The Inklings Oxford Writers Tour - Private Groups Daily

4.9 (123 reviews) 2 hours – 2 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

123 reviews

4.9

Magdalen college where CS Lewis taught — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

JRR https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-720x480/07/74/89/30.jpgTolkien Inklings Oxford writer — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Our tour includes entry into CS Lewis's college called Magdalen college worth £10 per person, as and when open. See published dates below that Magdalen is closed. On such dates, we visit an alternative college- unless it's a graduation date or over Christmas vacation period mentioned also below, when most colleges closed.

This tour focuses on the Inklings' Oxford but also introduces the city history + university life. See inspiring sights relating to CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien on an average 2.5 hour plus tour of the sights where they worked & relaxed, including the pubs they enjoyed. Locations visited include Magdalen college.

Various start times are offered by time of year.

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At a glance

Duration: 2 hours – 2 h 30 min
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–14
Guide: English
Operated by: Visit Oxford Tours

Ages: Infants (0–5 years) · Children (6–11 years) · Youth (12–17 years) · Adults (18–64 years) · Seniors (65–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Tour is led by award winning guides with hundreds of existing 5 star ratings for this tour!
Included: On any dates, when Magdalen is closed, entry replaced to an alternative college except Xmas dates
Included: Entry to Magdalen college worth £10 per adult included in ticket price

Not included

Not included: On any other new dates when Magdalen college is closed, we will always forewarn you here....
Not included: Magdalen is closed every year during Christmas typically from December 22 to 31
Not included: On dates outside Christmas or outside university graduation dates, we visit an alternative college
Not included: Magdalen 2026 closures includes Feb 24 and June 26, 27, 28 and Sep 25 and Oct 24
Not included: Magdalen college will be open from 10am to 1pm only on Thursday September 24th 2026

Itinerary

Exeter College

Passing by

Only on dates when Magdalen is closed, do we instead only visit inside Exeter college with £5 entry ticket included. This is where JRR Tolkien studied. JK Rowling is also an honorary fellow of this college.
Magdalen College

one hour Admission included

Entry worth £10 per person is included in the tour. This is where CS Lewis taught & it has a beautiful deer park with deer. If this college is not open, then instead we'll visit Merton college, where JRR Tolkien taught or Exeter college, where Tolkien studied.
Merton College

Passing by

We don't normally walk exactly past Merton college but as it's Tolkien's college, where he taught, if you wish us to walk past and introduce it too, just tell us, when you meet us.
University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

10 min

This church is where CS Lewis preached, so we visit inside here and also this is where outside the church, there are obvious references to the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Radcliffe Camera

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Brasenose College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
All Souls College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Hertford College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Lincoln College

Passing by

We don't usually enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Jesus College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
The Oxford Hotel Spa

5 min

We sometimes enter inside the Randolph hotel as this is where CS Lewis first met Joy Gresham - his future wife- but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Balliol College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Trinity College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
St John's College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Bodleian Library

10 min Admission not included

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Bridge of Sighs

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
Radcliffe Camera

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.
University College

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route. This is where CS Lewis was a student
St Edmund Hall

Passing by

We don't enter inside this venue but we introduce these famous sights and walk past on the route.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide wearing red lanyard. Meeting next to our black sign, OUTSIDE Oxford Tourist info centre, 15 Broad street, OX1 3AS. This is also next to the Oxfam shop which has a green sign above its shop.

End point

The tour does not have a fixed end point but the city centre is compact and the guide will ensure you have a map and directions to where you want to get to next.

Using your ticket

Please just mention your name to the guide. S/he will have your details. If you cannot find guide, please call guide's number or call WhatsApp mobile no (44)7955482637. Our guides wear red lanyard & meet you OUTSIDE visitor info centre.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
While children are welcome, this tour is not aimed at children's attention span or interests