Museum of Oxford Walks: Shakespeare and Oxford
02 May @ 11.00am to 12.30pm
About Museum of Oxford Walks: Shakespeare and Oxford
Shakespeare came to Oxford when travelling between work (London) and his family (Stratford-upon-Avon) – what a commute! What was Oxford like during his lifetime? What did he get up to while he was in town?
This is an opportunity to pause and look carefully at Oxford city centre, noticing Elizabethan and Jacobean details you might pass by every day. The tour includes a unique Tudor bedroom above Cornmarket Street, the famous Painted Room, which will be opened specially by Oxford Preservation Trust, just for us!
Want to know more about Elizabethan eating and drinking, entertainment and travel? Or the rollercoaster of religious change in Tudor and Stuart England? Led by historian Dr Elizabeth Sandis, this is a Shakespeare-themed journey through Oxford’s famous streets.
At the end, there will be an optional 20-minute extension to the tour (included in the price), exploring Tudor and Stuart treasures in the Museum of Oxford’s galleries.
Join a Shakespeare and Oxford walking tour to see Oxford through the eyes of an expert and learn about a fascinating period in its history through the eyes of its most celebrated literary figure.
Accessibility and further information:
Meeting point: Museum of Oxford shop (located inside the Oxford Town Hall). Please arrive 5 minutes before the start of the walk and check in at the Museum Shop with our friendly front of house team.
The walk lasts for approximately. 90 minutes and is a circular walk around central Oxford. Length: approx. 1.2 miles / 1.9 km. Two toilet stops are available along the way.
Please note the Tudor Painted Room is up a steep flight of stairs without a lift; it is sadly not accessible to wheelchairs. The rest of the tour can be adapted to offer a more wheelchair-friendly route, avoiding narrow doorways and cobbles (please let it be known if you would prefer this option by emailing museum@oxford.gov.uk).
Please note that this walk is recommended for ages 16+.
Your ticket also gives you access to the MOX galleries on the day of the walk, at any time during opening hours.
Meet Your Tour Guide: Elizabeth Sandis
Dr Elizabeth Sandis works at the Ashmolean Museum and is the author of Early Modern Drama at the Universities: Institutions, Intertexts, Individuals (Oxford University Press, 2022). She researches the way in which the Classical culture of Greece and Rome impacted on English society and values during the early modern period.
With a passion for local history and theatre, she enjoys translating and staging examples of the kind of plays students were producing in Oxford during the time of Shakespeare.
Access at the Museum
The Museum is accessible for wheelchair users, buggies, and baby carriers. There is step-free, level entry access to the Town Hall via the entrance closest to Carfax (to the left of the main steps as you face the Town Hall). Inside the Museum, Museum Makers is accessible via a platform lift and lift to the basement level. Accessible toilets are available in the Museum (close to Museum Makers) and in the Town Hall on the ground floor, before entering the Museum.
Please contact the Museum team if you’d like to talk to a member of staff about your access requirements. Further access information can be found on the website: https://museumofoxford.org/plan-your-visit/access
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Ticket prices:
£15.00
Tickets are available to purchase online (booking fee applies) or at the Museum shop. Tickets for this event include access to the Museum’s Galleries.
Dates & times:
Saturday 02 May 11.00am
Saturday 30 May 11.00am
Wednesday 01 July 2026 at 2.00pm
Wednesday 29 July at 2.00pm
Wednesday 26 August at 2.00pm
Saturday 29 August at 11.00pm
Wednesday 30 September at 2.00pm
Running time:
1 hour 30 minutes
Age guidance:
16+
About Museum of Oxford
The Museum of Oxford is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people. Located inside the Oxford Town Hall, it explores the city’s rich history beyond the university, focusing on the lives, industries, and communities that have shaped Oxford over time.
The museum features interactive exhibits, local artefacts, and personal stories, covering topics such as Oxford’s medieval origins, its diverse communities, and key moments in its development. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, events, and activities for all ages.
