Library guided tours
30, 60 or 90 minutes
Divinity School, Old Bodleian Library
Available in English
Children must be over 11 years old
Book tickets in advance
A trip to Oxford is incomplete without a visit to the world-famous Bodleian Libraries.
The Bodleian Library dates back to 1488, with the library, as it stands today, opening in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley. In its reading rooms generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages, amongst them monarchs, Nobel Prize winners, British Prime Ministers and writers including Oscar Wilde, CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien.
We offer three guided tours of the Bodleian Library. The Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera are working libraries of the University of Oxford, and guided tours are the only way to go inside these spaces.
For upcoming closures, please check our Plan your visit page.
After Hours tour
Available from 2 July – 12 September 2024
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 5.15 – 6.15pm and 6.30 – 7.30pm 60 minutes From £20 per person
Experience the Bodleian like never before on this exclusive guided tour for summer 2024.
Gain after-hours access to the stunning Duke Humfrey’s Library after the students have left, allowing you to absorb the incredible atmosphere of the library on a summer's evening.
Our fantastic tour guides will also guide you through reading rooms and an underground tunnel, and into the iconic Oxford landmark, the Radcliffe Camera. See why the Rad Cam is one of the most popular reading rooms for students and readers alike, and why so many visitors want to peek inside.
You will see Duke Humfrey’s Library, the Gladstone Link and the iconic Radcliffe Camera.
Book the After Hours tour
Radcliffe Camera and City of Oxford walking tour
Available from 1 July – 30 August 2024
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10.30am 2 hours From £25 per person
This summer, step inside the iconic 18th-century Radcliffe Camera as part of the City of Oxford Walking Tour.
Experience this beautiful domed reading room on a 30-minute tour with one of our expert guides, before exploring the city of dreaming spires on a 60–90 minute walking tour.
Discover the vibrant history of the oldest university in the English-speaking world on the only official University of Oxford walking tour.
Developed by the Bodleian Libraries in partnership with the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides, our popular walking tour will take you on an entertaining journey that will reveal the secrets of this historic city.
All our walking tours are conducted by accredited, qualified guides.
Book this tour
30 minute tour
Daily £10 per person
Discover the Bodleian Libraries’ medieval origins. Admire the elaborately carved gothic ceiling of the Divinity School featuring over 400 crests and other images, see the pulpits and benches where students and tutors once debated, and visit Oxford University’s oldest reading room, the stunning Duke Humfrey’s Library.
You will see the Divinity School and Duke Humfrey’s Library
Book 30 mi nute tour
60 minute tour
Daily £15 per person
Delve into the drama of the university and stories of student high jinks. Starting in the Divinity School and ending in the exquisite Duke Humfrey’s Library, hear how Oxford University maintained order in the 17th-century and also housed King Charles I’s parliament whilst the King was resident in Oxford during the English Civil War (1642–1651).
You will see the Divinity School, Convocation House, Chancellor’s Court, and Duke Humfrey’s Library.
Book 60 minute tour
90 minute tour (limited availability)
Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays £20 per person
Experience 600 years of history on an in-depth journey from the 15th-century Divinity School and Duke Humfrey’s Library to the iconic 18th-century Radcliffe Camera via the 21st-century Gladstone Link.
Discover beautiful domed reading rooms, fan vaulted ceilings, late gothic architecture and an underground tunnel, as our experienced guides reveal the fascinating history and secrets of the Bodleian Libraries.
You will see the Divinity School, Convocation House, Chancellor’s Court, Duke Humfrey’s Library, Gladstone Link and the iconic Radcliffe Camera.
Book 90 minute tour
Library tour information
- Guided tours are conducted in English.
- All tours include a number of stairs and some walking, no lift is available.
- The routes and times of tours may change, please check with staff.
- Only children over the age of 11 years are permitted on guided tours.
- Children aged 11–16 must be accompanied on tours by a responsible adult, as our guided tours enter into Duke Humfrey’s Library which is still a working library.
- Only a selection of tickets can be booked up to one month in advance online – please check availability.
