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

    helenH7205LF
    West Sussex, UK6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2022
    We had an excellent cycle tour of Oxford with Angus who was very knowledgeable and personable. The bike shop staff were helpful when it came to sizing up our bikes which were of very good quality. It was a great way to see the main sights within the city, along with venturing further out along the canal to Wolvercote and back along the River Thames. As bikes are commonplace within Oxford there were plenty of cycle lanes and we felt safe, even when we did have to navigate busier roads. Although it was cold we had a bright sunny day but it probably wouldn't be as enjoyable if it had been raining as the return trip is very exposed. We would highly recommend this tour.
    Written 3 April 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.
    Hello and many thanks for taking the time to post a review! It's great to know that you had good service from being fitted onto the bikes, to the tour itself with Angus! Please come back and try a different tour!
    Written 6 April 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    John
    18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Howard was a great tutor guide with insights into the history of Oxford as we cycled theory the city and out into the countryside. It’s a gentle cycle on flat terrain with plenty of stops. You get to see more of Oxford including areas you probably wouldn’t visit.
    Recommend this tour as part of your Oxford experience
    Written 26 October 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.
    Many thanks for your kind review and for takin the time to do it. I will pass on your comments to Howard, who will be chuffed! Also pleased to hear that you discovered parts of the city that you wouldn't otherwise see! Come back and see us again!
    Written 29 October 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    792jenny
    Falmouth, UK14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    We took a tour last Friday with a brilliant guide called James. Just two of us and the guide had a brilliant morning cycling around the city stopping whenever there was something of interest and James explained the history etc. He was very informative and made the tour bespoke to our interest. We got the chance to go inside as many of the historic places as we wished which included a quick wiz around the natural history museum. We then headed out into the countryside along the canal and river Thames, such a contrast with stunning scenery.
    We felt bad at the end of the tour not having any cash to tip James as he was such a likeable tour guide who put us at our ease.
    Thank you so much.
    Written 14 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.
    Hello and thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We're pleased that James was helpful and informative, we hope that will have made the experience more enjoyable and memorable! Please come back and see us again for a different tour!
    Written 15 July 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    489jackie
    Marlow, UK2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2020
    My husband and I had a fabulous private cycle tour of all the sights of Oxford last weekend. We had kindly been allowed to rearrange the trip and it was well worth waiting for. Our guide Rich was friendly, funny and very knowledgeable - we both learnt so many amazing facts about this beautiful city. Would definitely recommend this as a great thing to do when visiting Oxford.
    Written 16 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 Jackie, many thanks for your kind review! It's always good to know that you learnt so much about our wonderful city, and in a fun way! Hope you come back another day and try a different tour! Many thanks
    Written 29 September 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Paul_S1501
    Northwich, UK29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2021
    We went on the Oxford experience tour. Our guide was Neil who was great; very knowledgable about Oxford and the history of the University. The tour covered Oxford itself and also went up the canal towpath to Wolvercote and back along the river. The pace was perfect giving sufficient time to stop and learn about how the colleges and the city have developed over the years. I fully recommend this tour.
    Written 30 August 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.
    Hello and thank you for takin the time to give feedback. Your description of the tour is great and I hope helpful to other travellers. I'll pass on your comments to Neil. Many thanks and hope you come back and see us again!
    Written 1 September 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Andy C
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2020
    Thanks very much to our tour guide, Angus, who demonstrated extensive knowledge of the area while communicating this as clearly as possible. Despite being a little apprehensive when booking this experience given the COVID-19 ramifications, I felt the company did well with respects to safety assurances. This, combined with a great tour made it the perfect experience for our stay in the Cotswolds!
    Written 16 August 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.
    Hi Andy Many thanks for your feedback. First, it's great to know that you enjoyed your tour, and second that you were reassured by our Covid measures. Come back to us if you'd like to experience one of our cycling holidays through the Cotswolds!
    Written 20 August 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    David S
    United States1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2021 • Solo
    I rented Bainton bikes for two weeks to get around Oxford and the surrounding country, and to make an excursion to Avebury. Both bikes were excellent Dawes bikes, well equipped, well maintained and worked great. The prices were very reasonable and their service was great: prompt, well informed, efficient and friendly. I left with a very positive feeling about this company.
    I found that cycling was a really good way to get around Ixford, and to explore both the city and the surrounding countryside, which us truly beautiful when seen from the saddle of a bicycle!
    Written 13 June 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.
    Thanks very much for your feedback. The team will be pleased to learn of your comments! We think touring on 2 wheels is beneficial too, for many different reason, but we're bias!! Hope you come back and see us again!
    Written 5 July 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    mrc
    36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2021
    We hired two bicycles for the day to tour around oxford . The process was very smooth and efficient, the staff were very helpful . Fred attended to all what we needed to hire the bikes and gave us advice about the self tour with a map . I fully recommend this shop for hiring bicycles of good quality and great value. Thank you again Fred , we hope to come again and this time do the guided tour.
    Written 3 September 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.
    Thanks very much for your feedback - Fred will be very chuffed! The staff in the shop try hard to please and it's great to receive a 'thanks'! You must try one of our tours, you won't be disappointed! Look forward to seeing you again in the future!
    Written 7 September 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jan D
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023
    Bainton bikes organized a great three day bike trip to the Cotswolds for me and my husband. Kevin worked with us to coordinate dates and logistics. He was very responsive to emails. On top of hotels, he helped with restaurant reservations and travel advice. Our guide Stephen was entertaining, and knowledgeable about Oxford and the Cotswold towns. He was adept at adjusting the pace of the ride, keeping us safe, and adding or subtracting sights that suited our interests. The route was well thought out and allowed to see and stop in many charming towns and villages. I would highly recommend this tour with Bainton bikes!!!
    Written 3 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.

    Michelle F
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023 • Friends
    A very enjoyable morning (despite the rain) spent with Howard, our guide, seeing and learning about the sites of Oxford by bike. He was so knowledgeable and bought the history of the city to life with interesting facts and personal memories as an undergraduate at the University. The tour was tailored to our groups wishes, we included a coffee and toilet break half way round. Staff at Walton Street Cycles were friendly and professional sorting us out with some great hire bikes and helmets, we could even have chosen electric bikes. Would highly recommend this trip, hoping to book another one as so much to see in Oxford.
    Written 26 March 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.

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