Oxford is a gem of a town. There’s so much to see, and you can visit practically all of their attractions on foot. This is why walking tours are an excellent option for those coming to Oxford. Some will choose to have a guide, while others might prefer to explore the city, its University museums, and sights at their own rhythm. I have created these maps to help you do exactly that.
Below, you will find free walking tour maps (you can download them to your phone if you prefer, or use the links to open the tours in your own Google Maps app) to see all that Oxford has to offer. Pubs and restaurants? We got it. Colleges and libraries? Of course! How about a bit of shopping or a Harry Potter-themed adventure? Look no further.
(Want to see a self-guided walking tour for Oxford Museums only? Check this link).
Oxford Basic Free Self-Guided Walking Tour
Let’s start with a quick overview of the town. This walking tour is perfect for those visiting Oxford for just a few hours. It is a leisurely tour that should give you a great idea of what the town is all about. There are two paths I like to do myself when walking around Oxford:
In pink: Start from the train station or bus station and make your way to the centre of the city. This short walk should take about 30 minutes to an hour at a relaxed walking pace – and cover the best attractions in Oxford: Its colleges, churches, museums, and shops.
In purple: If the day is nice and you have an extra 40 minutes, you can also walk down St Aldate’s and into Christ Church meadow, where you will be able to relax in the shade and see the famous Cherwell river. Make your way back north through the Botanic Garden path and enter the city through the east, where you will see some of the oldest colleges of the university.
Basic Oxford Walking Tour
Directions and Stops
Let’s go into a little more detail if you want to do the short (or pink) self-guided walking tour.
- Arriving at the train or bus station, walk down George Street. If you are already hungry, this is the perfect opportunity to grab a bite, as there are several restaurants and bars here. If not…
- Continue walking until you reach St Michael at the North Gate. This was the city limit when Oxford was surrounded by a wall!
- Turn right and walk down Cornmarket Street, the central commercial vein. Don’t miss 24-26 Cornmarket Street, a house dating back to the 14th century (it’s on the left, right across the tower).
- You can continue walking down the street and check out the Covered Market, or turn left on Market Street and continue down Brasenose Lane, which will eventually lead you to the landmark Radcliffe Camera library. To your right, you will also see the Church of St Mary the Virgin, and to the left, the Bodleian Library.
- Turn left again after you exit, and you’ll see the Sheldonian Theatre and, right across Broad Street, Trinity College.
- Walk up to Corn Steet and turn left again, so you can enjoy a pleasant stroll up Parks Road and see the Natural History Museum and Keble College.
- You can continue until Keble road to close the circuit or turn left on Museum Road to see a secret passage and the most beautiful tree in Oxford!
Here’s a Google map to make the walking tour easier to follow It’s not exactly the same as the image, but it covers the points mentioned above. You can click on this link to open it in your own maps app.
What You Shouldn't Miss in This Self-Guided Walking Tour

University Church of St Mary the Virgin
The University Church of St Mary The Virgin is the largest church in Oxford and is popular with students, professors, and visitors. The first church here was built in 1086, although the building that can now be seen on the north side of the chancel is from 1320 (when the Univesity was officially founded). The Baroque porch (considered “the most beautiful porch in the world”) was designed by Nicholas Stone, and the tower (also from the 13th century) can be climbed and offers an excellent view of Oxford.

Radcliffe Camera
This circular Radcliffe Camera Library is probably considered by most locals and visitors as “the very center of Oxford.” It was built in 1749 by James Gibbes and has an Edwardian Palladian style. Although it appears to have three stores from the outside, it’s actually one main floor. This floor is divided into different bays separated by Corinthian columns. Today, the Radcliffe Camera holds over 600,000 books. It’s open to students but not to the public.

Radcliffe Camera
Although you also won’t be able to cross the Bridge of Sighs (unless you are a Hertford College student), you can still admire its beauty from the street level. The bridge was built in 914 by Sir Thomas Jackson and received its name because it looks like its homonym in Venice. The geometrical concept is also inspired by Archimedes in the 3rd Century BC (the area of the parabolic segment is 4/3 of an inscribed triangle).

