Two legs good, four legs fabulous: Oxford and its animals

Ever since the first Megalosaurus stalked the Oxfordshire meadows, animals have been central to Oxford’s story. After all, wasn’t the City’s location chosen for the convenience of the local oxen? Apparently not strong swimmers...

Even the City’s patron saint, the Saxon Princess Frideswide, apparently evaded her suitor, Prince Algar, and put his dogs 'off the scent' by hanging out with some particularly smelly pigs. When, ultimately, a miracle occurred and Prince Algar was struck by lightening in the eye, thus ending his pursuit, the pious Frideswide naturally prayed for his healing to St Margaret of Antioch. Even the goodly Margaret didn’t appear alone, but brought her trusty dragon.

Dragons are everywhere in Oxford! To test this assertion, simply gather a few children in Radcliffe Square and send them in different directions with their mobile phones to see who can photograph the most dragons in 30 minutes.

Jesus College is an obvious dragons’ nest, its Welsh allegiance spawning numerous feisty examples, however, Brasenose, Magdalen, New College and the Bodleian have their fair share too and they pop up menacingly in all sorts of other surprising places.

The Bodleian has a wealth of magical animals, so see if you can spot the hippogriffs, the phoenix, the unicorns and the owls. For those with an interest in heraldry, the great 17th century door of the Bodleian sports a whole panoply of crests with a variety of animals and is right opposite Hertford with its biblical Hart ‘pining for the watercourses’ over the main door.

Not to be outdone, Magdalen College has a herd of (live!) fallow deer including a beautiful white hart, which can be viewed all year round. Legend has it that during World War II they were classified as turnips to save them from being culled for the war effort (N.B. the Archivist can find no evidence for this story).

Oxford has also seen some exotic pets brought up by its students and faculty. Oscar Wilde apparently used to walk his pet lobster down the High Street from his rooms at Magdalen to the consternation of passersby and zoologist William Buckland supposedly had a pet hyena.
Herpers, however, have won the day, with tortoises today’s preferred college pet. The role of College Tortoise Keeper is keenly contested and many tortoises now have their own Instagram accounts and blogs. The Big Event in the tortoise calendar is (naturally, for maximum wakefulness) in Trinity (summer) term. It is the Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair and emotions run high. The tortoises are carried (this isn’t a marathon, after all) to the centre of the Corpus garden, a large ring of lettuce is arranged around them and the tortoise race is on! The first tortoise to touch the lettuce wins and is Top Tortoise until they meet again.

Corpus is an animal college par excellence, having been founded by a Fox(e) (Bishop of Winchester), and his chum Hugh Oldham (‘Owldam’ - three owls in his crest), who told the students to work like bees. The college evidently decided the best interpretation of its vulpine founder’s instructions was to get some actual bees to work like bees and they can still be found in their hive on top of the college’s lecture theatre.

Other colleges, even today, have working animals. These ‘ratters’, the college cats, have hit the headlines recently after an unseemly territorial spat between Exeter’s Walter and Hertford’s Simpkin, who has apparently been staking a claim to Walter’s cushioned chair in the Exeter College Library.

Simpkin has been unceremoniously deported, and the college has even posted notices warning of his dangerous proclivities. See https://cherwell.org/2022/01/15/hertford-cat-simpkin-banned-from-exeter-college-library/

The most famous Oxford cat was of course the one who could disappear, leaving only his smile behind. You can find a sculpture of him in his entirety up a tree in Oxford’s Botanic Garden. It is in many ways remarkable that in the entire history of Oxford University and its academics, its most famous book is about a little girl and a cast of talking animals that she finds down a rabbit hole.
Lewis Carroll’s Dodo can still be seen in a portrait in the Oxford Museum of Natural History, where you will also find the Megalosaurus’ footprints in the grass.

To hear more stories about Oxford’s animals and their human friends, why not come on a tour with one of Oxford’s Best Guides?

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Our guides are experts in various fields, from history and architecture to literature and culture.

