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

    Ulchabhan
    London, UK52 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2019 • Family
    The tour was a pleasant and well-paced with generally informative and interesting stops (although I would have preferred a bit more cycling). However, there was a huge issue trying to book and get information about the tour on the phone and online beforehand. Walton Street Cycles the phone contact said they couldn’t take bookings and/or that we should book online via the Bainton Bikes website, which didn’t seem to have a facility for this. We got some helpful email responses from Honour at Baintkn, but if we hadn’t spotted the possibility of booking via Tripadvisor we would have given up. Glad we persisted as we enjoyed the trip though.
    Written 20 April 2019
    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 valuable comments. We are looking for alternative ways to provide a better online service very soon.
    Written 2 July 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jaz92
    Canterbury, UK7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2013 • Couples
    We went on the tour on Saturday and despite the freezing weather conditions (it started snowing midway through), we still enjoyed a fabulous tour with the informative Becky. The tour is approximately 3 hours long and takes you through the countryside and small hamlets as well as the city itself. With a pub-stop midway through for a quick drink, it is a very well-constructed tour that flows well. Our guide was very well-informed and seemed genuinely interested herself in the local lore and history. The tour included aspects of the city that one might miss if on foot as cycling allowed us to cover distance far quicker and it's nice to feel that you're doing the 'Oxford thing' by nipping around on a bike. Thoroughly enjoyed the day, would heartily recommend this to anybody who is interested in the local history with a twist!
    Written 1 April 2013
    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.

    Ann W
    Seattle24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2016 • Family
    We were not able to do a tour, but we rented bikes here for a family of four, with two boys ages 9 and 12. They gave us a map with a wonderful ride through cow pastures and along canal paths and quiet Oxford roads. Strongly recommend booking kids bikes in advance, as they don't have many. The service was great, they were quick and efficient and we were on our bikes in no time! Very affordable too.
    Written 16 April 2016
    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.

    jtperreca
    New Canaan, CT128 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2015 • Couples
    We have taken bike tours in many places because we feel that you can cover so much more ground than walking and you learn things you wouldn't from just walking around. We found that Bainton Bikes was exactly what one could hope for in a tour company. They were very responsive (our plan had to change a few times) and very flexible. There were just the two of us on a Saturday in late May. Through the meadows, along the canal, through the back streets of Oxford. Just gorgeous! Just a note: we took the train from Paddington to Oxford and back and it was a perfect day out. No stress or rush. Very doable from London.
    Written 20 June 2015
    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.

    Carole P
    London, UK22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2015 • Friends
    I have just returned from a fabulous weekend in Oxford with 10 friends. The Final leg of our weekend was spent on a guided tour of Oxford with the very patient Dave. We all had bikes allocated - sturdy and strong- and were helped to select the correct ones.
    Then followed 3 hours of cycling through the beautiful countryside and along canals then through Oxford city centre. Our guide stopped and pointed out places of interest and gave a little history. We took a gentle pace and were able to take in the sights.
    I would thoroughly recommend Bainton Bikes - a very helpful crew who made booking - in this case online - quick and simple. The staff were very friendly and helpful and patient with us ladies!!
    Thank you all, especially Dave for a memorable experience.
    Written 11 May 2015
    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.

    Pauline W
    Waterlooville, UK4 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Husband and I took a cycle tour of Oxford on Saturday with Steve.
    It was a fantastic way to see so many sights and landmarks in a relatively short period of time. The whole tour took just over 3 hours. Steve was extremely knowledgable, providing a fascinating and interesting backdrop to all that we saw. He readily admitted that he could say so much more if only time allowed. A place comes alive when someone with so much passion for his subject tells it his way. Questions were encouraged and even welcomed. A relatively easy ride with a very pleasant stop at The Trout, made famous by Morse, for a beverage midway through.
    Thoroughly recommend this tour as a way to see the city.
    My husband's only quibble was that a sign was not clear indicating who and where our guide was when we first arrived.
    Maybe Steve needs to wear a brightly coloured t-shirt with Bainton Bikes emblazoned upon it...sorry Steve 😊
    Written 23 September 2012
    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.

    Gavin T
    Birmingham4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2011 • Solo
    I had a brillaint time on this tour! I didn't know much about Oxford but decided to go to the city on a whim as I'd heard good things about the place. I got in touch with Bainton Bikes who I'd seen advertised for cycle tours; I'm not much of a cyclist but the weather was good and I thought 'what the hell, why not?'

    The person I spoke to over the phone was friendly and informative and gave me clear instructions about where to go to meet up for the tour. I was also able to hire a bike from them aswell, for a surprisingly cheap price considering it was a decent bike. The tour guide himself was extremely knowledgable and funny. What's more he was happy to move the tour at a pace that suited everybody, so it didn't feel like we were being rushed and didn't feel like we were lagging or missing anything. The tour itself took us to loads of different places in Oxford and we were given decent snippits of the history and other interesting information of the sights we saw. It was very informative and memorable!

    I will definately return to Oxford again and will DEFINATELY bring friends with me on another tour with Bainton Bikes. I can fully recommend it as part of the Oxford Experience!

    Gav
    Written 13 March 2012
    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.

    James D
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Couples
    Jay was great, informative and really relaxed. Ride was well paced and great stories were shared, best way to enjoy Oxford
    Written 12 October 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.

    Scott G
    Athens, Ga5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Family
    The guide was knowledgable and fun. It was a great tour! That's all I wanted to write, but this app requires 100 characters.
    Written 4 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.

    ian g
    Amman, Jordan1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2022
    James was a relaxed, flexible, informative guide who was great company. The sites visited we're chosen wisely, balancing various elements of the Oxford experience.
    Written 13 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.
    We are pleased to learn you had an enjoyable ride and learnt something about Oxford on the journey! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review! James will be chuffed with the review!
    Written 20 June 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Showing results 51-60 of 184

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