Tours for individuals

Tour guide showing visitors the view from the Old Bodleian Library

Tours for individuals

Get behind-the-scenes access to one of the oldest working libraries in the world. See the awe-inspiring architecture and hear about the early life of the University of Oxford from its historic centre.

30 minutes

This tour includes the Divinity School, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, and Duke Humfrey’s library, the most ancient and atmospheric heart of the library.
What you'll see: 15th-century Divinity School and Duke Humfrey's medieval library.

Tour duration

30 minutes

Starting location

Divinity School

Tour language

English

Price

£8 per person

Group size

Up to 13 people

Minimum age

All adults and children over
the age of 11

Monday – Saturday*:
12.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm,
4pm, 4.30pm

Sunday*:
12.30pm, 2.15pm, 2.45pm,
3.15pm, 4pm, 4.30pm

Book tickets for 30min tour

60 minutes

An extension of the 30 minute tour, where you'll also get to see the interior of the buildings that form the historic heart of the University.
What you'll see: 15th-century Divinity School, Convocation House, Chancellor's Court and Duke Humfrey's Library.

Tour duration

60 minutes

Starting location

Divinity School

Tour language

English

Price

£12 per person

Group size

Up to 13 people

Minimum age

All adults and children over
the age of 11

Monday – Saturday*:
10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm
2pm

Sunday*:
11.30am, 2pm, 3pm

Book tickets for 60min tour

90 minutes

This tour offers the opportunity to visit both the Bodleian Library's wonderful historic rooms as well as a modern reading room.
What you'll see: Radcliffe Camera, Divinity School, Convocation House, Chancellors Court and Duke Humfrey's Library.

Tour duration

90 minutes

Starting location

Divinity School

Tour language

English

Price

£18 per person

Group size

Up to 13 people

Minimum age

All adults and children over
the age of 11

Wednesday and Saturday*:
9.15am

Sunday*:
11.15am, 1.15pm

Book tickets for 90min tour

Audio tour

Follow the history of the Bodleian Library from its birth through to the present with an audio tour describing the spectacular architecture.
What you'll see: External quadrangles and the 15th-century Divinity School.

Tour duration

40 minutes

Starting location

Divinity School

Tour language

English, French, German
Spanish and Mandarin

Price

£4 per person
£10 Family tickets

Group size

Up to 35 people

Minimum age

All adults and children

Monday – Sunday*:
9am – 4pm

Book tickets for Audio tour

Divinity School entry

This splendid medieval room is the oldest teaching hall and earliest examination hall of the University.
What you'll see: 15th-century Divinity School

Visit duration

10 minutes

Starting location

Divinity School

Tour language

English

Price

£2.50 per person

Group size

Up to 25 people

Minimum age

All adults and children

Monday – Saturday*:
9am – 5pm

Sunday*:
11am, 5pm

Book tickets for Divinity School entry

History trail

Follow the 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

Divinity School

Tour language

English

Price

Free admission

Group size

No limit

Minimum age

Aimed at families with
children aged 5 to 11

Monday – Saturday*:
9am – 5pm

Sunday*:
11am – 5pm

Purchase on the day at the Great Gate ticket office.

Tour information

Guided tours are conducted in English.
All tours include a number of stairs and some walking - no lift is available.
The routes and times of tours may change - please check with staff.
Only children over the age of 11 years are permitted on guided tours.
Children aged 11-16 must be accompanied on tours by a responsible adult, as our guided tours enter into Duke Humfrey’s Library which is still a working library.
Family tickets are for two adults and three children under 15 years.
Visitors are asked to leave all bags in secure lockers for the duration of all Bodleian Library tours.
There are approximately 70 steps involved in the guided tour and no lift.
Guided tour times may change if the rooms are booked for University or other events.
Tickets can be booked online up to two weeks in advance or at the ticket office on the day. Tickets can sell out so please arrive early if booking on the day.
We reserve the right to cancel any tour at short notice. In case of cancellation any pre-purchased tickets will be refunded.
For accessibility information, please visit our accessibility page.
For more information, contact the Tours team.

Group size: Two groups can be run concurrently for the 30 minutes and 60 minutes tours, between Monday and Saturday.
Two groups can also be run concurrently for the 90 minute tour on Wednesday and Saturday only.

*Please check our opening hours for information and for additional room closures.