Children’s Literature in Oxford - 1 day

Children’s Literature in Oxford – Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 30th

Just an hour away from London is the University City of Oxford. Academics and students have been studying here for over 800 years and amongst the artists, inventors, politicians and church reformers, Oxford has given us some of the greatest children's writers of all time. Today we will explore the world of Lewis Carroll and of Alice, learn about the life of C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien, see the sights that influenced Philip Pullman, wander around some of the Harry Potter filming locations and enjoy a visit to the fantastic Story Museum and immerse ourselves in the world of children's literature.
 

Oxford is best explored on foot and we will take a 2 hour guided tour of the University colleges at a gently pace with plenty of time to sit and relax, be it in a shady cloister or a chapel pew. We will see the Sheldonian Theatre, where graduation takes place and the much revered Bodleian Library, home to over 7 million volumes. Here, within the streets of shops, cafes and lecture halls, we have city dwellers and students, the 'town and gown' that both call Oxford home.
 

At Christ Church there is a 'Behind the Scenes' private guided tour included. Visit the famous dining hall, beloved by Harry Potter fans as the basis for Hogwart's Hall. It was here that Lewis Carroll, as mathematician Charles Dodgson, told the young Alice Liddell, daughter of the Dean, about life through the Looking Glass and of her adventures in Wonderland. It was here in this most famous of Oxford colleges that the Queen played croquet and the Cheshire cat grinned widely in his tree and the Dodo bird came to life.....yet the tree still grows, the croquet lawn is still lovingly tended to and the Dodo sits, stuffed and quite obviously dead, in the University Museum.

Lunch (not included) could be had in many of Oxford's splendid cafes and pubs, and what about a trip to The Eagle and Child? Right here, where on Tuesdays, J.R.R Tolkien and C.S Lewis would have talked of The Hobbit and Narnia.
 

We will have time to explore the University further in the early part of the afternoon before ending the day visiting the ‘Tea with Alice’ exhibition of contemporary illustrations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at The Story Museum. This ‘emerging’ museum will be opening fully in 2014 and is in the process of raising £6 million to convert its semi-derelict buildings into a major international story centre. Part of the future museum has already been transformed, where it holds exhibitions and events celebrating children's literature and narrative in all its forms. Writers and illustrators associated with the project include Michael Rosen, Michael Morpurgo, Philip Pullman, Jacqueline Wilson and Korky Paul. The visit includes an introduction to The Story Museum from one of their staff, a tour of the Tea with Alice exhibition and a tour round the dilapidated buildings which are due to be developed into the future Story Museum. It will also take in the Story Loom exhibit and the Bodleian hand printing presses, which are now housed at The Story Museum.

Price includes:

• Travel by executive coach
• Full day services of a professional tour guide
• Entry to Christ Church, with a 'Behind the scenes' guided tour
• Entry to the Story Museum

Tour departs London at 08:30am, returning by 18:30pm