Tours and Tickets
2-3 Hour Cycle Tour of Oxford
5

2-3 Hour Cycle Tour of Oxford

By Bainton Bikes Cycle Hire & Tours
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
About
Bicycles are synonymous with Oxford. Explore the city center, the countryside, and its famous residents like a local on this cycling tour. Let your guide handle navigation as you pass by the dreaming spires, the Bridge of Sighs, Port Meadow, the University Parks, and more. It’s a comprehensive overview that’s perfect for first-time visitors. A small group size means you have an intimate, memorable experience.

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Soak up the atmosphere as you bike through Oxford in a small group
  • Discover Oxford center, the countryside, and the haunts of famous residents
  • Ride under the Bridge of Sighs and along the Thames River
  • Enjoy multiple stops for a comprehensive overview of the city

  • Local guide
  • Use of bicycle
  • Entry/Admission - Oxford Canal
What's not included
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Entry/Admission - Sheldonian Theatre
  • Entry/Admission - Lady Margaret Hall

Greet your guide and small group in central Oxford, don your helmet, and board your bike. Explore the city center first, riding some of Oxford’s oldest paths and pedaling below the Bridge of Sighs. Next, slip away into the peaceful countryside. Ride through historic Jericho and Port Meadow, along the Thames River and the Oxford Canal. See where Lewis Carroll began his tale of 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,' where 'Lord of the Rings' author J.R.R. Tolkien lived, and more. Finish your tour at the landmark Sheldonian Theatre, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and known as the “jewel in Oxford’s architectural crown.”

Start:
  • 78 Walton St, Oxford OX2 6EA, UK
    Departure Point: Central Oxford Address: Walton Street Cycles 78 Walton Street Oxford
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 12096P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Most travellers can participate
    • As this is a cycle tour, wheelchairs and strollers wouldn't be used but tag alongs are available
    • Minimum 2 travellers or single person supplement
    • Please check-in 10 minutes before departure
    • Not recommended for late stage pregnant travellers
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 12096P2