Sheldonian Theatre
The Sheldonian Theatre is where graduation ceremonies are held (they have been for hundreds of years). It was designed by Christopher Wren, who used an impressive geometrical grid pattern for its ceiling. If you get a chance to go into the building, don’t miss the 32 oil-on-canvas panels telling the story of Truth, Arts, and Sciences (who are kicking ignorance out of the University).
Oxford Colleges

St John’s College
A constituent college of the University of Oxford, St John’s College was founded in 1555 as a men’s college but turned coeducational later.

Keble College
Keble College is one of the University of Oxford’s constituent colleges. It is located on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum.

Exeter College
A constituent college of the University of Oxford in England, Exeter College is the fourth-oldest college of the university.

Christ Church College
Christ Church is college of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII and is one of the larger colleges.

Brasenose College
Oxford University’s Brasenose College (BNC) was founded in 1509 and is home to one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world.

All Souls College
All Souls College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. It was founded by Henry VI and it has no undergraduate members.
Oxford Museums

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford is Britain’s first public museum. It was founded in 1683.

Oxford University University Museum of Natural History
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History or OUMNH displays many of the University of Oxford’s natural history specimens.
Oxford Libraries

Radcliffe Camera
Radcliffe Camera is a neo-classical style building inside Oxford University, built from 1737 to 1749 for the Radcliffe Science Library.

Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library is one of Oxford’s most famous landmarks. Among the oldest in Europe, it’s easy to visit and incredible to see.
Un-Missable Stops in an Oxford Walking Tour
If you’re exploring Oxford on your own, there are a few places you should consider stopping by. This includes colleges (which are normally open to visitors during the day), museums, the Botanic Garden, shops, and definitely, if you can, the Bodleian Library!
Of course, Oxford has something for everyone, so if you’re looking for places to shop or parks to relax, you can see some good options in the list below this section.
However, before you move on, if you’re interested in visiting the best Oxford museums (and combining them with the city walking tour), you can use this map.
Also, here’s the complete guide covering the most popular Oxford Museums.
And the direct link to download the museum walking tour map.
Best for Shopping in Oxford
There are two – possibly three – shops you should NOT miss if you’re visiting Oxford and doing a self-guided walking tour. These are Alice’s Shop (with tons of Alice in Wonderland memorabilia, all beautifully displayed in a historically-relevant little building!), The Shop of Secrets (more Harry Potter merch than you can dream of), and Blackwell’s Bookshop, founded in 1879.
Of course, as Oxford continues to grow, there re several other places you can visit if you’re looking for unique gifts or just a memorable experience. Below is a more comprehensive list with all of them.

Blackwell’s Bookshop
Blackwell’s Bookshop first opened its doors in 1879 on Broad Street, Oxford. They have been trading continuously from there ever since.

Alice’s Shop
Alice’s Shop is a little shop placed exactly where Alice Liddell (the “real” Alice that inspired the books) used to buy sweets.

Arcadia Books & Stationery
Arcadia is a popular bookstore in Oxford, offering second-hand books and stationery with a vintage and whimsical vibe.

The Shop of Secrets
The Shop of Secrets is Oxford’s chamber of Harry Potter collectibles and merch. A shopping must-to in the city, this is why you should visit.
Parks and Meadows
Oxford has many beautiful parks and meadows – which make perfect spots for a picnic or a relaxing stop. These parks are large and tend to have exotic plants and students practising sports or reading a book under the shadow of a tree. The best thing about adding a visit to a park during your self-guided walking tour is that you can visit them any time of the year. University Parks, for example, are evergreen and have seats no matter the season. Of course, if you like plants and quietness you should not miss the Botanic Gardens, they are included in the map above and have exotic species, lots of secret corners, and even a pond with fish!

Oxford Botanic Gardens & Arboretum
The Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in the UK. It was founded in 1621 and holds unique and important species.

Christ Church Meadow
Christ Church meadow is open to the public all year round. This open space in the heart of Oxford is an ideal choice for recreation.

Oxford University Parks
Oxford University Parks (or University Parks) is a large park area northeast of the city. The park is open to the public during the day.

Port Meadow
Port Meadow is a large open space in the north of Oxford. The River Thames flows through its heart and the plains are home to many animals.
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