Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
Oxford Famous Alumni: City Tour & Escape Game Adventure
4.33Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 86 min 3.9 km Oxford, UK App-guided
Play in
English
The experience
About this quest
Discover the brilliance and mystery of Oxford in this exciting walking tour and escape game. Wander through the city’s most stunning buildings and delve into the legacy of the brilliant minds who studied here—like Albert Einstein, Dorothy Hodgkin, Lewis Carroll, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis.
Visit the gardens that inspired Alice in Wonderland, the pubs where literary legends shared ideas, and the library where Harry Potter came to life. Along the way, uncover hidden spots like where Oscar Wilde threw legendary parties and the secret pub where Bill Clinton allegedly "did not inhale."
In this thrilling quest, you are a brilliant former Oxford professor returning to solve the mystery of your late research partner, Yemi, who was murdered after you invented a revolutionary jet engine powered by water.
The oil companies didn’t want your invention to see the light of day, and now you must travel around Oxford to find the hidden prototype before it’s lost forever. Perfect for history lovers, adventurers, and puzzle solvers, this self-guided tour lets you explore Oxford’s rich heritage while unraveling a captivating mystery.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Readers of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll, and anyone curious about Einstein or Dorothy Hodgkin, can trace their Oxford from the Eagle and Child pub past the Bodleian to the Botanic Garden. Couples and families out by day get a puzzle at each stop over nearly three hours. Anyone who cannot manage 3.9 km on foot, or wants a live guide to quiz, should choose another option.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
See Oxford’s oldest and most spectacular buildings and discover more about the brilliant minds that have lived and studied there
Discover where Albert Einstein’s genius equations are captured forever on a chalkboard, and where Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dorothy Hodgkin made her greatest breakthroughs
See the exotic gardens that inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland and the pub where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis discussed Lord of the Rings and Narnia over a beer (or five)
Visit the beautiful, centuries-old library where Harry Potter was filmed
Find the secret spot where Oscar Wilde supposedly threw legendary parties after being kicked out of his college, and the hidden pub where Bill Clinton allegedly ‘did not inhale’
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.33 / 5
117 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
Oxford, UK
A · Start
The Eagle and Child, St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LU, UK
B · Finish
Rose Ln, Oxford OX1 4AZ, UK
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Alice Harman.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Alice Harman
WHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
Good to know before you play
- Best during the day
- Best for couples
- Recommended activity for families
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is this an Oxford mystery tour or a game?
It is both: a self-guided walking tour and escape game played on your phone. The app leads you from place to place, tells the story of each one and its famous students, then sets a puzzle in what is in front of you, from Somerville College to the Radcliffe Camera.
Where does the quest start and finish?
It starts at the Eagle and Child pub on St Giles' Street and finishes at the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, so it does not return to the start. The route covers about 3.9 km, taking in the Turf Tavern, Balliol College, the Bodleian Library and Magdalen College along the way.
How long does it take, and can we pause?
Most players take around two and three-quarter hours, close to three hours, including walking and solving the puzzles. You can pause whenever you like, stop for a drink or a look inside somewhere, and continue later from where you left off.
Can we play as a group, and do we need to book a time?
Yes, one ticket covers the whole group playing together on the route. There is no group to join and no guide to meet, so you do not book a time slot. Start whenever suits you, ideally during the day, which is when the quest works best.
Is it good for kids?
It is a recommended activity for families, with stories about Lewis Carroll and the gardens linked to Alice in Wonderland. It suits children who can walk 3.9 km and stay engaged for nearly three hours of walking and puzzles, so older children will get the most out of it.
Is Oxford Famous Alumni: City Tour & Escape Game Adventure self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. You can start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does Oxford Famous Alumni: City Tour & Escape Game Adventure start and finish?
It starts at The Eagle and Child pub, St Giles’ Street, The Eagle and Child, St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LU, UK and finishes at Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, Rose Ln, Oxford OX1 4AZ, UK. The route is approximately 3.9 km and includes 12 location-based puzzles.
How many accesses does our group need?
This classic quest sells access per device and player. Each person who wants to solve clues on their own phone needs their own access.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Oxford, UK
More adventures in Oxford, UK
Oxford academic context
Writers and researchers behind the famous names
Oxford’s alumni and academics include Lewis Carroll, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis and Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dorothy Hodgkin. Their connections span literature, teaching and scientific research rather than one single Oxford era. This quest links selected colleges, gardens, pubs and university landmarks to that wider intellectual history. The former-student role and mystery you solve are fictional, while the people and institutional connections highlighted along the route can be checked against the University’s records. Playable languages: English.
