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The Best Oxford and Cambridge Tours from London
Have you considered taking one of the Oxford and Cambridge tours from London? I’ve got you covered!
Oxford and Cambridge are two iconic English cities within a relatively short driving distance from London. While visiting the two cities you can stroll through the historic town centres and explore the world-renowned universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
I’ve had the chance to visit Oxford and Cambridge on two different trips and to be honest, there’s so much to see, I really recommend taking the time to explore each city for a day.
From London: Oxford and Cambridge Universities Tour
✅ Make the most out of one day
✅ Entry to Christ Church College included
✅ Great value for money
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Golden Triangle Tour | London-Oxford-Cambridge
✅ Spend 1 day in each city
✅ Guided tour in each city
✅ 2 stays in boutique hotels included
Oxford and Cambridge Universities
There’s a century-long rivalry between the two famous university cities. Even the two coats of arms of the universities are used to make fun of each other.
The coat of arms of Cambridge University depicts a closed book, so people from Oxford mock them for not being able to read and that’s why they don’t open the book.
The coat of arms of Oxford University shows an open book, so people from Cambridge mock them for reading the same page for hundreds of years.
Fun anecdote, which I learned on a tour through Oxford, to the side, both universities count among the 5 most prestigious universities in the world and probably also among the most beautiful universities in the world.
Best Oxford and Cambridge Tours from London
1. From London: Oxford and Cambridge Universities Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.1/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 hours | ✅ Book it!
The Oxford and Cambridge Universities Tour is a great option if you want to pack a visit to Oxford and Cambridge into one day.
But I’ll be honest as great as this tour is, it’s simply not possible to see everything in Oxford and Cambridge both in one day. So, at times it might seem a bit rushed but taking this tour is the best way to see as much as possible of those two amazing cities in one day.
Once you arrive in Oxford, you’ll get to explore the famous university town on a guided walking tour, taking in the stunning architecture and learning about the fascinating history of this academic powerhouse.
The entrance to the most famous college in Oxford, Christ Church College, is included in this tour. Visiting the college is a great way to learn about the UK university system but it’s also the perfect place in Oxford for all Harry Potter fans, multiple movie scenes were filmed inside the college.
Then it’s on to Cambridge, where you’ll visit the best attractions in Cambridge on a guided walking tour. With knowledgeable guides and plenty of photo opportunities, this tour is a great way to experience two of England’s most famous university towns in one day.
Oxford and Cambridge Universities Tour includes:
- Transport from London
- Guided walking tour in Oxford and Cambridge
- Entrance to Christ Church College in Oxford
10/10 recommend highly! Mel was an incredible tour guide, full of humor and all the historical/cultural knowledge you could want. Was worth twice what was paid. The towns are beautiful, well worth the day long trip and cannot disappoint.
Dana (Read more reviews)
2. The Golden Triangle Tour | London-Oxford-Cambridge
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 days | ✅ Book it!
The Golden Triangle Tour is an excellent way to explore some of England’s most iconic cities. It gives you the time you need to explore each of those stunning cities.
You’ll start in London, where you’ll get to see famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. Then it’s on to Oxford, where you’ll spend the night in a boutique hotel.
On the next morning, you can start exploring Oxford, where you can wander through the historic university town and soak up the academic atmosphere.
On a day trip to Oxford, you can also visit multiple Harry Potter filming locations, which is one of the great Harry Potter things to do near London.
Finally, the tour takes you to Cambridge, where you’ll again spend the night so you can start exploring the city right in the morning. You can stroll along the River Cam and even take a boat ride on one of the traditional punts.
Afterwards, you admire the stunning architecture of the university buildings by walking through the historic city.
With comfortable transportation and an expert guide to show you around, this tour is the perfect way to experience the best of England’s Golden Triangle without having to rush around.
The Golden Triangle Tour includes:
- Private transportation
- Professional guide
- 2 overnight-stays in Oxford and Cambridge
- 2 breakfasts
We had a great experience with Tish and Kiernan. There were some bumps in the itinerary that they did their best to smooth over. They were very accommodating to everyone on board and did their best to ensure everyone had a good time. Tish is a very kind and personable tour guide, she is a delight!
Tripadvisor Reviewer (Read more reviews)
Oxford or Cambridge? If You Have to Choose
I’ve visited both Oxford and Cambridge and as beautiful as both cities are, I liked Oxford even more than Cambridge.
The architecture and college culture is very similar in both cities. But Oxford is home to the impressive Radcliffe Camera and multiple Harry Potter films were filmed in Oxford and you can visit those locations!
