Hop aboard your City Sightseeing open-air bus from any of the 20 routed stops that are conveniently situated around the city. Take a seat inside or on the open-air top deck, then sit back and relax as you ride through Oxford, home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
With your 24or 48-hour ticket, choose to stay on the bus for the entire loop, or hop on and off at any of the stops to explore the city’s sights. As you travel, plug into the informative audio commentary and admire the timeworn, honey-colored buildings.
Perhaps hop off at the New Road stop to visit Oxford Castle. Learn how the medieval Norman castle was mostly destroyed during the English Civil War, with the remaining buildings then being transformed in to a prison.
After, maybe stop at Christ Church College, one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford. Admire its grand faade then, if it’s open to the public at your time of visiting, head inside to discover its fascinating history. Learn about the many distinguished people who have studied here ─ including Albert Einstein and Lewis Carroll ─ and see the Great Hall, which has been featured in several of the Harry Potter movies.
Next, perhaps visit Sheldonian Theatre, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century. This historical venue serves as the university’s official ceremonial hall, but it is open to the public when not in use. Choose to visit independently or join in with a guided tour, then head inside to explore the main theater. Gaze up at the majestic ceiling that was painted during the reign of King Charles II. Then, explore the attic before taking in 360-degree panoramic views of Oxford from the Cupola.
The full loop lasts around one hour, and buses arrive at each stop every 10-15 or 25-30 minutes, depending on the season.
The tour stops along the route are:
1. Railway
2. Park End Street
3. Bus Station
4. New Road
5. West Gate
6. Speedwell Street
7. Christ Church
8. Brasenose College
9. The Queen’s College
10. The Plain
11. St. Cross Road
12. South Parks Road
13. Sheldonian Theatre
14. Trinity College
15. Parks Road
16. Banbury Road
17. Woodstock Road
18. Browns Restaurant
19. Magdalen St. East
20. Randolph Road