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    Itinerary
    • You'll start at
      78 Walton St
      78 Walton St, Oxford OX2 6EA, UK
      Departure Point: Central Oxford Address: Walton Street Cycles 78 Walton Street Oxford
      See address & details
    • 1
      Radcliffe Camera
      Stop: 10 minutes
      See details
    • 2
      Bridge of Sighs
      Stop: 5 minutes
      See details
    • 3
      Sheldonian Theatre
      Stop: 10 minutes - Admission excluded
      See details
    • 4
      Lady Margaret Hall
      Stop: 5 minutes - Admission excluded
      See details
    • 5
      Port Meadow
      Stop: 15 minutes
      See details
    • 6
      Thames River
      Stop: 15 minutes
      See details
    • 7
      Oxford Canal
      Stop: 20 minutes - Admission included
      See details
    • You'll return to the starting point
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Bainton Bikes Cycle Hire & Tours
      297
      United Kingdom
      Joined in February 2012
    • annegL4286NU
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Cycle Hire
      My friend and I hire bikes from here on a regular basis, and have done for years. The Customer Service is brilliant and the bikes are well maintained and comfortable. We do our own tour along the Thames Path, highly recommend.
      Written 6 December 2023
    • helenecK5915DU
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A bike to hire
      You can't live in Oxford without a bike and I would highly recommend Bainton Bikes if you want to hire one. We've had several experiences with them, including a full year's hire, and have been completely satisfied with both the bikes and the after sales service. In addition to the charm of their shop, there was always someone on hand to repair any minor damage or replace a lock that had been rusted by the rain, free of charge. In short, everything that can happen in a year of daily use of a bike.
      Written 27 November 2023
    • 802darekz
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice experiance visiting Oxford on a bike.
      We spent 3 days in Oxford riding on bikes. The guys from Baiton Bikes were helpful. I recommend contacting them to rent a bike. Oxford is great for visiting on a bike. Dariusz
      Written 5 November 2023
    • DavidJRCB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Electric bike hire
      We rented electric bikes from Bainton. They were really helpful and had plenty of good advice for us for our day in the Cotswolds. The bikes were excellent. Very good value. Definitely will use Bainton again.
      Written 29 October 2023
    • Vince601
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Days Tandem Hire.
      Hired a tandem for the day - bike was in good condition (as you'd expect from a bike shop i guess!) and a great set of relaxed, friendly and helpful staff. Thank you!
      Written 19 October 2023
    • AleishaW167
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good bike at a good price
      I hired a bike from Bainton and everything was really quick and easy. The shop is not far from the train station and they were able to get me set up with bike, helmet, lock and map easily. They gave me a few suggestions of places to go. I rode around the city for a bit and also out to the countryside which was beautiful. The bike infrastructure in the city in particular is really good, I felt quite safe on the roads. Bike was good quality and good value (especially compared to London prices!).
      Written 9 October 2023
    • SLeeFudge
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bike to Blenheim Palace
      Easy walk from the train station. I wanted a no-nonsense day rental of a standard bicycle. No problem renting, reasonable price and their flip book for a little more sightseeing tour out to Blenheim Palace did the job. Easy to work with and I had a great day. The construction on the Hwy made for some interesting crossings, but they are working on making it more bike friendly so I approve, rode home on the canal trail. Thanks guys!
      Written 25 September 2023
    • Q9702BEgaryw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bike touring the Cotswolds
      We hired two e-bikes from Baintons to explore the Cotswolds and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. As a hardened road warrior, I originally ordered the premium hybrid to ‘match’ my wife’s E-bike . Thanks to the flexibility of Kevin and his team, on pick up day I ‘softened’ and changed to an e-bike, best call ever- reaffirmed on every climb! These are travel-fit disc brake beasts, able to be loaded up for a week of pub stays. Our summary, biking is definitely the best way to experience the region with so many tracks, trails, canal paths and minor roads to keep away from the busy highways while taking in the countryside. Get on a Bainton bike and get out there. Thanks again to Kevin, Honour and the team. Gary Weston Melbourne, Australia
      Written 9 September 2023
    • 938dele
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good quality
      Excellent service, plenty of polite and attentive staff. Good quality bikes.Good location and easy to find
      Written 31 August 2023
    • annegL4286NU
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Cycle Hire
      We hire bikes to cycle the Thames Path on a regular basis and Customer Service is always very good. Bikes are well maintained and comfortable.
      Written 12 August 2023
    • C5064HBjosephm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Oxford's bike place
      These guys are the best. I wanted to rent a bike for getting around town and doing a bit of touring in Oxfordshire. When I arrived a day early, the staff were very accommodating. They set me up with a good road bike, and were very attentive to sizing and making sure the seat was adjusted properly. Would definitely rent from them again.
      Written 3 August 2023
    • Matthew W
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kiddie trailer hire
      I’ve been using Walton Street Cycles for many years. They are always helpful and very friendly. We hired a kiddie trailer for the visiting grandchildren, it was excellent
      Written 31 July 2023
    • natb458
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Would rent bikes from them again!
      Rented two bikes for a few days. Good price (esp. on student discount) and friendly staff. Would rent from them again!
      Written 26 July 2023
    • S6779NJkarinc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good sevice and fine bikes
      Helpful staff set me up with a 4-day rental of a good bike for touring round town. Helmet was included in the deal, so happy Dane.
      Written 23 July 2023
    • douglassD4184AD
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Gentle pedal along Oxford Canal into the country.
      A great day out right from the start. Friendly staff helped choose the best bike for my trip and made sure saddle etc was right height. I spent the day peddling easily along the Oxford Canal, spotting swans and ducks with chicks and enjoying brief chats with the many barge folk along the way. Bike was perfect with easy gears and comfy saddle. Highly recommend Bainton Bikes and would use them again in a flash.😁
      Written 6 July 2023
    See all 297 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles191 reviews
    Excellent
    174
    Very good
    15
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    2

