Interior of a historic building with high vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and framed paintings, set up for a formal event with arranged tables, wine glasses, white napkins, and lamps.

Exeter College

“Floreat Exon”

Oxford’s fourth oldest college, founded in 1314. Floreat Exon, the college motto, means let Exeter flourish. Exeter was founded for the sons of West Country gentry. Devon and Cornwall and today is best known for the strong mark its alumni have left on English literature and art.

William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones, JRR Tolkien, Alan Bennett, Martin Amis, Will Self and Philip Pullman were all undergraduates at Exeter. J.K. Rowling, not a student of Oxford, was made an honorary fellow here..

Pullman based his fictional ‘Jordan College’ on Exeter, and for fans of Inspector Morse, it is in the calm Front Quad of Exeter that Colin Dexter’s fictional Inspector drops dead.

The college chapel, inspired by Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, is a breathtaking example of the 19th-century Oxford Movement: a revival of religious architecture, art, and ritual.

Opportunities to visit Exeter are typically limited to the summer break. Exeter matches well with the Classic Architectural and Historical Highlights , literary or bespoke day tours.

Stone sculpture of a man in historical attire, standing in an ornate architectural niche with columns and decorative elements, mounted on the wall near a wooden door.
A Gothic-style church with stained glass windows, a tall spire, and elaborate architectural details, set against a blue sky with clouds.
Elegant dining room with long tables set for a formal event, featuring white napkins, wine glasses, and candelabras. The room has high, arched stained glass windows and portraits on the walls, with a high vaulted ceiling supported by dark wooden beam
A historic church with a tall spire, set against a soft sunset sky in a town with old buildings and trees with autumn leaves.
Historic Gothic-style church with pointed arches, stained glass windows, and a tall steeple, located on a city street.
Bronze bust of J.R.R. Tolkien with a plaque that reads 'J R R Tolkien 1892 - 1973'.
A carved stone religious sculpture of Jesus Christ seated, with a dog at his feet, set in a gothic cathedral with stained glass windows and wood paneling featuring a griffin emblem.
Interior of a Gothic cathedral with stained glass windows, ribbed vaulted ceilings, and golden statues along the walls.

  • "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

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