Uncomfortable Oxford

Tour in support of SolidariTee for 2026 Refugee week
2026-06-15 18:00 - 19:30 (Europe/London) | Meet at Fantastea, High street
Donate to Join: The Original Uncomfortable Oxford™ Tour

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Join us for a special fundraising tour hosted by Uncomfortable Oxford in support of SolidariTee for 2026 Refugee Week.

Uncomfortable Oxford designs and runs thought-provoking tours that explore the ‘uncomfortable’ legacies of inequality and imperialism within the city and university. As a certified Social Enterprise, all profits are reinvested in local community projects and initiatives that align with our social mission.

Fundraising for Refugee Week and SolidariTee
People all over the world are impacted by humanitarian crises, and some people have no choice but to leave. Many end up on European borders, including people fleeing Palestine, Sudan, Iran, Ukraine, and more.
UK and European border policies have been hostile for a long time, but continue to escalate in the last few months: be it the 1-in-1-out deal between the UK and France, or the Greek government moving to criminalise and imprison refugees – simply for seeking safety.

By attending this tour, you are generously helping our partners provide legal and psychological aid and defend human rights on Europe’s borders. Border violence is intimately linked to the power structures of empire, race, and class, which have also shaped the rich history of the city of Oxford. We can’t wait to see you at this Uncomfortable tour to learn more.

Donation & Ticket Options
All proceeds from the tour will be donated to SolidariTee, to support legal and psychological aid delivered by SolidariTee’s partner grassroot organisations working in Greece.

Your Impact:

£10 is enough to cover rent for an NGO office space for a day.
£40 (two supporter tickets) can fund a legal empowerment session inside a refugee camp.

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ℹ️ Forced Displacement Concession: We are pleased to offer free tickets to people with lived experience of forced displacement. To request a free ticket, please email teamsolidaritee@solidaritee.org.uk.

ℹ️ If you would like to make a donation but do not wish to attend the tour, you can choose the option above, or donate directly via the SolidariTee Donorbox Page.

*Please note: all children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tour Description
Discover Oxford’s iconic landmarks while uncovering the city’s diverse and complex past. This unique guided walk around Oxford’s city centre is the perfect introduction to the city’s rich history, offering a deep look at the events which have shaped both the university and the city. Explore stories of empire, race, class, and gender, and learn how these themes continue to influence our modern world.
Led by knowledgeable University researchers who have completed our specialised Uncomfortable Oxford training program, this tour combines expert insight with engaging storytelling, making it both educational and entertaining.
Suitability: This is a great family-friendly tour of Oxford, suitable for ages 12 and up. It is a stimulating, unique tour for those with an interest in cultural tourism, history lovers, and anyone interested in discovering Oxford’s diverse past.

Itinerary
*Subject to minor changes depending on time and guide.

Meeting Point: Fantastea – 36 High Street, Oxford OX1 4AN
Radcliffe Camera
Rhodes Statue
All Souls College
Weston Library
Sheldonian Theatre
Balliol College
Faculty of History
Bonn Square

Accessibility & Guidelines

Please dress for the weather and be prepared for busy city centre streets.
Wheelchair accessible: Mostly flat terrain with some cobblestones. Spaces to sit down or lean throughout the route.
Toilets are available on the route.
All guides take accessibility training and are happy to adapt to diverse needs. Please let your guide know if accommodations are required.
Content is curated for ages 12+, but guides can adapt stories for younger children.

About SolidariTee
SolidariTee is an international charity run and led entirely by volunteers who are students and young people. Our vision is a world in which every person forced to flee persecution and violence has access to timely, high-quality legal and mental health support.
We combine student and youth-led activism that builds knowledge about refugees and displacement with direct support to grassroots partner organisations providing trauma-informed legal aid. To find out more about our work, and our partners, visit www.solidaritee.org.uk and check out our 2025 annual report.
UK Registered Charity 1182195

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Workshop: Marmalade Festival
2026-04-22 09:45 - 11:45
​
History Taught Differently: Connecting Past and Present through Walking Tours
Join us for a workshop and learn how to critically engage with complex histories and their ongoing legacies, exploring how the stories of the past shape our present.
​Through interactive activities, the workshop highlights the methodology behind Uncomfortable Oxford walking tours, encouraging participants to embrace multiperspectivity in their work—an approach valuable to educators, community leaders, and anyone interested in fostering dialogue and understanding.
​Founded in 2018, Uncomfortable Oxford is a community interest company dedicated to promoting empathy and conversation in public spaces. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to experience and apply their approach first-hand.
​This venue has a capacity of 70. Registration is necessary and managed by the Marmalade Festival.
REGISTER HERE
Location
Oxford Westgate Library
228, The Westgate, Queen St, Oxford OX1 1PE, UK
BIPC

