Museum of Oxford Walks: Oxford and the First Men and Women to Fly

This totally unique 90-minute historical walking tour will treat you to an entertaining part of Oxford’s history that is rarely mentioned on traditional walking tours. Walking through city centre locations including Christ Church Meadow and Oxford High Street, you will see the history of the first ever aerial flight by an English man, James Sadler, come to life in the green spaces and bustling streets of Oxford city centre, almost 240 years to the day that Sadler took flight.

Sadler’s fascinating story – one time pastry cook, naval chemist, laboratory technician and hot-air balloonist – will be revealed as you tour locations in the city associated with his eventful life. Find out how this ‘King of All Balloons’, who designed engines, guns and ‘Philosophical Fireworks’, was disparaged by Oxford University academics and ultimately died impoverished.

You will also discover the story of the first English woman ever to fly and the first British woman to fly solo, Margaret Graham. Find out about her hot-air balloon flight from Oxford and the many ballooning accidents she was involved in across her colourful career.

As part of the tour, you will see: Christ Church Meadow; the sites of famous experiments by Sadler; a view into the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, the site of the first manned balloon launches; Sadler’s family pastry shop on the High Street; Sadler’s final resting place – plus more historic Oxford locations.

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.

Tickets cost £10 and are available to purchase online (booking fee applies) or at the Museum shop. Please note that this walk is suitable for ages 16+.

Please note that this tour does not include entrance into any University of Oxford buildings.

is James Sadler's biographer and an Oxford local historian, public speaker, and guide. His biography of James Sadler's life, King of All Balloons, was published in 2015, and is available to purchase from the Museum of Oxford Shop. His other publications include the social and cultural importance of the city’s waterways (A Towpath Walk in Oxford; Alice in Waterland; Alice’s Oxford on Foot; What a Liberty!) and historical crime (Stories of Oxford Castle; The Abingdon Waterturnpike M**der). Until 2020 he had lived on an Oxford residential narrowboat for nearly 30 years, and is the Chair of the Jericho (Oxford) Living Heritage Trust. He is also a trustee of the Lewis Carroll Society, a member of the Society of Authors, and on the committee of the Alliance of Literary Societies.

Access at the Museum

The Museum is accessible for wheelchair users, buggies and baby carriers. There is step-free, level entry access to the Town Hall via the entrance closest to Carfax (to the left of the main steps as you face the Town Hall). Inside the Museum, Museum Makers is accessible via a platform lift and lift to the basement level. Accessible toilets are available in the Museum (close to Museum Makers) and in the Town Hall on the ground floor, before entering the Museum.

Please contact the Museum team if you'd like to talk to a member of staff about your access requirements. Further access information can be found on our website: https://museumofoxford.org/plan-your-visit/access

Host or Publisher Museum of Oxford