Oxford in 2 days, on foot

This 2-day self-guided walking plan for Oxford covers 12 narrated sights in an easy day-by-day order. Each day is split into a morning and an afternoon loop, and every stop has a two to three minute audio story in the Gingerguide app.

You set the pace: this is a suggested order, not a schedule. Walk it in 2 days, or stretch it out. Reorder freely; Oxford rewards a detour.

Day 1

Morning

1. Bodleian Library: One of the oldest libraries in Europe and the main research library of the University of Oxford, housing over 13 million items.
2. Radcliffe Camera: An iconic circular library building and one of the most photographed landmarks in Oxford, built in 1749 in the English Palladian style.
3. Christ Church College: Oxford's grandest college, home to its own cathedral, the famous Great Hall that inspired Harry Potter, and alma mater of 13 Prime Ministers.

Afternoon

1. University of Oxford - All Souls College: One of the most prestigious and exclusive academic institutions in the world, with no undergraduate students, entry is by examination only.
2. Ashmolean Museum: The world's first university museum, opened in 1683, housing art and antiquities from ancient Egypt to the present day.
3. Bridge of Sighs (Hertford Bridge): A picturesque skyway connecting two buildings of Hertford College, often compared to the Bridge of Sighs in Venice.

Day 2

Morning

1. Sheldonian Theatre: Christopher Wren's first major architectural work, built in 1669 as the ceremonial hall of the University of Oxford.
2. Oxford Castle & Prison: A Norman medieval castle dating to 1071 with a Saxon tower, offering tours of the castle mound, crypt, and former Victorian prison.
3. Covered Market: A historic covered market in the heart of Oxford, trading since 1774 with independent shops, cafes, and food stalls.

Afternoon

1. Magdalen College: One of Oxford's most beautiful colleges, famous for its medieval tower, deer park, and the May Morning singing tradition.
2. Carfax Tower: The 12th-century tower at Oxford's central crossroads, offering panoramic views from the official centre of the city.
3. Pitt Rivers Museum: A wonderfully atmospheric museum of archaeology and anthropology, displaying over 500,000 objects from cultures around the world.

Full Oxford guide and all stops →