RunCity

Oxford on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 10 of Oxford's best-known sights, including Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, Covered Market and more. It is about 4 km on foot, roughly 1.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Oxford leaderboard.

  • 10Stops
  • about 4 kmDistance
  • 1.5 hoursWalking
  • about 44 minRunning
Play Oxford in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Oxford
Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0

Oxford's colleges and libraries are packed into a small centre, and this route covers it in about 4 km. It starts at the bonus stop, Magdalen Bridge, where punts set off on the Cherwell, and heads up the High Street to the round Radcliffe Camera and the Bridge of Sighs over New College Lane. The Victorian Covered Market and the Carfax Tower, at the city's central crossroads, can be climbed for the view of the dreaming spires.

Tom Tower, the gate of Christ Church, faces St Aldate's, and Folly Bridge crosses the Thames, here called the Isis, where boats are for hire. The Oxford Castle mound, the columned Ashmolean Museum, free and the oldest public museum in Britain, and the Martyrs' Memorial at St Giles' end the walk. Many colleges charge for entry and close at times for exams; the streets, lanes and quads seen from the gates are free.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Magdalen Bridge

    Magdalen Bridge Bonus Photo

    The bridge over the Cherwell where the punts set off.

    Photo: Steve Daniels · CC BY-SA 2.0

  2. Radcliffe Camera

    Radcliffe Camera Photo

    The round domed library seen from the square.

    Photo: Diliff · CC BY 2.5

  3. Bridge of Sighs

    Bridge of Sighs Photo

    The covered bridge over New College Lane.

    Photo: David Hallam-Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0

  4. Covered Market

    Covered Market

    The Victorian market hall entrance on the High Street.

    Photo: User:M stone · CC BY-SA 3.0

  5. Carfax Tower

    Carfax Tower

    The old church tower at the city's central crossroads.

    Photo: Motacilla · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Tom Tower (Christ Church)

    Tom Tower (Christ Church) Photo

    The gate tower of Christ Church seen from St Aldate's.

    Photo: Dmitry Djouce · CC BY 2.0

  7. Folly Bridge

    Folly Bridge

    The stone bridge over the Thames with its boat hire.

    Photo: Terryballard · CC BY-SA 3.0

  8. Oxford Castle Mound

    Oxford Castle Mound

    The old castle mound and the tower beside it.

    Photo: APK · CC BY 4.0

  9. Ashmolean Museum

    Ashmolean Museum

    The columned neoclassical front on Beaumont Street.

    Photo: Lewis Clarke · CC BY-SA 2.0

  10. Martyrs' Memorial

    Martyrs' Memorial Photo

    The Gothic memorial spire at St Giles'.

    Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0

Play Oxford in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Oxford on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 10 stops on this route add up to about 4 km, roughly 1.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Oxford is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Oxford?

    Open Oxford in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Oxford leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Magdalen Bridge and finishing at Martyrs' Memorial. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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