Lewis Carroll

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Wonderland was the creation of Lewis Carroll who spent 26 years lecturing at Christ Church, Oxford. Whilst there he formed a close friendship with the Dean and his children – one of whom was called Alice. The tale began on a summer’s afternoon on the River Thames in 1862. For a perfect day, take a picnic, hire a rowing boat from Salter’s Steamers by Folly Bridge and set off in Carroll’s wake to Godstow, some three miles upriver (if you’d rather walk then there’s a riverside footpath).

Christ Church itself is the best place to begin exploring Alice’s Oxford. By contacting the Head Custodian you can book an Alice tour. Learn who the White Rabbit really was, and why he was always late; meet the Jabberwocky; see the tree where the Cheshire Cat sat; and discover Alice's special door to Wonderland. Stained glass in the Great Hall features characters from the books, and there’s also a portrait of Lewis Carroll. Or join a Blackwell Walking Tour which covers key locations. The Museum of Oxford has Alice memorabilia, and you must pop into Alice’s Shop, the original Old Sheep Shop from Through the Looking-Glass – it sells “all manner of curious things”. Follow Carroll’s trail to Guildford, Surrey (there are two Alice statues) – and for sheer fun head to Adventure Wonderland at (appropriately!) Christchurch, Dorset.

But where is the Cheshire Cat? He may be in All Saints Church, Daresbury, or perhaps Ripon Cathedral, North Yorkshire. Or he may simply have slowly vanished…