Beating the bounds in Oxford today! A fabulous tradition dating back to medieval times involving a vicar up a ladder, a rare chance to draw on All Souls Library floor, delicious cherry cake in All Souls Hall, sweets being flung out the window into Univ’s Master’s garden and the traditional Cornetto in Oriel to end with. Thanks to @universitychurchoxford and the colleges for keeping this wonderful custom alive and trusting me to wield a big stick and hit ancient buildings with it 🙏

Today I did my regular Literary Oxford tour for the @bodleianlibraries, so it felt fitting to drop into Holywell Cemetery and pay my respects to Kenneth Grahame on my way home. Grahame is the only author named on the university’s major donors board. He never got to study at the university as his uncle refused to pay for it - something he regretted for the rest of his life. So he very generously bequeathed all the royalties from his works - including The Wind in the Willows - to ‘the University of Oxford for the benefit of the Bodleian Library’. He’s buried in this tranquil graveyard, along with his only son Alastair who tragically died whilst studying at Oxford. It’s a beautiful resting place, very close to the centre of town but tucked away so that most people don’t know it’s there. Lots of other Oxford luminaries are also buried there, including Inklings Charles Williams and Hugo Dyson. 🌳🪦🌳🪦🌳🪦🌳🪦🌳🪦🌳 I’m an award-winning Oxford Green Badge tour guide. Message me to book a tour - link to my website in bio. #oxford #holywellcemetery #kennethgrahame #windinthewillows #literaryoxford #oxfordshire #visitoxford #oxfordtour #discoveroxford #oxfordguide #oxfordtourguide #experienceoxford #britainsbestguides

The best views in Oxford? Probably. ☀️🏛️ Popped up the tallest of the dreaming spires for this magnificent vista. Though I think I spent more time enjoying close-up encounters with the gargoyles and grotesques than looking down at the actual city, glorious as it is! I strongly recommend paying £6 and climbing the 127 steps of the @universitychurchoxford tower, especially when the sun is shining ☀️🏛️☀️🏛️☀️🏛️☀️🏛️☀️🏛️☀️🏛️☀️🏛️ I’m an award-winning Oxford Green Badge tour guide. Message me to book a tour - link to my website in bio. #oxford #universitychurch #universitychurchofstmarythevirgin #oxforduniversity #oxfordshire #visitoxford #oxfordtour #discoveroxford #oxfordguide #oxfordtourguide #experienceoxford #britainsbestguides

This week I led my first tour round Oxford’s Botanic Gardens! 🌱🌷🌴🍎🌳🌺 I’ve been a member of @oxfordbga for years, but I’ve loved learning in more depth about the history, science and environmental mission of this glorious place. The mandrakes are fruiting🫚, the roses are flowering🌹, and the giant water lily is just getting going 🪷 - now’s the time to visit! 🪷🌹🪷🌹🪷🌹🪷🌹🪷🌹🪷🌹🪷 I’m an award-winning Oxford Green Badge tour guide. Message me to book a tour - link to my website in bio. #oxford #botanicgarden #oxfordbotanicgarden #oxfordshire #visitoxford #oxfordtour #discoveroxford #oxfordguide #oxfordtourguide #experienceoxford #britainsbestguides