Guy Collins
Oxford is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world, and I would be delighted to show you round and introduce you to the fascinating cast of characters that have shaped its development. My walks cover...
Verity Tiff
Following a career in Science Education working, with all age groups from reception to adults, including children and young adults with Special Educational Needs I trained as a Blue Badge Guide for the Heart of England...
Jamie Graham
I enjoy listening to what’s wanted and then delivering my tours with stories, knowledge, humour and in a light hearted way. My experience in the past 5 years includes walking tours of Oxford, lectures, guiding tours...
Nic Linton
Hello. I moved back to ‘the city of dreaming spires’ ten years ago, after twenty years of organising tours throughout China. My international experience means that I am comfortable guiding in English at all levels,...
Vicky Bailey
I've been leading tours for almost 20 years as a very enthusiastic London Blue Badge and now Oxford Green Badge Guide! I'm a real history buff and have written a short book on the kings and queens of this country....
Magnus Macfarlane
Each tour for each guest is very special. I aim at being engaging, entertaining, interactive and stimulating. What previous guests say "magnificent in every way" "He has deep insights"  "Oxford comes alive with his...
David Crosby
Let me take you on an entertaining, fun, and informative walking tour in the historic heart of Oxford. I have a passion for storytelling and will give you the inside story on the university and town’s traditions and...
Sophie Duncan
I have an honours degree in history and art history from Oxford Polytechnic and after a career organising tours of the French Languedoc I am back in Oxford and still passionate about history. My tours are insightful...
Elizabeth Hudson Evans
I have been working as a professional Guide in Oxford for 11years. I was born and brought up in Scotland. Previously I was an actress working mostly in the theatre, including London's West End, but gave it up to bring...
Rob Walters
I have been showing people around Oxford for a good while now and I actually live in the centre of this city that I love. I like all of my tours to be interactive and fun, yet full of interesting facts. You can see...
Bella Henman
I graduated in History and History of Art and worked in publishing before training to become a guide in 2012. I loved learning about the fascinating City and University of Oxford and exploring the beautiful Colleges...
Sean Callery
Hello! I have lived in the beautiful Cotswolds for 30 years and I love sharing its stories and sights. I used to write children’s books [search on Amazon for my 60+ publications] and I’m an ex-teacher. I love finding...
Christine Bainbridge
Let me be your guide through the history of the city and its university, exploring it through the eyes of an astonishing cast of characters from times gone by. Each tour will view the iconic buildings of Oxford’s...
Jess Worth
I will help you make the most of your time in Oxford! I've lived here for over 25 years and as an award-winning Green Badge Oxford tour guide, I love sharing my enthusiasm for our stunning city's history, culture...
Lucy Rundle
Hello and welcome! Born and brought up in Oxford, I have a deep-rooted connection to this historic city, and a passion for creating unique and engaging tours. It wasn’t until I returned to Oxford, after a stint abroad...
Erica Kendall
I love taking visitors and residents round this fabulous city. My tours are lively, entertaining and full of fascinating detail and anecdote. History and architecture are my specialisms and I can tailor a tour to...
Peter Woodman
Greetings! I'm Peter, your personal guide to the fascinating world of Oxford. With more than 10 years’ experience leading tours across the UK & Ireland, I'm an expert at connecting with people of all ages and...
Sally Jenkins
I studied Modern Languages at Cambridge University, then moved to Oxford, where I trained as a Blue Badge Guide. I have been guiding in this lovely city for many years, and also work as a tour manager overseas. I...
Kate Billimore
I enjoy leading general tours around the city, as well as offering specialist tours in Science, Film Sites, the Downton Abbey Era, Basic English, Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland. I am also a trainer of tour guides,...
Genny Ramirez
My walks weave together the threads that make Oxford unique, from History, politics and wizardry, to science, music and gardens. Together, we'll explore grand university buildings, quiet lanes and secret passages....
Anne Roberts
I have a passion and talent for storytelling, and I really enjoy sharing Oxford’s exciting history and traditions with visitors of all ages. I will give you the true stories, rumours and gossip on the university’s...
Hannah Field
I was born and grew up in Oxford. Having travelled the world, I returned home and that’s when my passion for this city really blossomed. I realised how lucky I am to live here so I wanted to share my city with other...
Jane Mead
I love showing visitors this amazing city and bringing it alive with stories of the many individuals past & present, real & fictional, who have strolled around its streets, colleges, and quads. I specialise...
Sara Fletcher
I am an historian with a passion for the stories of people past and present. My love of Oxford began when I studied at Brasenose College, one of the 39 University colleges. I enjoy spending time here; staying on my...
Victoria Bentata Azaz
A graduate of both Oxford’s universities with degrees in Modern Languages and in History I give both general introductory tours of the City and University and specialist tours. My particular interests are in Literature,...
Martyn Sené
I first came to Oxford as a student and was seduced by this wonderful city; one of the great historic cities of the world. I have lived locally for all but a few years since I graduated. After a career in scientific...
Sandra Bingham
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Alastair Lack
I was an undergraduate at University College Oxford where I read history.  I then had a career at the BBC, mainly working for the World Service.  My wife and I moved to Oxford in 2001 when I became Head of Oxford...
Ian Mitchell
On retiring from lecturing at Oxford Brookes University I took history courses at Oxford University and qualified as a Bodleian and Green Badge Guide. I love the fascinating history and glorious beauty of Oxford....
Guy Fairbank
History fanatic and a bit of an actor, I’ve been a tour guide since 2015. As well as having the pleasure of taking you around the delights of Oxford I’m also a London Blue Badge Guide based in London, so I can help...
Rebecca White
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Brian Lowe
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Iain Stevenson
I was a student here, I read Modern Languages at Jesus College, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree (BA), then my MA, Master of Arts. I was at school in Oxford too, and I live in the centre, truly a local. My...
Bryan Hartley
I first fell in love with Oxford when I was a student here and it has been home for 35 years. It’s a privilege to share my city with visitors from both near and far. I aim to make my tours flexible, informative and...
Isabella Underhill
My family roots in Oxford and Oxfordshire go back several generations. I arrived in the city as a child; my mother’s family came to farm in the late 19th century. I spent much of my childhood living first in the city...
Joanna Hamilton
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Lucy Gasson
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Susannah Sallé
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William Underhill
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Ben Lawson
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Felicity Lewington
I aim to provide “light bulb” moments of “I didn’t know that”! My tours are a mixture of fun contemporary facts, plus the fascinating history of the ancient city of Oxford. I am flexible, and tailor make my tours...
Steve Roth
A former journalist, I've spent my life telling stories. I love history; embrace the bizarre; thrill to tales of adventure; and am particularly fond of myths and legends. An experienced Oxford guide, with a friendly,...
Susanne Addis
Oxford has been my home of choice for nearly 25 years and I have been a Guide since 2015. My excitement and love for all things Oxford comes to life during my walking tours. I am bilingual English/German and hold...
Tabby Lucas
I was born and grew up in Oxford and my family roots in the city date back over 100 years. It would be a pleasure to share with you my love of this beautiful university city by designing a tour specially tailored...
Isobel Lewis
I have worked in travel for over 30 years and have a great passion for history, culture and fun. I enjoy entertaining guests with the history but also stories and anecdotes about the people and places that make Oxford...
Jess Baudet
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Arabella Campbell
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