Visit Oxford - Hardy's Christminster

Exploring Jude the Obscure – Marygreen and Christminster

All Day Coach Tour

Date: Sunday, 26th July 2026

Time: The coach leaves Top o Town car park at 8.30am, returning around 6.30pm.

Cost: £35 - THS Conference Ticket Holders

£40 - THS Members

£45 - Non-members

This coach tour is included in the 2026 THS Conference & Festival Programme

Priority booking for Full Conference Ticket Holders

Booking Open to others from 2nd June 2026 (Subject to availability)

Led by Dr Tony Fincham and Leonor-Jo Barnard, the first stop on this all-day coach trip is Fawley (Hardy’s Marygreen), where Jude lodges with his Great Aunt Drusilla.

Other stops include Farmer Troutham’s field and the location identified as the Brown House, with reference to their place in the opening phase of the novel.

The tour then proceeds to Oxford (Hardy’s Christminster). Beginning in Jericho, the group will visit St Barnabas Church and St Sepulchre’s Cemetery (Hardy’s Beersheba).

The tour will then move into central Oxford to identify sites associated with Jude’s experiences within the university environment that frame his attempts to enter academic life. It will also include the public house linked to his meeting with Arabella and the route of the Remembrance Day procession described in the novel.

Total walking distance in Oxford is approximately 5 miles but a shorter 3 mile option is offered, with free time in Oxford.

Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear.

Participants should bring a packed lunch.