Women and Queer Histories Tour - In support of Homeless Oxfordshire
2026-03-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Meet outside St. Luke’s Chapel, Humanities Quarter, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, 35 Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 6GG, United Kingdom
Make a donation to join a tour in support of Homeless Oxfordshire
Explore Oxford’s gendered geographies and the hidden stories of Oxford’s unknown trailblazers. This tour highlights the histories of women, people of color, and the LGBTQIA+ community through time.

This guided journey will take you back in time to highlight the many ways women have historically impacted the city of Oxford. We reveal the complexities of navigating university research and family life, uncover unknown trailblazers, and discuss queer experiences in the city. Together we will analyse how stories get made and forgotten in history, discuss gendered geographies, and challenge social expectations.

All our tours are led by university researchers who have completed our official Uncomfortable Oxford training programme. Our guides combine expert knowledge and performance, ensuring each tour is a fun and educational experience.

The “Her Way Home” Appeal
About the Her Way Home appeal
Women experiencing homelessness are often ‘hidden’ – forced into sofa surfing, sleeping in cars, or staying in abusive relationships to avoid the dangers of rough sleeping or further trauma in mixed-sex hostels. Homeless Oxfordshire’s Her Way Home campaign exists to provide safe, single-sex accommodation and specialist support to help women who’ve lived through significant trauma find safety, healing and hope.

Donate whatever you can and join the tour for free!

Community Donation – £5
Standard Donation – £10
Supporter Donation – £20
Generous Donation – £30

Can’t join but still want to donate? You can do that by buying a ‘Donation only’ ticket!

About Homeless Oxfordshire:

Homeless Oxfordshire provides an open door for people whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; offering safety, stability and support when it is needed most. They are the county’s largest not-for-profit provider of supported accommodation for people experiencing homelessness. Learn more: homelessoxfordshire.uk.
Accessibility: The route is wheelchair accessible. Recommended for ages 12+. Tour will run rain or shine. Well-behaved animals welcome to attend.

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Tour in support of Sudan
2025-11-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Meet at Fantastea, High street
Fundraising for Sudan
Donate to join a fundraising tour to support nutrition and healthcare programs in Sudan and to support displaced families from El-Fashir. The tour is hosted by Uncomfortable Oxford and co-organised with the Oxford University Sudanese Society (OUSS).
Uncomfortable Oxford designs and runs thought-provoking tours that explore the ‘uncomfortable’ legacies of inequality and imperialism within the city and university. As a certified Social Enterprise, all profits are reinvested in local community projects and initiatives that align with our social mission.
In collaboration with the Oxford University Sudanese Society (OUSS), we are offering a fundraising walking tour on Sunday 30 November 2025, with all proceeds from the event going to support humanitarian aid for people in Sudan and to support displaced families from El-Fashir.
If you want to learn more about Oxford’s history while making a meaningful contribution, this is the perfect opportunity—sign up today!
About the Sudan Crisis
Sudan is enduring one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises — the largest displacement crisis globally. In El Fashir, man-made starvation, malnutrition, and death are devastating families as siege and violence block food and aid. Your support can help deliver urgent relief, save lives, and bring hope amid unimaginable suffering.
About SAPA
The Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) is delivering lifesaving aid in Sudan—running community kitchens in Tawila that serve over 4,000 hot meals a day to displaced families from El Fashir. Its nutrition and healthcare programs recently reached more than 200,000 people in a single month, including children, mothers and trauma-patients. Donations to SAPA ensure food, medical care, and dignity reach those trapped by conflict. Learn more at sapa-usa.org.
All proceeds from the tour will be donated to SAPA, to support nutrition and healthcare programs in Sudan and to support displaced families from El-Fashir.

