Events and Excursions

Excursions
Outings are usually guided walks within public open space with, in a few cases, access into a church or other public building, and this element may have to be omitted if access is not available at the time. The number of places for each outing is limited but we will keep a reserve list in case of cancellations.

We are not charging for the cost of the guides but, if there is cost for access into buildings, we will ask for payment in advance. Refreshments may be offered, the cost of these can be usually made on the day.

Each member must make a separate booking as we have a limited number of places for each excursion. If a member would like to bring a friend, please give the friend's name but use the member's email address so we can allocate the booking correctly.

These excursions are only for OAHS members but if you would like to join OAHS, please see our Joining Details Page

To see any bookings you have already made, please log in to view your membership details and scroll down to Event Bookings where you can see all bookings you have made.

If you need to cancel, please email excursions@oahs.org.uk

Confirmation and joining details will be sent by email. Please watch for announcements on the website, and make sure that we have your email address - you can check the details we hold for you by logging in. There will not be any paper booking forms.

If you have any queries please contact the Excursion Secretary: excursions@oahs.org.uk.

Disability Policy
Members with limited mobility must contact the Excursions Secretary, email: excursions@oahs.org.uk) before booking an excursion to discuss whether special access arrangements can be made to buildings or locations. The Society will do its best to accommodate special needs, but reserves the right to refuse access to its events where, in the judgement of the Committee, the safety of an individual or of other participants is put at risk.

Visit to Ewelme Church


Date: 18 June 2025
Time: morning
Leader: Geoffrey Tyack
Location: Parsons Lane, Ewelme OX10 6HS
Cost: Free
No of Places: 30
Closing Date for Bookings: 16 June 2025


Book a place

A guided tour of the medieval Grade 1 listed church of St Mary's Ewelme and a walk around the village, taking in the almshouses, led by Professor Geoffrey Tyack.

The tour will start at 11:00a.m. with coffee and biscuits.

St Mary's remains almost unchanged since it was reordered in 1437 and owes much of its form to Thomas Chaucer, Governor of Wallingford Castle, son of the famous poet and speaker of the House of Commons five times.

The almshouses were set up by Chaucer's granddaughter and still run efficiently today.

There is plenty of parking in the vicinity of the church.

There is no direct bus route to and from Oxford but there are buses every two hours, weekdays to and from Oxford changing at the marina in Wallingford. The total journey takes between one hour and eight minutes to one hour and twenty minutes, depending upon the connection time.

Tour of two Oxford churches


Date: 31 July 2025
Time: afternoon
Leader: Julian Munby
Location: Oxford
Cost: Free
No of Places: 20
Closing Date for Bookings: 28 July 2025


This event is now fully booked

A guided tour of two Grade 1 North Oxford Churches, St Giles (pictured below) and St Mary Magdalen (pictured left)

The walk between the two churches is approximately 15 - 20 minutes. It is hoped that we might visit the Rawlinson Memorial in St John's College en route between the churches. If so, the event will end at St Mary Magdalen at approximately 4:30pm.

St Giles Church
The church of St Giles was probably built as a private church by Edwin, son of Godegose, between 1123 and 1133, but soon had a huge but thinly populated parish of its own, stretching north as far as the present northern bypass and extending from Walton Street in the West to the River Cherwell in the east. The church lost Summertown when that "village" got a church of its own in 1834, and when St Paul's Church opened in 1837, a slice of St Giles' parish became part of its district chapelry. Then in 1863 St Philip & St James took over a large section of St Giles' parish.

The church was badly damaged during the siege of Oxford in the Civil War and in 1643 its furniture was burnt by parliamentary troops, who were being held prisoner in the church.



St Mary Magdalen Church
A beautiful example of an Anglo Catholic church in the very heart of the city. With its 14th century font and Elizabethan glass, this fascinating historic church stands isolated on a traffic island at the south end of St Giles, near the Martyr's Memorial. The first church was built in the Saxon period.

Amy Robsart, wife of Queen Elizabeth's "favourite", the Earl of Leicester is said to be buried there.

Tour of Exeter College Library, College Hall and Chapel


Date: 04 September 2025
Time: afternoon
Leader: Joanna Bowring
Location: Oxford
Cost: Free
No of Places: 20
Closing Date for Bookings: 01 September 2025


This event is now fully booked

A guided tour of the newly designed and refurbished Jackson Library of Exeter College and chapel ending with tea in the hall, with Joanna Bowring, College Librarian.

Booking Essential

British architecture studios Nex and Donald Insall Associates have renovated Exeter College's neo-gothic library at the University of Oxford, originally constructed by George Gilbert Scott in 1857.

Addressing a need for additional study spaces and improved accessibility of the Grade II-listed building, the studios implemented a series of contemporary interventions including the addition of new entrances, a staircase and a lift.