Architectural historian Nicolas Pevsner declared of Oxford 'There is a density of monuments of architecture here which has not the like in Europe.' Indeed, where else can you stand in a single spot and see seven centuries of architecture?
Oxford’s immensely lucky history, together with occasional large benefactions, has left it with a plethora of extraordinary buildings in a very small and walkable area which has never been seriously attacked or bombarded. This walking tour will guide you through 1000 years of architecture from the 11th to the 21st century and will take a close-up look at some of the most interesting buildings in the centre of Oxford.
We will also earn about their architects, their history and the debates surrounding their construction and, in some cases, the reaction to their erection. Buildings by Cockerell, Butterfield, Champneys, Wren, Hawksmoor, T G Jackson, the Gilbert Scott dynasty and Gibbs will obviously feature, but we will go further afield to appreciate some of the most recent and remarkable of Oxford’s modern buildings. We might also consider what was there before and what was never built at all.
Please note: this event will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST on 8 April 2026.