    patanddave2010
    Manchester, UK28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2020
    We did the full day cycle tour including a punt down the river.
    We really enjoyed it all. The weather was beautiful and we rode out of Oxford over the common .
    Took a sandwich to eat on the punt.
    Rich was very
    informative about the whole area and all the colleges.
    £90 wasn't cheap but we thought it was worth it and would recommend it.
    We kept our bikes for the next day and did a self guided ride over to Woodstock and Bleinham. Visiting Churchill's grave at Bladen.
    Thank you Rich
    Written 2 October 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello again! We are so pleased you enjoyed the Oxford Experience Tour! Punting can be great fun and I think taking your own picnic to have on the punt is ideal! For the two days it seems you benefitted by cycling to many different places! Pleased to learn that Rich was very helpful too! Many thanks!
    Written 11 October 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Green
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2021
    We had a great tour of Oxford with Howard, our guide. It was a nice mix of cycling, seeing the sights and finding out about the city. Howard was very well informed and his commentary at each stop was very informative and enjoyable. Being on a bike we got to see far more of the city than we would have seen on foot, plus it was fun to be out on a bike. I was pleased to learn about Oxford and its wider history and not just about the university.
    Written 23 November 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi, thanks very much for your lovely positive review, reflecting on the whole of the tour and not just the city! We are bias, but you do see more on a bike!! Please come back and see us again!
    Written 25 November 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Simon W
    Taunton, UK14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Couples
    Loved this. If you are visiting Oxford - do this first. Mike was an excellent guide, really brought Oxford to life. As well as the obvious stops (the colleges), doing the tour on the bike covers more ground, and you visit the edges of the city too to see and hear a wider history and geography of the place. And Oxford is pretty flat, traffic-lite & bike friendly, so its not physically demanding being on the bike. Lots of stories, tips and intros you can later follow up with a longer stop, hence do this at the beginning of your visit. Allow 3 hours.
    Written 18 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lois H
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023
    I would give 10 stars if I could for the opportunity to see lots of the city and outlying areas with our awesome guide Mike. He is warm and engaging, looked after our multicultural group of 6 superbly, and is chockful of fascinating information about Oxford's history. It's easy to see he is interested in people and loves his city. While talking about Oxford's past and present, Mike engaged with contemporary issues in a balanced and thoughtful way which gave us food for thought. Lastly, he pointed us to literal good food at a couple of amazing cafes near the bike store! This was a solid tour both intellectually and physically :)
    Written 13 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Svein H
    Lierskogen, Norway22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2022 • Couples
    There were three of us who cycled 5 stages from Oxford to Bath.
    we got a computer and directions which worked well!
    The luggage was transported from hotel to hotel, great overnight stays in idyllic villages.
    This was good! we will be back
    Written 28 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We are so pleased you enjoyed your cycling holiday! We would love to see you return - there are other routes we can offer, with the same level of service! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
    Written 31 July 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Adrian T
    22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Four of us thoroughly enjoyed our tour with our guide James. He was knowledgeable, relaxed and friendly taking us to an interesting variety of places. A ‘climb’ up St Mary’s tower was a highlight (literally). Punting for an hour was a hoot! No one fell in! The bikes were brand new and comfortable to ride on a variety of surfaces. A great day all round, we even avoided the showers!
    Written 25 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    OliverKM
    Basingstoke, UK35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2022
    Our guide, Angus, was brilliant! He was friendly, knowledgeable and adapted our route to suite our interests. Such a great way to see and learn about Oxford and we got to cycle along the canal to experience the countryside. I highly recommend this tour. The bike shop/meeting point is easy to find just outside of the city centre.
    Written 30 June 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for your lovely review. We're pleased you enjoyed the tour with Angus. Oxford is very diverse and it's nice to know you appreciated discovering it on 2 wheels! Come back and see us again!
    Written 1 July 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Paul
    Christchurch, New Zealand1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We joined the 2-3 hr tour with Mike at Bainton bikes. After the set up on the bikes and helmets provided if wanted (NZ’rs are used to them), we hit all the main highlights of the old city & more. Mike has a great depth of knowledge and a great story teller.
    We loved the canals and criss crossing the old bridges and a surprise find with the old Godstow nunnery which was in the Mamma Mia 2 movie (when I kissed the teacher scene).
    A mix of relaxed biking pace in the inner city and a good stretch of the legs along the canal’s & countryside.
    Great experience right around and thoroughly recommend Mike as a tour guide. A+
    Written 24 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Wendy Wellies
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2020 • Couples
    A really enjoyable way to spend 2 and a half hours. Our guide led us along quiet streets and cycle paths to the sights of Oxford and then along the canal side and river bank. We kept stopping for him to tell us about where we were and the relaxed pace was just right. I would recommend this tour
    Written 8 September 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello Wendy, thanks for taking the time to give some feedback as we appreciate it! I'm sure Duncan will also be pleased that you liked his tour! Hope you'll come back and try a different tour!
    Written 9 September 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Carl N
    Brighton, UK15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022 • Friends
    Hired 2 bikes for a few hours. Service was good, bikes were in very good condition. Enjoyed ride around Oxford and along the river. They were flexible with returning bikes after they shut and were efficient with returning my deposit the next day.
    Written 2 May 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Very pleased you enjoyed the cycling experience around Oxford - bikes are so good for that! Thanks for the comments about your experience too with our staff - they always aim to please! Many thanks
    Written 5 May 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Showing results 11-20 of 184

    2-3 Hour Cycle Tour of Oxford provided by Bainton Bikes Cycle Hire & Tours