get ready for Alice's day

During the week beginning 5th July, Radio Oxford plan to conduct some interviews with Oxfordshire people to find out what Alice means to them. Tune in during the afternoons to hear their connections with Lewis Carroll and Wonderland.

On Tuesday 6th July at 7pm, Blackwell Bookshop will be hosting an Alice Panel Discussion during which a number of writers will offer different perspectives on Alice and her Wonderland. Tickets £2.

Monday 4 July

6pm Alice in Waterland talk

An illustrated talk by local historian and writer Mark Davies on the all-important role of the River Thames in the creation of Lewis Carroll's two Alice books. From Godstow (where the story began on a boat trip on 4 July 1862) downstream to Nuneham (at the southerly extent of the river outings taken by Carroll and the real Alice), the river reveals much about the people, incidents and places which underlie the imaginative fantasy of this most famous of children's stories. Tickets £6 from Oxford Preservation Trust 01865 242918 www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk

Saturday 4 July

5pm Waterland Walk FREE

Local historian and guide Mark Davies will expand on the information from his book Alice in Waterland (which traces the all-important role of the River Thames in the creation of the two 'Alice' books) during a 60 - 90 minute walk to Iffley/Binsey, where food will be available/activity will take place. Meet at the Botanic Gardens at 5pm? Pre-booking essential.

River pilgrimage walk FREE
A 90-minute, 2-mile upstream pilgrimage following the route of the famous rowing trip of 4 July 1862 towards Godstow, where the phenomenon of ‘Alice’ had its birth. Starting near the site of the original ancient ‘Oxenford’, the river towpath passes remnants of Oxford’s industrial past, before a largely rural route encompasses a river lock, the site of Osney Abbey (inspiration for one of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales), and a Victorian bathing spot near the junction with the Oxford Canal. This is followed by the extraordinary expanse of Port Meadow, where lies the hamlet of Binsey (and The Perch Inn), where the walk ends.  Binsey’s diminutive church and ’treacle well’ - the destination, like Osney and Godstow, of countless pilgrims of the past – is a short distance away; guidance is unnecessary, but can be arranged if desired.

This tour will leave from outside Alice's Shop at St Aldates at 7pm on 9th July to reach The Perch, Binsey in time for their evening screening of Alice in Wonderland.

9pm If you haven't managed to catch up with Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, we hope this film will be shown at The Perch Inn, Binsey.

Plan your Alice's day, pack your picnic and get your fancy dress at the ready!