Join a tour that dissects the long history of medical research and practice in Oxford!
The history of medicine is always a bit uncomfortable. This tour walks you through medical history in the city from medieval plagues, to the founding of the medical school, and the first trials of penicillin. Far from a straightforward linear progression, Oxford’s medical history is a complicated conversation about health equity, medical ethics, and continued clashes over the control of the body.
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.
Private Tour (up to 15 people)
The tour begins under the fmaous Bridge of Sighs, providing an overview of medieval geography and how it impacted disease in the city.
The first stop is outside medieval New College, for a discussion of plague and historical epidemics.
Enter the heart of the old libraries to learn about anatomical dissections and the early study of medicine in the University.
You will make your own way to the meeting points