Community donation – £5
Standard donation – £10
Supporter donation – £20
Generous supporter donation – £30

If you would like to make a donation but do not wish to attend the tour, you can donate directly to SAPA via the link above.
Please note: all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tour Description
Discover Oxford’s iconic landmarks while uncovering the city’s diverse and complex past. This unique guided walk around Oxford’s city centre is the perfect introduction to the city’s rich history, offering a deep look at the events which have shaped both the university and the city. Explore stories of empire, race, class, and gender, and learn how these themes continue to influence our modern world.
Led by knowledgeable University researchers who have completed our specialised Uncomfortable Oxford training program, this tour combines expert insight with engaging storytelling, making it both educational and entertaining.
This is a great family-friendly tour of Oxford, suitable for ages 12 and up. It is a stimulating, unique tour for those with an interest in cultural tourism, history lovers, and anyone interested in discovering Oxford’s diverse past.
Itinerary

Radcliffe Camera
Rhodes Statue
All Souls College
Weston Library
Sheldonian Theatre
Balliol College
Faculty of History
Bonn Square

Itinerary may vary slightly depending on guide and conditions.
Accessibility
Please dress for the weather and be prepared for busy streets in the city centre. The route is wheelchair accessible, with mostly flat terrain (some cobblestones), and spaces to sit down or lean against buildings throughout. Toilets available en-route. Let your guide know if any accommodations are needed — all guides take accessibility training and are happy to adapt to diverse needs.
Our tours are designed for audiences aged 12 and up. Guides can adapt content for younger participants, and the material aligns well with school curriculums.

BOOK NOW

Displacing Rhodes: a Critical Conversation on Resilience, Representation, and Colonial Legacies
2025-11-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Old Library, University Church of St Mary the Virgin, The High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BJ
Displacing Rhodes:
A Critical Conversation on Resilience, Representation, and Colonial Legacies in Zimbabwe

Date: Friday, 14 November 2025
Time: 19:30 – 21:00
Join a public talk on resilience, representation, and colonial legacies in Zimbabwe. With an introduction to Cecil Rhodes from Uncomfortable Oxford, and insights on resilience and sculpture from Dr William Beinart, this event serves to contextualise the current exhibition of Zimbabwean sculptures in the University Church and to explore the issues raised. This event is generously supported by St Mary’s University Church.

Book Your Ticket

(Un)Natural History Museum Tour
2025-10-30 14:30 - 15:45
Pay What You Decide to join this tour in support of the Oxford Ideas Festival.
Join us for a unique tour of the Natural History Museum in Oxford. The term ‘Natural History’ might lead us to believe that the collections and research at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History are scientifically objective and culturally removed. This museum tour will challenge your understanding of science and scientific knowledge as we walk you through the main exhibits on a unique guided tour. The museum hosts a number of natural specimens gathered from a variety of contexts and preserved with a specific purpose.
On this tour, your guide will question the way we understand nature, highlighting unseen biases and the influence of human perspectives on collecting practice and display. By flipping the lens from a ‘natural’ approach to an ‘unnatural’ construction, we explore the historical and ideological underpinnings of natural history museums, revealing a narrative shaped by human influence, social norms, and selective choice.
Meet your guide outside the main entrance to the museum.
Please note that the tour length sometimes runs over depending on group engagement. This tour was developed in collaboration with curators and staff at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
BOOKING OPENS – Thursday 21 August 2025
BOOK HERE

This tour is offered as part of IF Oxford Festival of Science and Ideas 2025, an independent UK charity (Charity number 1151361) that works with hundreds of organisations and groups to capture interest in ‘science and ideas’ topics through educational projects and its quality annual Festival in October.
IF Oxford uses Pay What You Decide (PWYD) ticketing, which means you can choose to pay whatever you want — or can afford.
IF Oxford is run by The Oxfordshire Science Festival (charity #1151361), and your donation may be eligible for Gift Aid, allowing the charity to claim an extra 25% of your donation at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid forms can be downloaded from www.if-oxford.com/donate.The Festival reserves the right to modify event formats and manage audience attendance in line with our Attendance Policy.
Age Restrictions: Attendees under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

ACCESSIBLITY:

The museum is wheelchair accessible, but please note some crowding when busy.
Working service animals are welcome inside the museum.
Caregivers and accessibility aids are welcome to attend tours for free, with no need to register. We ask that they let us know in advance.
Toilets are available at the museum, as well as storage lockers.

We cannot use amplifying audio equipment inside the museum, but please inform your guide if any visual or hearing accommodations are required and they will keep this in mind throughout the tour. All our guides receive accessibility training and are prepared to make accommodations as needed.

(Un)Natural History Museum Tour
2025-10-28 14:30 - 15:45
Pay What You Decide to join this tour in support of the Oxford Ideas Festival.

