Museum of Oxford Walks: Oxford’s Rebels and Radicals
26 September @ 11.00am to 1.00pm
About Museum of Oxford Walks: Oxford’s Rebels and Radicals
Oxford University is well known as a bastion of tradition and a training ground for future Prime Ministers, but how much do you know about the city’s radical past and present?
On this two-hour circular walking tour, you will hear about epic ‘town vs gown’ riots, fiercely independent medieval women, determined but doomed Levellers, acid-sprinkling Suffragettes and the locals who kicked fascists out of the city for good.
From Oscar Wilde, through Oxfam, to Rhodes Must Fall, this tour tells the fascinating and inspiring stories of those who have pushed back against power, privilege, colonialism and discrimination throughout Oxford’s thousand-year history.
This tour aims to tell the forgotten stories of Oxford’s radicals, and to spark respectful debate and discussion. Please come prepared to listen and engage.
As part of the tour, you will see: Carfax Tower, the site of an infamous riot; Gloucester Green, where Oliver Cromwell crushed Britain’s first great egalitarian movement; All Souls College, whose library was funded by a slave owner; University Church gardens where a bench is dedicated to one of Oxford’s most determined campaigners for women’s education – plus more locations from Oxford’s rebellious history.
Please note that this tour does not include entry into any buildings and stops may be subject to change.
Join a tour of Oxford’s Rebels and Radicals to see Oxford through the eyes of an expert and unlock the secrets of its radical history.
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 up to 2 hours.
The itinerary includes cobbled streets, uneven surfaces and narrow pavements. The walk includes a few steps down to the University Church gardens; a step-free option is also available here. Please email museum@oxford.gov.uk if you would like to discuss any access requirements ahead of booking a walk.
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: Jess Worth
Jess Worth is an award-winning Green Badge tour guide and has lived in Oxford for over 25 years. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for the extraordinary history, culture and people who have shaped our city of dreaming spires. Before becoming a tour guide, she was a campaigner, journalist, activist and theatre-maker working on social and climate justice issues. This experience has led to a fascination with the social, political and imaginative role that Oxford has played – both good and bad – in the wider history of Britain, and the world.
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 or at the Museum shop.
Dates & times:
- Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 2.00pm
- Wednesday 18 July 2026 at 11.00pm
- Wednesday 05 August 2026 at 2.00pm
- Saturday 15 August 2026 at 11.00am
- Saturday 26 September 2026 at 11.00am
Running time:
2 hours
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.