- We reserve the right to cancel any tour at short notice. In case of cancellation any pre-purchased tickets will be refunded.
- For more information, contact the Tours team.
*Please check our plan a visit page for information and unexpected closures.
In the shop
Bodleian Library Souvenir Guidebook £8
'Silence Please' Mug £6
Bodleian Oath Bag £22
What else to do on your visit
Contact the tours team.
+44 (0)1865 287400 [email protected]
Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm
Related links
- Getting here
- History of the Bodleian
Browse and search over 13 million library items
Search SOLO
Welcome to the Bodleian Libraries
Twenty-six libraries across Oxford, including the central University library
Online and remote access
How to access library resources when you're away from Oxford
iSkills workshops
Find online or in-person training in research skills, scholarly communications, understanding open access and more
Join the Libraries
Not a member of the University? Find out how to apply to use our libraries and collections
Got a question? Use our live chat service to talk directly to our library staff, or send us an email.
Explore our special collections
Digital Bodleian
Discover over a million images of rare books, manuscripts and other treasures from the Bodleian Libraries and Oxford college libraries.
Use our special collections
Search and use manuscripts and archives, rare books, printed ephemera, maps, music and digitised collections in libraries across Oxford.
What's on at the Weston Library
Tours & exhibitions
Looking for our public tours, events and exhibitions?
About the Libraries
Find out about the latest job and training opportunities from the Bodleian Libraries.
Mission and strategy
The governance, strategy and behind the scenes work at the Bodleian Libraries
Work with us
Our work with other businesses and organisations, including venue hire, commercial filming, object loans and publishing.
- Divinity School
- Blackwell Hall
- The Bod & SBS package
- About the team
- Audio, Visual & Lighting
- Photographers
- Entertainment
Bodleian Library Events
Bring the fascinating history of the Bodleian Libraries to life by joining a guided tour with our engaging and passionate guides. The academic heart of the University of Oxford, this stunning building dates back to 1488 and is home to the famous Duke Humfrey’s library – the oldest reading room here in Oxford.
Adding a tour to your evening dinner is the perfect way to complete the Oxford experience. Our knowledgeable tour guides will lead your guests on a truly unforgettable tour – it is impossible to not be inspired by the history and knowledge filling the shelves.
On the tour, you will discover the Bodleian Libraries’ medieval origins. Admire the elaborately carved gothic ceiling of the Divinity School featuring over 400 crests and see the pulpits where students and tutors once debated for hours at a time. Your tour will end with a visit to the atmospheric Duke Humfrey’s library where monarchs, scholars and world renowned authors once studied.
timings: after 6pm, ideal during your drinks reception
duration: 20 mins
capacity: groups of up to 20
cost: £165 per group of 20
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
What they’re Saying
COMMENTS
The Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera and Weston Library are three of Oxford's most iconic libraries, located in the heart of the city. Get exclusive, behind-the-scenes access on a guided library tour, or explore the historic city of Oxford on a walking tour with one of our expert guides.
We offer three guided tours of the Bodleian Library. The Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera are working libraries of the University of Oxford, and guided tours are the only way to go inside these spaces. For upcoming closures, please check our Plan your visit page.
Discover over a million images of rare books, manuscripts and other treasures from the Bodleian Libraries and Oxford college libraries.
Discover the Harry Potter movie locations of Oxford on this walking tour. Visit the famous Bodleian Library to see the hall used as Hogwarts’ Infirmary in many movies, and view other locations in one or two of Oxford’s oldest colleges.
Book the most popular Tours in Bodleian Library. Best price and money back guarantee! Read the reviews of your fellow travelers.
Bring the fascinating history of the Bodleian Libraries to life by joining a guided tour with our engaging and passionate guides. The academic heart of the University of Oxford, this stunning building dates back to 1488 and is home to the famous Duke Humfrey’s library – the oldest reading room here in Oxford.
Book your Bodleian Library tickets online and skip-the-line! Save time and money with our best price guarantee make the most of your visit to Oxford!
The Bodleian Library is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 12 million items, it is the second largest library in Britain after the British library.