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Ready to tour the incredible historic city of Oxford?
You’ve come to the right place, as here we’ll pinpoint the five best Oxford bus tours, including Hop-On Hop-Off Oxford and Oxford sightseeing buses.
You’ll find expert guides who are passionate about The City of Dreaming Spires.
They offer unrivaled knowledge that’ll ensure you get the most out of your visit.
Oxford is one of the most beautiful cities in England with fantastic architecture, delicious eateries, and history around every corner.
If you don’t want to read the whole article, our favorite tour is the Harry Potter Studio Tour and Oxford Day Trip – perfect for wizards, witches, and muggles alike (or if you want an Oxford-specific sightseeing bus tour, this is the best one).
Read on to discover the 5 best Oxford bus tours, starting with our favorite.
Don’t forget to book in advance to avoid missing out!
⏳ Don’t have time to read the whole list?
The best Oxford bus tour is this Oxford Official Hop-On Hop-Off Bus tour.
Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group, where I can answer more of your questions!
Easy Guide: Best Oxford Bus Tours
| #1 PICK 🏆 | Oxford Official Hop-On and Hop-Off Bus | 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 560+ reviews | ▶ Book Here! |
| #2 PICK | Oxford and Harry Potter Studio Tour Day Trip | 4.7 out of 5 stars, 2,000+ reviews | ▶ Book Here! |
| #3 PICK | Oxford, Windsor Castle, and Stonehenge Bus Tour | 4.5 out of 5 stars, 500+ reviews | ▶ Book Here! |
1. London: Harry Potter Studio Tour and Oxford Day Trip
⭐️ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 Stars, 2,000+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 11 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Entry to The Making of Harry Potter
- Board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 and ¾
- A guided tour of Oxford
- Transportation by executive coach
This tour is a must for fans of the Harry Potter movies franchise.
You’ll start your day in the historic city of Oxford, taking time to appreciate England’s oldest university.
The cobbles and buildings here are old-world style, making this a unique experience.
After enjoying the sights of Oxford, you’ll journey by executive coach to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
This is where the magic really begins.
You’ll be granted access to the Making of Harry Potter experience, where you can visit the world-famous film sets and learn more about the making of the movies.
You’ll be full of excitement as you board the Hogwarts Express and explore the train carriages.
They’re the actual carriages that were used during filming, so you’ll feel like a real wizard or witch in no time.
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures while you’re in the Wizarding World!
2. Windsor Castle, Oxford and Stonehenge Tour from London
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 500+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 hours 30 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Walking tour of Oxford
- Admission to Stonehenge (one of the Seven Wonders of the World)
- Admission to Windsor Castle
- Luxury coach travel
The Windsor Castle, Oxford and Stonehenge Tour from London is a fantastic pick if you love historic buildings and cultural landmarks.
On this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to see where the Queen spent some of her time, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the quaint historic city of Oxford for a tour bus in Oxford.
All of that in one day – what’s not to love?
During your time at Stonehenge, you’ll be invited to reflect on 4,000 years of history and consider how dramatically the world has changed around these towering rocks.
In Oxford, you’ll be accompanied by an expert guide who is on hand to take you to the best locations and provide the most interesting facts about the city.
Touring the University of Oxford grounds, you’ll literally be walking in the footsteps of thirty British Prime Ministers as well as US President Bill Clinton.
3. Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Tour from London
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 180+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 hours 30 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Entry to Warwick Castle
- Walking tour of Oxford with a professional guide
- A chance to look around the birthplace of William Shakespeare
- A drive through the Cotswolds in an air-conditioned coach
Looking to visit four spectacular English places all in the space of just a single day?
This tour allows you to visit four unique parts of England – each offering interesting exploration opportunities.
Explore Oxford’s beautiful buildings and cobbled streets after a trip to Warwick Castle – a fort dating back nearly 1,000 years.
This tour has something for everyone, so is great for families.
As well as taking pictures of the breathtaking spires of Oxford, you’ll be taken on a guided tour of Stratford-Upon-Avon – the birthplace of English playwright William Shakespeare.
You’ll even get to look around the house where he was born and discover how growing up in this quaint English town influenced his works.
The people on this tour aren’t making much ado about nothing (Shakespeare pun, anyone?).
They enjoyed it and now it’s your chance to revel in the sights and sounds of the English countryside.