So, as a Harry Potter fan myself the winner of the battle of Oxford vs Cambridge easily goes to Oxford. And don’t forget to check out the Harry Potter filming locations in London before you set out on your day trip to Oxford.
Best Oxford Tours from London
I’ll be completely honest with you, if you only want to visit Oxford it’s best to catch a train from London to Oxford and explore the city on your own.
If you still want to take a tour, there are some day tours that combine a visit to Oxford to another location which is closer than Cambridge so you don’t have to spend as much time in the car.
1. From London: Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Day Trip
⭐️ RATING: 4.6/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 hours | ✅ Book it!
The Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Day Trip is the perfect way to combine a visit to Oxford with a visit to the beautiful English countryside.
You’ll start the day exploring the historic university town of Oxford, with its stunning architecture and charming covered market.
Then it’s on to the Cotswolds, a region known for its picturesque hills and historic villages with thatched cottages. You’ll get to visit two villages, where you can wander through the winding streets and see the beautiful gardens.
This day trip is a great way to see the traditional English countryside as well as the world-renowned university city of Oxford.
This tour was one of the highlights of our trip! It was great to get out of busy London for the day and see the English countryside. […] I highly recommend this excursion. My teenagers and I loved it!
Hilary (Read more reviews)
2. From London: Day Trip to Downton Abbey, Oxford and Bampton
⭐️ RATING: 4.7/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 hours | ✅ Book it!
Oxford is the filming location for multiple Harry Potter films. And close to Oxford, you can find the filming location of another popular British production: Downton Abbey.
This Day Trip to Downton Abbey, Oxford and Bampton takes you to some of the most iconic filming locations from the show, including the magnificent Highclere Castle, which served as the main filming location for Downton Abbey.
You’ll also get to explore the charming village of Bampton, which was used as the setting for many of the outdoor shots in the show.
And of course, no trip to England would be complete without a visit to the historic university town of Oxford, where you’ll get to wander through the famous colleges and soak up the academic atmosphere.
This tour is the perfect way to experience the magic of Downton Abbey and the beauty of rural England on the same day as exploring Oxford.
Our trip was excellent. It was exactly what my friend and I were looking for. Derrick was a great tour guide, very informative, and he always made sure we knew the schedule. […]
Melissa (Read more reviews)
3. From London: Day Trip to Harry Potter Studios and Oxford
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 11 hours | ✅ Book it!
The Small-Group Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter & Oxford is the ultimate way to experience the magic of the Harry Potter universe.
You’ll start the day with a visit to the Warner Bros Studio Tour, where you’ll get to explore the sets, costumes, and props from the iconic movie series. If you want to visit the studios on its own, Harry Potter World is easily accessible from London by public transport.
Then it’s on to Oxford, where you’ll get to see some of the locations used in the films, including the 15th century School of Divinity that was used as the infirmary at Hogwarts.
With a small group and a knowledgeable guide to show you around, this tour is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter and explore some of England’s most beautiful and historic locations. So grab your wand and get ready for a day of magic and adventure!
We had such a great time on the tour! It was just the right combination of group / independent time, which we loved! Our guide made sure that everyone, including the people not overly familiar with Harry Potter were included and felt welcome. We would highly recommend!
Brenda_L (Read more reviews)
Final Thoughts: Oxford and Cambridge Tours from London
Both Oxford and Cambridge are fascinating cities, worth visiting on a day trip from London. But all in all, I think the two cities deserve more time than to be squashed into one day trip.
But if you don’t have more time on your London itinerary and it’s enough for you to get a glimpse of those two cities, a day trip is the best way to get the most out of your time.
Read more about London:
- 4 Day Itinerary for London: What to See & Do
- 21 Best Things to Do in London in August
- 15 Amazing Things to Do in Soho London
- Best Fully Vegan Restaurants in Soho London
- How to get to Harry Potter Studios from London
- 21 Magical Harry Potter Locations in London
- 13 Magical Harry Potter Things to Do in London
- 10 Most Magical Harry Potter Shops in London
- Do You Tip in London? All You Need to Know
- The Best Oxford and Cambridge Tours from London
- Top 10 Most Vegan Friendly Cities in Europe You Should Visit
Tina Riegelnegg
Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Veganderlust. She's a vegan with wanderlust, who shares tips and stories from her travels to 31 countries as a vegan minimalist. After 2.5 years of full-time travel with just a personal item-sized bag, she’s now based in Vienna, helping fellow travelers explore the world with ease and compassion.
