The English Civil War - A Royalist Stronghold

When England tore itself apart in the clash between the Royalist Cavaliers and the Parliamentarian Roundheads, Oxford suddenly became the centre of a divided nation. As Cromwell’s ever-stronger New Model Army advanced, King Charles I fled London and turned Christ Church College into his royal palace, military headquarters and makeshift Parliament. For a few dramatic years, Oxford was effectively the capital of Royalist England.

For anyone curious about the English Civil War, or fascinated by power struggles, loyalty, rebellion and the birth of modern Britain, Oxford is an extraordinary epoch into the era. Admire streets, colleges taverns and sites which tell the stories of the lead up to, the wars and the aftermath.

Take a look at our Civil War tour below, and as always, if you have a special interest or angle you'd like to explore, let us know. We'll tailor your experience to suit your curiosity.

Historical map of Oxford, showing city walls, buildings, and surrounding landscape from 1644.

History Tours of The English Civil War

  • Oxford was the Royalist Capital in the English Civil War of the 17th Century. It was from Christ Church that King Charles I ran his campaigns, whilst also finding time to entertain, walk his dogs and even to play tennis in Oriel college's nearby Real Tennis court.

    Henrietta Maria, his Queen, lodged briefly at Merton College and the City was filled with courtiers, servants and a garrison of over 3,000 soldiers.

    When the Parliamentarians were victorious Oliver Cromwell made himself Chancellor of the University.

    Explore Oxford’s role in the Civil War and find out what life was like in the city during this time and why it mattered.

reserve your English civil war tour
Two women talking on a city street in front of a historic building with lion sculptures on its facade.

  • "The tour was well thought out and Sophie was an engaging guide with a mine of interesting information, much of it new to me even as someone who's lived in Oxford for the past 30 years. Definitely recommended."

    J Willams, Oxford

  • "Sophie offered us a tailor-made tour that perfectly met our expectations."

    Steve, Munich, Germany

  • "Wonderful tour about Oxford, very knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed every minute of it."

    Maria, USA

  • "Sophie is a congenial host with vast knowledge of the colleges and general Oxford area. Good communication and instruction for meet up. Would highly recommend her tour!"

    Andrew, New York, USA

  • "Fascinating tour by a wonderful guide!"

    Michael, USA

  • "Sophie is so knowledgeable! Oxford is a city of history, and she knows it so well. Her recommendation for our dinner after the tour was perfect! She also took care of me beforehand in suggesting other things to do before her tour. She’s the best. A pro’s pro!"

    Kori, USA

  • "My history tour with Sophie was informative and entertaining. The horror was made funny and the ridiculous serious. I was surprised by how much I didn't know and went away with new insights into, not only the university's history and traditions, but the history of England generally. I also got some good ideas for the rest of my stay in Oxford. Thank you!"

    James, UK

  • "This tour was a lovely introduction to Oxford University. As a recent transplant from the US, it was a great way to get my bearings of the area, visit a college, and learn about some fascinating local history. Whether we were gazing at gargoyles or admiring beautiful stained glass, Sophie was a true delight – very knowledgeable, thoughtful, and well-articulated. I highly recommend this experience!"

    Megan, USA

  • "Fascinating, thoughtfully constructed tour of Oxford University encompassing a thousand years of history. I've lived in Oxford for thirty years, yet in this tour learned new and intriguing nuggets about the city, discovered hidden gems in ancient stone buildings that I've been strolling past all these years."

    Maria, Oxford, UK

  • "Sophie is a superb, experienced and enriching guide. We are a retired US professional couple. We've hired individual local guides throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and Sophie tops our list! She spent hours with us in advance, curating our day in Oxford, then filled our tour with history, architecture, art, education, culture…and fun. The day was perfectly paced and suited to our needs. It was a graduation day, so like the happy students, we too tossed our hats in celebration. Brava Sophie!"

    K & A Krupsky, Chicago, USA