Official walking tours are packed with information and anecdotes about the city, the colleges, university life, historic buildings, famous people and odd traditions, and the expert guides will be delighted to answer any questions along the way.

Tours take in Oxford's most famous sites and tucked-away treasures in the lanes and alleyways in between. Explore 1,000 years of history at a comfortable pace.

UNIVERSITY AND CITY TOUR

This is the most popular introductory tour, taken by the majority of visitors. The guide will take you through the heart of the historic city centre illustrating the history of Oxford and its university and describing the architecture and traditions of its most famous buildings and institutions.

The tour departs daily at 11am and 2pm, with additional tours at 10.30am and 1pm in peak seasons.

FAMILY TOUR

This is a delightful opportunity for all the family to enjoy Oxford. Maybe step in the footprints of a dinosaur, or be surprised at the strange and quirky treasures in the Pitt Rivers Museum; discover the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque, or hear more about authors Lewis Carroll, C S Lewis and Philip Pullman.

The tour departs at 1.30pm during the school holidays.

INSPECTOR MORSE TOUR

Follow in the footsteps of the city's celebrated TV detective, created by Oxford author Colin Dexter.

Visit the scenes of Inspector Morse's best-known cases, with lots of lively anecdotes along the way.

The tour departs at 1.30pm every Saturday. Please note that this is a very popular tour and advance booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.

THEMED TOURS

A full programme of themed tours in 2008 is available to download from the city council's website, www.visitoxford.org, or visit the Oxford Tourist Information Centre, 15-16 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AS.

PRICES

University and City Tour - Adult £7, Senior £6.50, Child £3.50

University and City Tour in French, Italian, German and Spanish - Adult £7.50, Senior £7, Child £4

Family Tour - Adult £5.50 Senior £5, Child £3.50

Inspector Morse Tour - Adult £7.50, Senior £7, Child £4

Themed Tours - Adult £7.50, Senior £7.50, Child £4

Pottering in Harry's footsteps - Adult £9.50 Senior £9.50 Child £5.50

For more details tel: 01865 252200 or visit the website www.visitoxford.org

PRE-BOOKED WALKS

Oxford Past and Present

There are approximately 20 colleges as well as great Gothic and Restoration buildings in Oxford. Guides describe their history and architecture and how the university operates today.

Light-Hearted Look at Oxford

Walking tour which includes an overview of the colleges and university, but intersperses the sights with amusing anecdotes, current and historical.

SPECIAL INTEREST WALKS

Oxford Film Locations

Discover the famous sights of Oxford made familiar by your favourite films and television programmes.

Pottering in Harry's Footsteps

Many children's stories have been set in Oxford.

It has been used as a background for scenes in the Harry Potter movies. This tour could include a visit to Christ Church, New College and The Divinity School for each of which an additional entry fee is charged.

Lyra's Oxford

Explore the Oxford of Lyra and Will, the magic world created by Philip Pullman in His Dark Materials trilogy, brought to the screen in The Golden Compass.

Oxford's Detectives

Follow in the footsteps of the city's celebrated TV detective, created by Oxford author Colin Dexter. Visit the scenes of Morse and Lewis' best-known cases, with lots of lively anecdotes along the way.

Alice in Oxford

Charles Dodgson was a Christ Church fellow and mathematics tutor but he is best known as Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland.

His stories were inspired by Alice Liddell, the 10-year-old daughter of the college's head. This tour centres on Christ Church, for which an additional entry fee is charged, and is a wonderful opportunity to explore the places known to Alice.

Literary Tours

Many famous writers, poets, novelists, critics and children's authors have studied or lived in Oxford. Explore this rich heritage with one of our knowledgeable guides.

Women in Oxford

This tour will revive the stories of many women connected to Oxford. From Saints to Mistresses: St Frideswide, Patron of Oxford; Medieval Empress Matilda; Mrs Wadham, instrumental in a college creation; future Prime Ministers Indira Ghandi and Margaret Thatcher, and famous authors from Dorothy Sayers to Iris Murdoch.

Stained Glass

The city of Oxford holds one of the finest collections of stained glass in the UK. Almost every style and period of English glass-painting is represented; from Gothic to modern times including beautiful 17th-century windows and a wealth of 19th-century glass particularly by William Morris.

Magic, Murder and Mayhem

This is an alternative tour of Oxford to find out about secret societies, alchemists, martyrs, traitors, rogues and criminals. Discover too, one of the world's largest collections of amulets, talismans and magical items.

Pubs

Learn the history of Oxford's favourite fascinating pubs and inns through the convivial atmosphere of an evening pub tour.

Visit the hostelries where the likes of Churchill, J R R Tolkien and C S Lewis drank; be regaled with pub tales and let yourself be introduced to the delights of real English ales.

Gardens

Oxford is full of gardens and parks open to the public. They include the vast expanse of Christ Church Meadows in the heart of the city, the oldest Botanic Garden in Britain as well as many college gardens and the historic University Parks. Enjoy their varied beauty in all seasons.

American Roots in Oxford

Many academic and cultural links with America's past and present exist in Oxford; there have been, and are, American heads of colleges.

Oxford college architecture has been copied in American universities, Oxford scholars have been founding fathers in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Georgia, and American students come to Oxford as Rhodes scholars.

For more details of these walks call 01865 252037 or e-mail: wtours@oxford.gov.uk

BILL SPECTRE's OXFORD GHOST TRAIL

Historically informative yet hugely entertaining, it's the perfect way to soak up the atmosphere of this famous city, leaving you with a deliciously scary tingle running down your spine.

Intrepid ghosthunters should meet outside Oxford Castle Unlocked. Bill Spectre, will depart from that place at 6.30pm every Friday and Saturday evening.

For a shorter walk, meet outside the Tourist Information Centre, 15-16 Broad Street at 7pm.

Tours cost £6 for adults and £3 for children.

No need to book.

Tours are suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users. The tours take place whatever the weather!

For further information e-mail info@ghosttrail.org or call 0794 104 1811