Take a city break from London and explore Bath and Oxford with these immersive audio tours!
Walkthrough the charming literary city of Oxford as you discover its most iconic architectural, historical, and literary spots. Learn about Bath and the origins of its Roman Baths as a spring for pigs to bathe in the story of the Roman invasion of Britain and the mystical properties of Bath's water.
On these guides narrated by local expert historians, we’ll visit the most famous historic buildings and architectural highlights.
We'll visit the most iconic spots such as Bath Abbey, Exeter and Jesus Colleges, Bodleian Library, Sheldonian Theater, Sally Lunn’s, Bath Thermae Spa, as well as the popular filming locations for the hit Netflix series “Bridgerton” and other film productions.
Discover Bath and Oxford with these two self-guided walking tours. You will discover more of this wonderful city and the history that has defined the area with our Welcome to Oxford tour. Whether you’re after a cake at Sally Lunn’s or a wander around Oxford, this pack is perfect for you.
Learn about Bath's origins as a spring for pigs to bathe in, the Roman invasion and the mystical properties of Bath's water.
This tour starts at the Visit Bath Information Centre. Katie and Colm will give you an overview of what to expect on this tour including the development of Bath and its early history up to the end of the 17th century.
You will then meander down to look down towards the river Avon and the spectacular view of Parade Gardens and surrounding hills as Katie sets the scene of Bath in 800BC and the legend of King Bladud.
After taking in the view, you will go past one of Bath’s major institutions - Sally Lunn’s tea shop – a key point of interest on our Jane Austen tour. The tea shops have become a key part of Bath’s history as it became a fashionable spa town.
Next, you stop at Bath’s most famous landmark – the Roman Baths – formed shortly after the Romans's arrival.
Around the corner from the Roman Baths is Bath Abbey – you discover how the Baths you're forgotten, how Bath changed during the Saxon period, the Christianisation of the country, Abbey foundation and crowning of King Edgar the Peaceful in 973AD – the birth of England!
As you continue through Bath, you reach St John’s Hospital – a hospital steeped in history, particularly during medieval life in Bath.
You then reach the Cross Bath – Colm and Katie will tell the story of Mary of Modena and Bath’s reluctant role in the Glorious Revolution 1688!
Finally, you finish at Bath Thermae Spa where you can explore the Spa for yourself and “take the waters”
Then join our local historians Katie and Josh, as they take you for a walk through the charming literary town of Oxford. We'll explore its most iconic architectural, historical, & literary spots, and learn the ancient tale that is rooted in its history.
Our first stop is St Michael at the Northgate – We gain great insight and overview of Oxford and the University as well as some fascinating stories and concepts of the University and the Martyrs story which we will follow.
The discussion continues as we head down Ship Street, pointing out Exeter’s College’s Spire and the walls of Jesus College. A great insight into student life with some fun and quirky anecdotes and student life along the way.
We then reach one of Oxford’s most notable landmarks – Radcliffe Square – we learn about the four sides of the square, Brasenose, All Souls’ and tough entrance exams, St Mary’s and the trial of the Martyrs.
Our next stop is one of the world's most iconic libraries - The Bodleian Library. We enter into the courtyard and get a great insight into the scale and history of the library. We’ll also learn about the Tower of the Five Orders and statues of James I and William Herbert, as well as various other famous alumni who have entered through here.
The Clarendon Building and the Bridge of Sighs are up next – a great spot to dig deeper into the history of the university and the constantly evolving process of female and state school student pioneers.
We continue on through Oxford until we reach The Sheldonian Theatre and the Divinity School – Katie and Josh talk us through the graduation process, examination and lecture and Christopher Wren.
History and science buffs will love our next stops - The Weston Library and the University Museum of the History of Science – the oldest surviving, purpose-built museum in the world.
We end our tour by visiting The Execution Site and the Martyrs Memorial, where we learn about the story of the Martyr's fall from grace and execution and well as reflecting on the place Oxford holds in the British imagination.