4. Oxford and Cambridge Universities Day Tour from London
⭐️ RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars, 100+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Walking tour of Oxford and Cambridge
- Expert guide
- Personal audio headset
- High-end coach with Wi-Fi and USB charging
The Oxford and Cambridge Universities Day Tour from London guarantees hours of fun as you find peace of mind while strolling the grounds of these historic academic hubs.
Soak up knowledge and culture as you walk the campuses that hundreds of famous politicians, authors, and broadcasters have before. C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia), Clement Attlee (former British Prime Minister), Tony Abbott (former Australian Prime Minister), Emma Thompson (actress), Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of the World Wide Web), and King Charles have all walked these grounds.
A humorous and informative guide will take you around the best colleges in the cities, and you’ll pass the famous Bodleian Library – which is the largest academic library in the UK.
You’ll be amazed by the wide variety of buildings on display at the University of Oxford and the beautiful Gothic architecture of Cambridge.
5. City Sightseeing Oxford Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 560+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- 360-degree view of the city from the top deck of an open-top bus in Oxford
- See the awe-inspiring Oxford Castle and Chris Church College
- Onboard audio commentary providing information about the history of the city
- Guided walking tour of the city
This tour is a unique opportunity to see one of the most interesting UK cities up close.
Offering 24- or 48-hour passes, the open-bus service puts you in the driver’s seat (not literally).
You’ll be able to hop-on and hop-off at your own pace as you sample the delights of this iconic university city with an Oxford city bus tour.
Oxford is the setting for many of Hollywood’s most famous movies including the 007 classic Tomorrow Never Dies and the X-Men movie First Class.
Where you visit is up to you, but recommendations include Oxford Castle, Bodleian Library, and Christ Church College.
The onboard audio commentary is available in 11 languages, meaning you’ll learn a lot about the city wherever you’re from.
If you’re visiting Oxford for the first time, and want to discover more about its immense history, look no further than this tour.
Hey! Want to use our trusty guides to the best tours in other places across the UK? Check these out!
- 11 Best Cotswolds Tours from London in 2023
- 11 Best Scottish Highlands Tours from Edinburgh in 2023
- 5 Best Open Top Bus Tours in London
- 9 Best Outlander Tours in Scotland in 2023
- 9 Best Oxford Ghost Tours in 2023
- 9 Best Bus Tours in Edinburgh
- 5 Best Ghost Tours in Bath, England
- 9 Unique London Tours
- 9 Best Day Tours to Oxford from London
- 7 Best Stonehenge Tours from London
- 7 Best Changing of the Guard Tours in London
- 5 Best Tours of York, England
- 11 Best Oxford Walking Tours
- 21 Best London Walking Tours
- 11 Best London Rock ‘n’ Roll Tours
- 11 Best Beatles Tours in London
- 11 Best London Museum Tours
- 3 Best Morse Tours in Oxford
- 11 Best Walking Tours in Bath
- 13 Best Harry Potter Tours in Oxford
- 11 Best Jack the Ripper Tours in London
- 9 Best London Literary Tours
- 9 Best Street Art Tours in London
- 13 Best Evening & Night Tours of Edinburgh
- 15 Best London Pub Crawl Tours
- 11 Best London Bus Tours for Families
- 17 Best Harry Potter Tours in London
- 17 Best London Foodie Tours
- 13 Best Ghost & Haunted Tours in Edinburgh
- 11 Best Edinburgh Walking Tours
- 11 Best Private Tours in London
- 11 Best Ghost Tours in London
- 11 Fun Tours of Royal London
- 13 Isle of Skye Tours for a Magical Time
- 13 Mysterious Tours of Loch Ness
- 7 Best James Bond Tours in London
- 7 Best Paris Tours from London
- 7 Best Stratford-upon Avon Tours from London
- 7 Best Tours of Bath from London
- 7 Best Black Cab Tours from London
- 11 Best Downton Abbey Tours in the UK
- 11 Fun Tours of Royal London
- 13 Isle of Skye Tours for a Magical Time
- 13 Mysterious Tours of Loch Ness
- 7 Best James Bond Tours in London
- 7 Best Paris Tours from London
- 7 Best Stratford-upon Avon Tours from London
- 7 Best Tours of Bath from London
- 7 Best Black Cab Tours from London
- 11 Best Downton Abbey Tours in the UK
UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs
🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?
Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here, a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.
🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?
Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one, which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.
🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?
The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.
🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?
For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.
📳 Will my phone work in the UK?
Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.
🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?
Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink.
