CS Lewis & Tolkien Tour with Magdalen Entry Public tour 11.45am | 2 hours 30 minutes

2 Reviews | Oxford
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Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Please check 'Exclusions' below for dates of any partial closures eg the hall
  • Tour is led by award winning guides with hundreds of existing 5 star ratings for this tour!
  • Your ticket includes entry worth £10 to Magdalen college to see the hall, chapel, gardens, quad.
  • Magdalen is closed over Xmas from Dec 20 to Dec 31 of 2024
  • Magdalen is closed in 2024 on June 21, Sep 27, Oct 6
  • This tour is not aimed at young children but if you wish to bring children, please inform us before
  • On any dates that Magdalen is closed, we'll replace entry with Tolkien's Exeter college

Overview

This public tour is brand new to be listed here on viator but we have been successfully running this tour with excellent reviews for private groups for several years here with over 46 recommendations . This tour typically lasts 2 hours to 2.5 hours and it includes entry to Magdalen college, where CS Lewis taught. If Magdalen is ever closed, we will inform you & offer refund or reschedule date or proceed with a visit to an alternative such as Exeter college, where Tolkien studied. This tour introduces both these famous writers and their lives here in Oxford plus offers insights into what life is like as an Oxford academic. Magdalen entry fee worth £10 per person is included. NOTICE: any known closures for Magdalen college will be published under the What's Excluded section. Please note that Magdalen only permits entry to up to 10 persons with guide before we must instead pre book with Magdalen. Thus, if you book at very short notice, you may instead be asked to do private tour.

Itinerary

  • Radcliffe Camera

    We pass by & mention such famous sights

  • Bridge of Sighs

    We pass by & mention such famous sights

  • Bodleian Library

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

    15 minutes

  • Hertford College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • All Souls College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • Brasenose College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • Balliol College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • Trinity College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • Corpus Christi College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • University College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • Jesus College (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • Exeter College

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford. On any dates that Magdalen college may be closed, we will instead visit inside Exeter college, worth £3 entry fee. Exeter college is where Tolkien studied.

    5 minutes

  • Oxford Covered Market (Pass By)

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford

  • Lincoln College

    The tour introduces most major tourist sights and colleges on our route as we introduce specifically focused tour about CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien's work and their membership of the Inklings Writers club here in Oxford. We often stop at the entrance of exquisite Lincoln college to look at the entry area to the quadrangle and to spot the statue of John Wesley, who studied here, as did the writer of 'Dr Seuss' stories too.

    5 minutes

  • Magdalen College

    We spend one hour average inside Magdalen college on this tour and this is where CS Lewis taught. It has a medieval hall, a canteen where we can stop for a coffee to enjoy the punting boats passing us by outside. There is a deer park and Addisons walk, which is where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien walked and talked. Plus there is a medieval hall and chapel plus impressive main quadrangle and the tower. The entry fee to Magdalen worth £10 is paid for you by the guide.

    1 hour

  • University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

    We visit inside and outside here to introduce where CS Lewis preached and developed many of his books from sermons here. We also will see the Mr Tumnis and Aslan lookalike figures outside the church which are alleged to have inspired CS Lewis to write, 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. We often also end the tour at this location.

    15 minutes

  • The Turf

    We often pass down the lane to see this famous pub or to see the Eagle and Child pub where the Inklings met over a drink to discuss their writing and life.

    5 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please arrive 5 minutes early for your tour at our meeting point.

Free Cancellation

June 19100% refund
June 20No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Reviews

5.0

2 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    2
  • 4 stars
    0
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    0

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-4 of 2 reviews with 5 stars

Our favourite tour in Oxford!

Published on Apr, 2025

Thanks to our wonderful guide Ray and his enormous knowledge, we had a memorable time. He's a fascinating storyteller.

Great Experience

Published on Apr, 2025

Tom was incredibly knowledgeable with amazing command of historical facts and dates. He was sure to ask us of our primary areas of interest before beginning to focus on our time. Excellent tour.

CS Lewis and Tolkien Tour at Oxford

Published on Jul, 2024

Enjoyed the CS Lewis and Tolkien tour with Tom. He really tailored it to our keen interest in Lewis and it was wonderful to discuss his legacy as we saw the places that inspired his faith and his literature. Would certainly recommend!

Literally literary

Published on May, 2024

I did a private tour of the CS Lewis and Tolkein literary journey with Alastair earlier this week. He was very generous with his time and took me around quite a bit. We covered the University Church, Magdalene College, and did a fair bit of siteseeing, including the Turf Tavern. I am happy to recommend the tours to anyone who wants to anyone who visits Oxford

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