Oxford has long been a haven for storytellers, philosophers and dreamers. On this immersive three-hour walking tour, you will explore the real places that inspired J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll, discovering how their books grew from the colleges, pubs and winding lanes of this remarkable city.

From the haunts of the Inklings to the riverside paths where Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland first took shape, this tour reveals how Oxford’s atmosphere of scholarship and imagination shaped worlds still beloved today. Your guide will also introduce you to Oxford’s wider literary heritage, from Wordsworth and Shelley to Hardy, Huxley, Pullman and even Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose writings helped fix the legends of King Arthur.

Expect stories of friendship, rebellion and creativity: pub debates that sparked The Lord of the Rings, the “Golden Street” that inspired Wordsworth, and the linguistic play that links Carroll’s Jabberwocky with Roald Dahl’s gleeful inventions. You will explore iconic landmarks such as Radcliffe Square and the Bodleian Library, as well as hidden corners most visitors never find.

This tour can be tailored to your interests, with the option to visit an Oxford college for an insider’s look at university life (subject to availability). As you wander Oxford’s cobbled streets and admire its medieval colleges, your guide will share insights, surprising anecdotes and lesser-known stories that bring the city’s literary past to life. Perfect for book lovers, curious minds and anyone wanting to understand why Oxford remains one of the world’s great centres of imagination.