Tolkien, Lewis and the Inklings Oxford Tour

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Tolkien, Lewis and the Inklings Oxford Tour

2 Adults x $250.98

$501.96

Approx Total

$501.96

Inclusions / Exclusions

Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
All Fees and Taxes

Admission fee if you want to go inside a college. Magdalen is £9.50 adults/£8.50 concessions.

Overview

Explore the lives of two of Oxford's greatest writers, and their friendship, with an award-winning guide. On this tour we will follow in the footsteps of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. We will see where they studied, taught, lived, worshipped, lectured, wrote and - most importantly - drank with their friends the Inklings. Out of these friendships and conversations emerged Aslan, Gandalf and many other much-loved characters and stories. Both men became extremely famous in their lifetimes, but never gave up their day-jobs of teaching in the English department. We will explore CS Lewis's conversion to Christianity and late-life marriage to Joy Gresham, and hear about Tolkien's student pranks and life-long deep love for trees. We will end at the beautiful college of Magdalen, where Lewis taught for nearly 30 years and the Inklings met every Thursday. If you want to go inside it, you will need to pay the entrance fee, which is £9.50 adults/£8.50 concessions.

Meeting points

Opposite the Randolph Hotel, at the end of St Giles

End point

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Itinerary

Martyrs' Memorial

We will walk up St Giles to see the Eagle and Child and Lamb and Flag - the Inklings' two favourite pubs. We will go into the Lamb and Flag and see where they used to sit and read to each other from their writings

10 minutes
Keble College

Where CS Lewis was stationed for his officer training before going off to fight in the First World War

5 minutes
History of Science Museum

The Old Ashmolean, where Tolkien had his very first job working on the Oxford English Dictionary

5 minutes
Exeter College

Where Tolkien was an undergraduate and suffered an attack of the 'Oxford sleepies'

10 minutes
University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

Where Lewis preached and worshipped

10 minutes
University College

Where Lewis's undergraduate studies were interrupted by war

5 minutes
Merton College

Where Tolkien was English Professor and finally completed the Lord of the Rings

5 minutes
Examination Schools

Where both Tolkien and Lewis lectured, close to the rooms where Tolkien lived at the end of his life, and the Eastgate Hotel where the two men used to meet, and where Lewis first met Joy Gresham

5 minutes
University of Oxford Botanic Garden

Where Tolkien used to visit a particular tree he loved

5 minutes
Magdalen College

We will go inside this college, where Lewis was a fellow for nearly 30 years and the Inklings met every Thursday evening. We will see the college buildings, cloisters, chapel, dining hall (if open), gardens and deer park.

40 minutes

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Free Cancellation

February 06100% refund

February 07No 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.

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