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Home  »   About Us  »  Visitor Information  »  Group visits  »  Extended tours

We offer two different extended tours, which show you the interior of the different buildings that form the historic heart of the University. Your guide will describe the wonderful architecture, explaining how the University came into being in the Middle Ages, and how it developed over the centuries.

Explore the Divinity School, built in 1488 for the teaching of theology. With its elaborately vaulted ceiling and its 455 carved bosses, it is a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture. Take a look in the 17th century Convocation House and Court, where Parliament was held in the Civil War.

Visit Duke Humfrey's mediaeval library, still in use today, but where generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages. These former readers, or users of the Library, include five kings, 40 Nobel Prize winners, 25 British Prime Ministers and writers such as Oscar Wilde, C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien

See the additional working areas of the Library, such as the interior of the architectural icon of Oxford, the Radcliffe Camera: the first rotunda library built in Britain.

GENERAL POINTS ABOUT EXTENDED TOURS

Please note that because the Bodleian is a working library, the content of tours may alter and certain of the areas listed above may be omitted. The length of the extended tour is always around 90 minutes. The cost is £13 per person. We regret there are no concessions.

Maximum 13 persons on each tour. Maximum group size accepted at the same time: 26, guided by two guides

We are able to take children age 11 and over into the working areas of the Library on these tours. We regret that the guided tours are not recommended for young children.

Booking is essential and we require payment for tours at least 14 days in advance of the date of your reservation, by credit card or cheque.

A minimum charge of the equivalent of 10 tickets per group of 13 applies. Groups will be charged for all booked places unless we are notified 14 days in advance of any reduction in numbers.

If you are interested in booking your group for an extended tour, please check with us whether a tour is running on the Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday you wish to come. Please note the Library is closed at certain holiday times (Easter Sunday, Christmas and New Year).

To contact us and book, email tours@bodleian.ox.ac.uk (weekdays only), or telephone 01865 277224.

 

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EXPLORE THE READING ROOMS TOUR

Time	Most Sundays at 11.15 and 13.15
Price	£13 per person
Tour Details	This extended tour takes you to the Library's wonderful reading rooms, where many of the books are held, and where, for centuries, scholars have studied. Your tour guide will show you Duke Humfrey's Library, including Selden End which is not accessible to visitors on any other day of the week, before visiting the Upper Reading Room with its magnificent 17th century painted frieze. The tour also includes the Radcliffe Camera, the Divinity School, Convocation House and Chancellor's Court.
Duration	90 minutes approximately

"A great opportunity to explore Oxford Bodleian Library’s reading rooms. A must do for a Sunday." Comment from a participant in the Explore the reading Rooms Tour

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UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS AT THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY

 

Time	Most Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9.15.
Price	£13 per person
Tour Details	In addition to visiting the Library’s wonderful rooms dating from the medieval period, and from the 17th and 18th centuries, this extended tour offers a brand new opportunity to see the new Gladstone Link, part of the Bodleian Library that lies underground. This area was formerly a closed stack, and following extensive redesign and refurbishment it opens to readers this summer. The tour also goes through the underground tunnel which runs from the Radcliffe Camera to the Old Bodleian Library. As well as visiting the underground Gladstone Link, this tour encompasses the Divinity School, built in 1488 for the teaching of theology. With its elaborately vaulted ceiling and its 455 carved bosses, it is a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture. Tour guests also visit the 17th century Convocation House and Court, where Parliament was held in the Civil War. The tour includes two historic reading rooms (rooms with books): Duke Humfrey's medieval library, still in use today, but where generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages; and the architectural icon of Oxford, the Radcliffe Camera: the first rotunda library built in Britain.  The tour includes numerous steps and stairs, and we regret no lift is available.
Duration	90 minutes approximately

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For up to date information contact the Historic Venues Team on:

Tel: +44 (0)1865 277224, fax: +44 (0)1865 277218, e-mail: tours@bodleian.ox.ac.uk .