Join us for a unique tour of the Natural History Museum in Oxford. The term ‘Natural History’ might lead us to believe that the collections and research at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History are scientifically objective and culturally removed. This museum tour will challenge your understanding of science and scientific knowledge as we walk you through the main exhibits on a unique guided tour. The museum hosts a number of natural specimens gathered from a variety of contexts and preserved with a specific purpose.
On this tour, your guide will question the way we understand nature, highlighting unseen biases and the influence of human perspectives on collecting practice and display. By flipping the lens from a ‘natural’ approach to an ‘unnatural’ construction, we explore the historical and ideological underpinnings of natural history museums, revealing a narrative shaped by human influence, social norms, and selective choice.
Meet your guide outside the main entrance to the museum.
Please note that the tour length sometimes runs over depending on group engagement. This tour was developed in collaboration with curators and staff at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
BOOKING OPENS – Thursday 21 August 2025

Book HERE

This tour is offered as part of IF Oxford Festival of Science and Ideas 2025, an independent UK charity (Charity number 1151361) that works with hundreds of organisations and groups to capture interest in ‘science and ideas’ topics through educational projects and its quality annual Festival in October.
IF Oxford uses Pay What You Decide (PWYD) ticketing, which means you are asked to make a suggested contribution per person.

ACCESSIBLITY:

The museum is wheelchair accessible, but please note some crowding when busy.
Working service animals are welcome inside the museum.
Caregivers and accessibility aids are welcome to attend tours for free, with no need to register. We ask that they let us know in advance.
Toilets are available at the museum, as well as storage lockers.

We cannot use amplifying audio equipment inside the museum, but please inform your guide if any visual or hearing accommodations are required and they will keep this in mind throughout the tour. All our guides receive accessibility training and are prepared to make accommodations as needed.

(Un)Natural History Museum Tour
2025-10-19 15:00 - 16:15
Pay What You Decide to join this tour in support of the Oxford Ideas Festival.
Join us for a unique tour of the Natural History Museum in Oxford. The term ‘Natural History’ might lead us to believe that the collections and research at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History are scientifically objective and culturally removed. This museum tour will challenge your understanding of science and scientific knowledge as we walk you through the main exhibits on a unique guided tour. The museum hosts a number of natural specimens gathered from a variety of contexts and preserved with a specific purpose.
On this tour, your guide will question the way we understand nature, highlighting unseen biases and the influence of human perspectives on collecting practice and display. By flipping the lens from a ‘natural’ approach to an ‘unnatural’ construction, we explore the historical and ideological underpinnings of natural history museums, revealing a narrative shaped by human influence, social norms, and selective choice.
Meet your guide outside the main entrance to the museum.
Please note that the tour length sometimes runs over depending on group engagement. This tour was developed in collaboration with curators and staff at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
BOOKING OPENS – Thursday 21 August 2025
Book HERE

This tour is offered as part of IF Oxford Festival of Science and Ideas 2025, an independent UK charity (Charity number 1151361) that works with hundreds of organisations and groups to capture interest in ‘science and ideas’ topics through educational projects and its quality annual Festival in October.
IF Oxford uses Pay What You Decide (PWYD) ticketing, which means you can choose to pay whatever you want — or can afford.
IF Oxford is run by The Oxfordshire Science Festival (charity #1151361), and your donation may be eligible for Gift Aid, allowing the charity to claim an extra 25% of your donation at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid forms can be downloaded from www.if-oxford.com/donate.The Festival reserves the right to modify event formats and manage audience attendance in line with our Attendance Policy.
Age Restrictions: Attendees under 18 years of age will be considered as ‘Child’. Any person presenting a ‘Child’ tickets with a valid accompanying ‘Adult’ ticket cannot not be accepted on the tour.

ACCESSIBLITY:

The museum is wheelchair accessible, but please note some crowding when busy.
Working service animals are welcome inside the museum.
Caregivers and accessibility aids are welcome to attend tours for free, with no need to register. We ask that they let us know in advance.
Toilets are available at the museum, as well as storage lockers.

We cannot use amplifying audio equipment inside the museum, but please inform your guide if any visual or hearing accommodations are required and they will keep this in mind throughout the tour. All our guides receive accessibility training and are prepared to make accommodations as needed.

