Museum of Oxford Walks: Beer, Sausages and Marmalade

Part of the Museum of Oxford Walks 2025 series.

This 90-minute Oxford city walking tour led by local historian Liz Woolley will take you on a tantalising trip through the quirky world of food and drink in 19th century Oxford.

From the ‘Celebrated Oxford Sausage’ to Frank Cooper’s famous ‘Oxford Marmalade’, Liz will expertly guide you through locations associated with Oxford’s unique food and drink heritage.

Find out how Oxford’s eponymous delicacies went hand-in-hand with the city’s growing importance as a desirable tourist destination as you visit sites including Morrell’s Lion Brewery, the 250-year old Covered Market and some iconic pubs.

You’ll also discover the city’s long history of malting and brewing, and how this important trade contributed to Oxford’s burgeoning industrial economy. Find out how the significant families which controlled these businesses influenced Oxford’s developing economic, social and political life.

Join a Beer, Sausages and Marmalade walking tour to see Oxford through the eyes of an expert and discover the unique food heritage embedded in the heart of Oxford.

As part of the tour, you will see: Frank Cooper’s Marmalade Factory, the old Swan Brewery malthouse, the street that was once described as a ‘dreadful sort of place’ – and more historic Oxford locations.

Tickets cost £15 and are available to purchase online (booking fee applies) or at the Museum shop.

Accessibility and further information

Meeting point: Museum of Oxford shop (located inside the Oxford Town Hall). Please arrive 5 minutes before the start of the walk and check in at the Museum Shop with our friendly front of house team.

The walk lasts 1.5 hours.

The itinerary includes cobbled streets, uneven surfaces and narrow pavements. The walk will go through Westgate Shopping Centre and down a flight of stairs to Castle Street; lift access is also available there. Please email museum@oxford.gov.uk if you would like to discuss any access requirements ahead of booking a walk.

Please note that this walk is recommended for ages 16+.

Meet your tour guide: Liz Woolley

Liz Woolley is a local historian specialising in the history of Oxford’s ‘town’ – as opposed to ‘gown’ – and of the everyday lives of ordinary working people, chiefly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Liz has lived in Oxford for forty years and has an MSc in English Local History from the University’s Department for Continuing Education. She is an experienced tour guide, speaker, tutor, researcher and writer, who enjoys helping people discover the perhaps less well-known history of Oxford and its citizens.