Restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have
eased slightly, and we have been able to resume our regular daytime
tours, subject to certain limitations (see below).
If you fancy a day trip out, but want to avoid the crowds flocking to
beaches and rural beauty spots, we can assure you that Oxford is very
quiet at the moment, and you could almost feel as if you were back in
the 13th century.
As far as we are aware, none of our guides or sellers have been
infected with COVID-19 or shown any of the symptoms.
However, we ask that you (and our guides) follow WHO advice and UK
government social distancing guidance to minimize transmission of the
virus, in particular keeping two metres apart from anyone outside your
household (or “support bubble”).
Please see the sections below for more information.
Tours
Content
Colleges and most other buildings that may normally be visited
internally remain closed to visitors for the foreseeable future, so we
are currently unable to take you inside colleges or the Bodleian
Library. It may be possible to stand briefly outside college
gatehouses and peek in, but please be mindful of social distancing and
allow plenty of space for anyone going in or out.
We can of course show you the colleges and buildings from the outside,
and you will still be able to see most of Oxford’s fine
architecture.
Our guides have a great knowledge of history.
(There was an event just after the First World War that killed more
people than during it. How did Oxford survive that?)
Despite (or perhaps because of) the current restrictions, one recent
customer was more than satisfied:
Availability and Pricing
In view of the above restrictions, we are currently offering tours for
just
£10 per adult
(normally £14.95; subject to a minimum booking value of
£20).
Tour group sizes will be limited to five people (plus the guide) until
.
Even after this date we do not expect significant numbers, so you can
expect a small, socially-distanced, intimate tour.
Advance booking (24 hours’ notice) and online payment is
required.
We are not currently accepting cash.
Ghost Tours and other speciality tours remain suspended for the time
being.
The situation now is similar to how it was on
when our guide,
Iain, explained it to
ITV News Meridian:
Advice to Minimize Transmission of the Virus
We are not health experts, and in the first instance would refer you to
the following resources:
Keep at least two metres apart from anyone not in your own household
(or “support bubble”);
Wash your hands regularly with hot water and soap/detergent for at
least 20 seconds:
in particular, do so as soon as you come in to your place of
residence or anywhere you are going to be spending any length of
time, before touching anything;
if soap/detergent and hot water is not available, a hand sanitizer
with a greater than 60% alcohol content is recommended;
“antibacterial” products might be ineffective
unless they have other qualities – COVID-19 is a
virus;
Catch any sneezes or coughs in a tissue and properly dispose of the
tissue in a bin as soon as possible; wash your hands afterwards;
This applies regardless of whether a sneeze or cough may be
related to another issue such as hay fever or smoking;
If you don’t have a tissue to hand, use the inside of your
elbow;
Try to avoid hand contact with your face.
Studies have shown that humans instinctively touch their face almost
subconsciously, thus we think it might also be prudent to regularly wash
your face according to the same guidelines.
Walking-Tour-Specific Advice
In the sections below we have interpreted that advice in the context of
a walking tour.
Social Distancing
You should always keep at least two metres apart from anyone not
in your own household (or “support bubble”).
It should be at all times possible to maintain such a distance on a
walking tour and therefore there is no reason to relax this to one metre
in any but the most exceptional circumstances.
Given that the guide will be doing most of the talking, projecting
breath forwards, we suggest standing further back from the guide than
this.
When moving between one place and the next, avoid walking in single file
if possible (to avoid breathing in air that has just been exhaled by the
person in front). If that is not possible, leave a bigger gap than
2m and walk slowly. The guide will wait.
(Outdoors, when at each location, perhaps also be aware of which way the
wind is blowing and try to avoid standing directly downwind or upwind of
another person.)
If You Think You Might Have Coronavirus
If you have any of main the symptoms, or have been in contact with
anyone who has within the last seven days, we respectfully
ask, for the benefit of everyone, that you do not attend the tour (we
will refund your ticket price).
you will “know about it” without necessarily needing a
thermometer, and
if someone were to touch your chest or back (they should wash
their hands afterwards), you would feel hot to them – and/or
loss of sense of smell or taste (anosmia).
Other symptoms
may include fatigue, muscle aches (myalgia) or headache.
Refunds and Cancellations
If you have booked a tour scheduled for between
and
,
you are entitled to a refund of the purchase price of the tickets.
If you booked directly through us, please
contact us
to arrange a refund or reschedule.
If you booked through GetYourGuide, you should already have been
refunded; if not, please contact them.
If you booked through Tripadvisor Experiences,
please contact them to arrange a refund or reschedule.
Although our
terms and conditions
do not oblige us to do so, we will also refund any cancellation due to
COVID-19 after this, provided that you advise us before the time of the
tour.
As this is our livelihood (we need to feed our children, etc.),
if there’s any possibility that you could postpone rather than
cancel your booking, we would be exceedingly grateful.
Nuisances
Anyone wilfully not following health guidelines, advice or instruction
will be removed from the tour in accordance with our
terms and conditions,
for the benefit of everyone.
Feedback
If you have any concerns that the content of this page is misleading or
inaccurate, please direct them to
.