(Un)Natural History Museum Tour
2025-10-19 10:30 - 11:45 | Meet outside the main entrance to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History

The Rhodes legacy through the Eyes of Zimbabwean Sculptors - Exhibit at Oriel College
2025-10-03 - 2025-12-07
Join us to view an inspiring and engaging art exhibition aimed at examining colonial legacies and advocating for restorative justice.
Inspired by Oxford Rhodes Must Fall 2020 and Black Lives Matter, a group of friends from East Oxford and Harare, Zimbabwe set up Oxford Zimbabwe Arts Partnership (OZAP) to counter the statue of Cecil Rhodes on Oriel’s High Street building with sculpture commissioned from Zimbabwe.
The project comes to fruition with the opening of an exhibition on Friday 3 October at Oriel College (High Street entrance). The exhibit will transfer to University Church from 10 October – 7 December.
At the heart of the exhibition are the four winning artworks from a competition run by OZAP earlier this year at the Chitungwiza Arts Centre. These works celebrate the resilience of indigenous Zimbabweans in the face of colonial violence since the days of Cecil Rhodes.
Chitungwiza is a large, high-density town outside Harare, sometimes referred to as Zimbabwe’s Soweto. A young filmmaker and team from the area have produced a powerful 13-minute documentary,
“Never Again”, which will run on a loop within the exhibition.
OZAP hopes to organise showings with discussions during the autumn. The project and upcoming exhibition have already attracted global media attention.
Featured Artist
Overall Winner: Wallace Mkankha, 34, born in Chitungwiza. His winning piece, Blindfolded Justice, offers a poignant reflection on Zimbabwe’s colonial past.
The stone sculpture represents the cruel legacy of Cecil John Rhodes in Zimbabwe. The face, shrouded in anguish, symbolizes the suffering of the Zimbabwean people.
The two hands covering the eyes signify the forced blindness to the truth as Rhodes’ regime imposed its oppressive rule.
The two hands struggling to remove the blindfold represent the resilience and determination of the Zimbabwean people to break free from oppression.
This poignant piece serves as a reminder of the brutal history inflicted upon Zimbabwe and honours the victims of Rhodes’ cruelty.
It also symbolizes the ongoing quest for justice, equality, and peace.
Exhibition Dates & Venues
03 – 08 October, 2025
Oriel College (High Street entrance) | 10AM – 4PM
Admission: Free
10 October – 07 December, 2025
University Church | 10AM – 5PM
Admission: Free

Unlocking Medieval Oxford - Free Tour
2025-09-14 12:00 - 13:30 | Meet at the mound outside Oxford Castle and Prison, OX1 1AY, Oxford Castle and Prison, Oxford, OX1 1AY
Join us for a free tour as part of Oxford Open Doors 2025!
Step back in time with us to explore the city’s fascinating origins as a medieval town. This walking tour offers a fresh perspective on Oxford history, revealing the complex realities of medieval life beyond the clichés of violence, superstition, and filth.
This tour asks you to consider, why being “medieval” is seen as an insult and why modern portrayals of the Middle Ages dwell on the “horrible histories”? Through this tour, we challenge popular misconceptions about life in the past and invite you to rethink what you know about Oxford History.
Led by university researchers trained through our official Uncomfortable Oxford programme, this engaging experience connects medieval Oxford to present-day issues, showing how echoes of the past still shape our world today. Expect thoughtful insights, surprising facts, and meaningful discussion.
Perfect for curious minds aged 12+, this is not your average history tour—this is Oxford history told differently.

Book HERE

ITINERARY:

Oxford Castle & Prison
Castle Mill Stream
Old Greyfriars Street
Brewer Street
Christ Church
Oriel College, Oriel Square
St. Michael at the North Gate

Tour itinerary may vary depending on time and guide.
NOTE: To ensure as many people can join as possible, we ask that attendees book a maximum of two tickets per booking for this festival tour. All youths must be accompanied by an adult.
ACCESSIBLITY:

All tours are wheelchair accessible, but please note some mildly uneven pavement and crowding in the city centre, especially on weekends.
Service animals are welcome on all tours.
Caregivers and accessibility aids are welcome to attend tours for free, with no need to register.
The total distance walked during each tour is less than one mile. Each tour includes moments for sitting/leaning against walls, and toilets are available at certain points along the routes.

Please inform your guide if any visual or hearing accommodations are needed and they will keep this in mind throughout the tour. All our guides receive accessibility training and are prepared to make accommodations as needed.
