Walking Tours of Oxford
All of our tours are written and researched by academic experts. They ask questions that provoke new ways of seeing the city landscape and its history.
We recommend first-time participants begin with our signature Original Uncomfortable Tour™, running weekly!
The Original Uncomfortable Tour™
The perfect introductory tour of Oxford, this tour engages with the politics of memory in the city and university.
It covers histories of empire, inequality, and race, class, and gender discrimination, highlighting how these legacies have an enduring impact on our modern lives.
TOUR CALENDAR
Dec 11 - Dec 17
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Specialised Tours
History of Medicine Tour
Both uncomfortable and fascinating, this tour asks questions about the lasting impact of disease and the way in which imperialism, conflict, and inequality have helped shape the development of modern medicine.
Hidden Histories Tour
This guided journey around Oxford will go back in time to explore the many ways women have historically experienced the urban space, uncover how masculinities have shaped and been shaped by the university, and highlight queer experiences in the city.
Oxford and Empire Tour
This tour contextualises the historical ties between Oxford and the British Empire, exploring how Oxford University was shaped by the imperial project and how its graduates went on to gain powerful positions in the Empire.
Follow the Money Tour
This is a student-led tour that highlights the University of Oxford’s relationship with contentious sources of revenue. It explores controversial funding sources that give their name to buildings like the Said Business School and the Sackler library.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Tickets can be cancelled or rescheduled up to 24 hours in advance of the scheduled tour time. Any adjustments after this will be made at the company's discretion.
PRIVATE BOOKINGS
Private bookings for small and large groups available - send us a message!
All tours can be booked privately for the date and time of your choosing. See price list here.
Meet our guides!
Paula
Paula is a DPhil candidate in the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on the history of vaccination and anti-vaccination movements.
Olivia
Olivia is a DPhil candidate in the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford. She researches nineteenth century New Orleans and Odessa as multicultural port cities in expanding settler societies.
Waqas
Waqas is a DPhil candidate in French and English Literature at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on the representation of the mind and consciousness in the arts, bilingualism, poetry and Hip Hop.
Louis
Louis is a DPhil student in history, researching
identity and otherness in the Holy Roman Empire. He actively campaigns to promote inclusivity in graduate admissions.
Amelia
Amelia studies history, with particular interests in black history, the legacies of empire and national memory.
Georgia
Georgia is a MSt student. Her research interests lie at the intersections of diaspora, decolonization, disability justice, and women of colour feminisms.
Lunan
Lunan studied as a visiting undergraduate student in English Literature at the University of Oxford. His research interests include postcolonial thinking, medical humanities, and transcultural studies.
Aisha
Aisha is an MPhil Development Studies candidate. She researches far-right political ideologies in Pakistan, and is broadly interested in how colonial histories shape development outcomes.
Cameron
Cameron is reading for a Masters in African Studies at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on the social psychology of race, identity and higher education in South Africa. His thesis will explore “white fragility” on University campuses post-#RhodesMustFall.
Julie
Julie is a Master student reading African Studies at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on gender and nationalism in subsaharan Africa as well as colonial legacies and continuities.
Malak
Malak is a final-year undergraduate reading English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford. She is interested in postcolonial and world literature studies,
in particular Anglophone
Arab writing.
Madeline
Madeline is an MPhil student the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology. She is interested in the use of scientific language and theories on colonized places and populations.
Azania
Azania is a Rhodes Scholar studying a Master's in Modern South Asian Studies. Her research investigates ideas of the self, othering, and narrative as a means of identity assertion, as well as urban legands and paranormal activities.
Callum
Callum is a graduate student studying for an MPhil in political theory. He is an active member of ACORN, and works with the student group Oxford Worker Justice seeking to build solidarity between students and the university's most exploited workers
Scott
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DPhil student in the Faculty of History. Scott's research focuses on diplomacy between Christians and Muslims during the Crusades.
Milan
Milan is an MPhil student in Modern European History.His research focuses on Serbian troops during the First World War.
MPhil in Modern European History at the University of Oxford. His research is on Serbian troops in the First World War
Devika
Devika just completed her MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies. She is involved in Race and Diversity initiatives across the University and the peer supporter program
Nikunj
Chevening Scholar studying for a Masters in Public Policy. He has worked in areas such as education, gender, livelihood, human rights, and social justice.
Why do we charge for our tours?
Since 2019, Uncomfortable Oxford has grown into a Social Enterprise!
We did this for three reasons:
1. To be able to pay our guides for all the hard work they do.
Our guides are university students and are dedicated to delivering good and well researched content. We want to reward them for their time and the quality of the work they accomplish with us.
2. To ensure we can run free public events throughout the year.
We charge an individual fee for tours, but we also run many free events during the year with partner institutions - such as the Oxford museums, or the Festival of Ideas - and with the local community.
3. To ensure we are sustainable and have a lasting impact.
It takes a lot of time to do the research for our content and create our partnerships. This enables us to grow in quality and impact. The project must be self-sustaining to ensure it does not disappear from the Oxford landscape.
Your support helps us to continue working hard
at having a positive impact in Oxford.
Thank you!