Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours

Although there aren’t any Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours currently planned, there will eventually be some; we’ll announce a few advance dates later in the year, and they’ll all be scheduled for days when it definitely won’t rain!! In the meantime, we’re happy to provide a private tour for any groups (small, medium or large) who may like one – please contact me for further details at richardosmith1@gmail.com.

Admirers of the tour may be interested to know that, starting in 2011, I’m writing a regular humourous column about Oxford in The Oxford Times Limited Edition magazine, plus I’ve been busy writing for Radio 4’s The Now Show and working on my own book Oxford Student Pranks: A History of Mischief & Mayhem that’s just been published by The History Press – which is a roundabout way of explaining why there hasn’t been many tours recently. Thanks to everyone who’s kindly supported the tour or bought the book.

The next Eccentric Oxford Walking Tour is scheduled for 11am on Sunday 3rd October 2010: please book a place by e-mailing richardosmith1@gmail.com Also, please e-mail if you’d like details about conducting a private tour anytime for your group (can be small, medium or large)

Tours meet at: Martyrs’ Memorial (opposite Randolph Hotel) [map]
Tour cost: only £5.00
Just turn up on the day, or reserve a place by contacting: richardosmith1@gmail.com
or telephone 01865 775171

Read more about Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours

Oxford Student Pranks: A History of Mischief and Mayhem

Oxford University is famed for the intelligence and innovation of its students. However, not all the undergraduates have devoted their talents to academia; instead they spent their time devising ingenious and hilarious pranks to play on their unsuspecting dons.

Richard O. Smith recalls some of the greatest stunts and practical jokes in the University’s history, including those by Oscar Wilde, Percy Shelley, T.E. Lawrence, Richard Burton and Roger Bacon. Ranging from the stunt that gave Folly Bridge its name and a nineteenth-century jape that resulted in the expulsion of all the students from University College, to the exploits of the infamous Bullingdon Club.

• Includes pranks by Oscar Wilde and the Bullingdon Club.
• Explores the long-running rivalry between Town and Gown.
• Includes stories centred on well-known Oxford landmarks.

I was expecting OXFORD STUDENT PRANKS to be a jape-filled jamboree of jollity, but it
turned out to be full of sex and violence as well. All human life is here, served up with a light
touch and keen sense of the ridiculous.
Author & broadcaster Lucy Worsley

“Gripping, witty and very informative” – comedian Adam Bloom

Oxford Student Pranks: A History of Mischief and Mayhem

The next scheduled Eccentric Oxford walk will be on Sunday 9th May 2010

So the Met Office are hinting at a good summer so maybe it’ll be a good opportunity to take an eccentric walk around Oxford in the sunshine (just in case, I should mention that it’s just as interesting in the rain!).

• Sunday 21st June, 2pm
• Sunday 19th July, 2pm
• Sunday 2nd August, 2pm
• Sunday 30th August, 2pm

Tours meet at: Martyrs’ Memorial (opposite Randolph Hotel) [map]
Tour cost: only £5.00
Just turn up on the day, or reserve a place by contacting: richard@oxfordwalks.co.uk
or telephone 01865 775171

Read more about Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours

Maybe a little late to wish you a happy new year but as the snow thaws and (hopefully) winter gives into spring it’s time to start planning for a walk around Oxford.

• Monday 13th April at 2:00pm – view on Upcoming.org
• Monday 4th May at 2pm – view on Upcoming.org
• Monday 25th May at 2pm – view on Upcoming.org

Tours meet at: Martyrs’ Memorial (opposite Randolph Hotel) [map]
Tour cost: only £5.00
Just turn up on the day, or reserve a place by contacting: richard@oxfordwalks.co.uk
or telephone 01865 775171

Read more about Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours

If you’re a local, or planning a trip to Oxford this Christmas you’ll have plenty of opportunity to take in an Eccentric Walking Tour. There are 5 tours over the holiday period. Tours cost just £5 and meet, as usual at the Martyrs’ Memorial.

• Boxing Day 26th December at 11.30am – view on Upcoming.org
• Boxing Day 26th December at 2pm – view on Upcoming.org
• Saturday 27th December at 2pm – view on Upcoming.org
• Sunday 28th December at 2pm – view on Upcoming.org
• New Year’s Day 1st January at 2pm – view on Upcoming.org

Tours meet at: Martyrs’ Memorial (opposite Randolph Hotel) [map]
Tour cost: only £5.00
Just turn up on the day, or reserve a place by contacting: richard@oxfordwalks.co.uk
or telephone 01865 775171

Read more about Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours

The next Eccentric Oxford walking tour will be on Sunday October 26, 2008 at 2:00pm.

Tours meet at: Martyrs’ Memorial (opposite Randolph Hotel) [map]
Tour cost: only £5.00
Just turn up on the day, or reserve a place by contacting: richard@oxfordwalks.co.uk
or telephone 01865 775171

View this event on Upcoming.org
Read more about Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours

The next Eccentric Oxford walk will be on Sunday 28th September at 2pm.

Tours meet at: Martyrs’ Memorial (opposite Randolph Hotel) [map]
Tour cost: only £5.00
Just turn up on the day, or reserve a place by contacting: richard@oxfordwalks.co.uk
or telephone 01865 775171

View this event on Upcoming.org
Read more about Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours

Tours meet at: Martyrs’ Memorial (opposite Randolph Hotel) [map]
Tour cost: only £5.00
Just turn up on the day, or reserve a place by contacting: richard@oxfordwalks.co.uk or telephone 01865 775171

• Sunday 29 June at 2pm
• Sunday 6 July at 2pm
• Sunday 13 July at 2pm
• Sunday 20 July at 2pm
• Sunday 10 August at 2pm
• Monday 25 August at 2pm

Richard has an article about the Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours on UK comedy website Chortle

However, there is a stronger limitation capping my material: the requirement to only tell the truth – quite a restriction for any stand-up. Frequently stand-ups punctuate their set-ups with liberal sprinklings of “and this is absolutely true…”, thus inadvertently signalling to the comedy literate that the opposite may be more likely. Although I can deliver inventive jokes, these can only follow dispensed historical truths. While everyone knows they are aboard for a comedy ride, audiences wouldn’t expect me to skimp on the proper history.

Read more about Eccentric Oxford Walking Tours