2-3 Hour Cycle Tour of Oxford
5
2-3 Hour Cycle Tour of Oxford
By Bainton Bikes Cycle Hire & Tours
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, UKDeparture 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
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- You'll start at78 Walton St78 Walton St, Oxford OX2 6EA, UKDeparture Point: Central Oxford Address: Walton Street Cycles 78 Walton Street OxfordSee address & details
- 1Radcliffe CameraStop: 10 minutesSee details
- 2Bridge of SighsStop: 5 minutesSee details
- 3Sheldonian TheatreStop: 10 minutes - Admission excludedSee details
- 4Lady Margaret HallStop: 5 minutes - Admission excludedSee details
- 5Port MeadowStop: 15 minutesSee details
- 6Thames RiverStop: 15 minutesSee details
- 7Oxford CanalStop: 20 minutes - Admission includedSee 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:
- annegL4286NU0 contributionsCycle HireMy 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
- helenecK5915DU0 contributionsA bike to hireYou 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
- 802darekz0 contributionsNice 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. DariuszWritten 5 November 2023
- DavidJRCB0 contributionsElectric bike hireWe 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
- Vince6010 contributionsDays 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
- AleishaW1670 contributionsGood bike at a good priceI 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
- SLeeFudge0 contributionsBike to Blenheim PalaceEasy 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
- Q9702BEgaryw0 contributionsBike touring the CotswoldsWe 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, AustraliaWritten 9 September 2023
- 938dele0 contributionsGood qualityExcellent service, plenty of polite and attentive staff. Good quality bikes.Good location and easy to findWritten 31 August 2023
- annegL4286NU0 contributionsCycle HireWe 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
- C5064HBjosephm0 contributionsOxford's bike placeThese 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 W0 contributionsKiddie trailer hireI’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 excellentWritten 31 July 2023
- natb4580 contributionsWould 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
- S6779NJkarinc0 contributionsGood sevice and fine bikesHelpful 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
- douglassD4184AD0 contributionsGentle 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
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.
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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
191 reviews
Excellent
174
Very good
15
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Ulchabhan
London, UK52 contributions
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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 😊
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Samantha
4 contributions
Hi, i'm probably being stupid but i can't see if this includes bike hire?!? Or do you need to bring your own bike?!
Fathin
2 contributions
Hi! Do you make any tour at this cold weather? Planning to go this next week (16Feb)
nitint2018
Didcot, UK1 contribution
Hi...I'm interested in the tour for 16th September...Is there any availability for 1 person?
C A
8 contributions
hello. i am very interested in seeing oxford. will be in london oct7-11 and staying in central london. is there an easy way to get to oxford from london? an easy train ride? thanks.
marion w
Thrapston, UK3 contributions
Hi do you have any availability for 20th August for 2 people please