Exceptional Guides, Extraordinary Walks

Oxford History Tours is a showcase for accredited guides who specialise in the rich and layered history of Oxford.

While the city is awash with tours themed around Harry Potter, Inspector Morse, and other cinematic and television stories—and they are indeed entertaining—there is so much more to discover. In fact, the truth is often stranger than fiction.

We offer the real walk and talk: deep, authentic explorations of Oxford’s extraordinary past.

Our guides are trained to the highest national standard by the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Among them are published authors, seasoned professionals, and passionate historians, each with their own area of expertise. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and their deep knowledge of the city brings the past vividly to life, leaving you with lasting memories.

Oxford is a city that has treasured and preserved its past, even through times of turmoil and change.

With its human-scale colleges, magnificent architecture, and an astonishing breadth of influential alumni, Oxford History Tours offer an exceptional opportunity to explore over 1,000 years of history.

Enquire about your tour…

About OHT’s Founder

I started welcoming travellers and organising itineraries while living in deep rural southern France. In 2009 I co-founded Cathar Country Tours which offered top drawer tours about the Albigensian Crusade and the Langue d’Oc. While I wove the itineraries, curated the restaurants and ensured a seamless experience for our guests, my partner delivered a second to none historical tour of the region’s history.

I realised that some of the travellers who approached me knew the work of local authors who were friends and acquaintances of ours. Experts in their field and connoisseurs of France, they included Richard Stanley, Henry-Lincoln, Rupert Soskin and Tim Wallace-Murphy. With these local friends and acquaintances I created opportunities for authors and readers to meet and discover the region’s scenes of famous historic events together.

Today I bring my infectious enthusiasm and local knowledge to Oxford. With Oxford History Tours you can be sure that your experience will be carefully crafted and accompanied by an experienced guide, an expert in their field.

An Art History and History BA hons, an Associate of the British Institute of Tourist Guiding and a member of the British Guild of Tourist Guides Sophie is also an ITG certified French speaking guide.

Reserving your Oxford History Tour

Oxford History Tours can be booked using our safe and secure reservation platform.

Access to some parts of the University and colleges is possible only by prior arrangement.

Seven day’s advance notice is typically required for a tour.

If you can’t see what you are looking for or a last minute opportunity for a ‘real walk and talk’ just ask.

  • "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

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