Self-guided tours
Audio tour
Follow the history of the Bodleian Library from its birth through to the present with an audio tour describing its spectacular architecture.
What you'll see: Divinity School, Old Schools Quad, Clarendon Quad and looks up at the Tower of the Five Orders of Architecture.
Tour duration
40 minutes
Starting location
Old Schools Quad,
Old Bodleian Library
Tour language
English, French, German
Spanish and Mandarin
Price
£4 per person
Family tickets: £10
Group size
Up to 35 people
Minimum age
All adults and children
Monday – Saturday***:
9am – 4pm
9am – 4pm
Sunday***:
11am – 4pm
Divinity School entry
Designed to impress, this splendid medieval room is the oldest teaching hall and earliest examination hall of the University.
What you'll see: 15th-century Divinity School.
Tour duration
10 minutes
Starting location
Proscholium,
Old Bodleian Library
Tour language
English
Price
£2 per person
Family tickets: £5
Group size
Up to 30 people
Minimum age
All adults and children
Monday – Saturday***:
9am – 4.30pm
9am – 4.30pm
Sunday***:
11am - 4.30pm
History trail
Follow a self-guided trail as our first librarian, 16th-century scholar Thomas Bodley takes your family on an adventure
around the Bodleian Libraries and teaches you about the history of this world-famous site.
Tour duration
40 minutes
Starting location
Old Schools Quad,
Old Bodleian Library
Tour language
English
Price
£1 per person
Group size
No limit
Minimum age
Aimed at families with
children aged 5 to 11
Monday – Saturday***:
9am - 5pm
9am - 5pm
Sunday***:
11am - 5pm
Purchase on the day at the Great Gate ticket office.
Photo gallery
Catering for groups
Make your visit even more special and enjoy morning pastries or afternoon teas before
or after your tour at the Weston Library café.
Souvenir guide book
A guide book is available to accompany your visit featuring colour images of the library.
