The Kilns (C S Lewis House) — Attraction in Oxford

Visiting The Kilns was absolutely worth every penny. As a longtime fan of C. S. Lewis, it was incredibly special to step inside the home where so much of his work came to life. Our guide, James, was both funny and informative. He brought Lewis’s world to life with great insight and humour, and it never felt like just a dry history tour. The house is beautifully preserved, and walking through the rooms where Lewis actually lived and wrote was unforgettable. Highly recommended for any literature or Narnia fan!

We were told that some rooms may be unavailable during tours because students currently live in the house. These areas can’t be accessed at those times, which may slightly affect the overall experience (but it also adds to the sense that the house is still alive and meaningful today).

I also highly recommend visiting Holy Trinity Church, about a 15-minute walk from the house. It’s where Lewis worshipped and is now buried. The grave is well marked, and the people in the church are incredibly welcoming. Each Tuesday (as of July 2025), they host a community café and even offered us a free coffee or tea. It was amazing to see their...

The Kilns private tour was a really intimate look into the life of C.S. Lewis. It was a very simple tour of the house, and took about an hour to complete. Our guide did a great job of helping us understand more of C.S. Lewis’ personality during his life, and was very kind and knowledgeable. C.S. Lewis (or Jack as he liked to be called!) truly was a sharp witted and extremely generous and kind man, as evidenced in much of the information shared on the tour.

Booking: You have to send an email to book this tour, there is no website booking for the Kilns. Email them with plenty of time in advance - a month of more - just to ensure your spot. And once you have a spot, I suggest arriving an hour early and walking the Nature Reserve dedicated to Lewis - it is right next to The Kilns.

And perhaps after the tour - about a 5 minute drive from the house is the chapel that C.S. Lewis attended for 30 years, as well as his and his brother’s grave, to pay your respects.

Overall a very lovely tour and day, and I highly recommend for anyone who...

Visiting The Kilns was a bucket list moment for any C.S. Lewis fan. The tour offers a rare and meaningful look into the everyday life of one of the greatest literary and theological minds of the 20th century. It’s a small, humble house—but standing in Lewis’s study or walking the grounds where he once reflected and wrote makes it deeply personal and moving.

The home is still a working residence for scholars studying at Oxford, which adds to the lived-in feel. It’s clear the foundation does the heavy lifting to maintain it, and you can’t help but wish the Lewis (Gresham) estate would invest more in preserving this important piece of literary history.

Our guide was kind, well-informed, and passionate about Lewis’s life and legacy. Highly recommended for anyone who has been shaped by his work—you will walk away with a greater sense of...