of Science museum.

    Within lies one of Oxford’s best kept secrets, a treasure trove of fascinating objects, reflecting the scientific endeavour of human beings through the ages right across the globe.

    On this tour well take a look at some of the most interesting objects in each museum.

    Your will will discover some of the museum’s most loved objects. Ashmolean highlights include the robes worn by Lawrence of Arabia, a jewel owned by King Alfred and a charming camel from China.

    In the science museum you will marvel at the oldest working gear mechanism in the

    world, see how penicillin was manufactured and Einstein’s famous blackboard…which includes a mistake!

  • From secret agents to Peter Pan, romantic poetry to science fiction - Oxford has inspired a hugely diverse range of literature both old and new, as well as numerous TV producers and movie makers.

    Walk down Wordsworth’s Golden Street; seeing the place where Thomas Hardy's 'Jude the Obscure' finally "awoke from his dream” and realised the colleges with their quads, chapels and libraries were not for him.

    See the college which expelled Percy Shelley for ’contumaciousness’ and salute the pub where C.S. Lewis, Tolkein and their circle of friends spent many an evening over a congenial pint.

    Included on the tour will be a visit to at least one college with interesting literary associations, and a glimpse inside part of the old library, a building which goes back nearly 600 years.

    This tour appeals to all lovers of literature - and discover why Oxford is one of Britain’s most enchanting destinations, the city of dreaming spires.

  • “It doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat. " – so long as I get somewhere," Alice added ... "Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

    Alice's Oxford in the footsteps of the city's most famous children’s author, Lewis Carroll. Begins at the Town Hall, where Alice memorabilia are on display.

    The route passes Christ Church, where Carroll taught and lived all his adult life and where the inspiration for his story, Alice Liddell, was the daughter of the Dean.

    After passing some of the city’s finest collegiate architecture, the walk will then explore some less visited, quieter parts of the city, via the resting place of two Hatters, through University Parks (Pleasure and Delight guaranteed! And a minute of cricket) – and the ‘loveliest building of the plain’

    With reference to some of Oxford’s other renowned writers of fantasy fiction, the walk continues to the Oxford University Press building in Jericho, where the first edition of Alice’s Adventures was printed in June 1865, and finished at the remarkable and relevant St Barnabas Church in Jericho.

  • "The tour was well thought out and Sophie was an engaging guide with a mine of interesting information, much of it new to me even as someone who's lived in Oxford for the past 30 years. Definitely recommended."

    J Willams, Oxford

  • "Sophie offered us a tailor-made tour that perfectly met our expectations."

    Steve, Munich, Germany

  • "Wonderful tour about Oxford, very knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed every minute of it."

    Maria, USA

  • "Sophie is a congenial host with vast knowledge of the colleges and general Oxford area. Good communication and instruction for meet up. Would highly recommend her tour!"

    Andrew, New York, USA

  • "Fascinating tour by a wonderful guide!"

    Michael, USA

  • "Sophie is so knowledgeable! Oxford is a city of history, and she knows it so well. Her recommendation for our dinner after the tour was perfect! She also took care of me beforehand in suggesting other things to do before her tour. She’s the best. A pro’s pro!"

    Kori, USA

  • "My history tour with Sophie was informative and entertaining. The horror was made funny and the ridiculous serious. I was surprised by how much I didn't know and went away with new insights into, not only the university's history and traditions, but the history of England generally. I also got some good ideas for the rest of my stay in Oxford. Thank you!"

    James, UK

  • "This tour was a lovely introduction to Oxford University. As a recent transplant from the US, it was a great way to get my bearings of the area, visit a college, and learn about some fascinating local history. Whether we were gazing at gargoyles or admiring beautiful stained glass, Sophie was a true delight – very knowledgeable, thoughtful, and well-articulated. I highly recommend this experience!"

    Megan, USA

  • "Fascinating, thoughtfully constructed tour of Oxford University encompassing a thousand years of history. I've lived in Oxford for thirty years, yet in this tour learned new and intriguing nuggets about the city, discovered hidden gems in ancient stone buildings that I've been strolling past all these years."

    Maria, Oxford, UK

  • "Sophie is a superb, experienced and enriching guide. We are a retired US professional couple. We've hired individual local guides throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and Sophie tops our list! She spent hours with us in advance, curating our day in Oxford, then filled our tour with history, architecture, art, education, culture…and fun. The day was perfectly paced and suited to our needs. It was a graduation day, so like the happy students, we too tossed our hats in celebration. Brava Sophie!"

    K & A Krupsky, Chicago, USA