OXFORD welcomes millions of tourists a year, but these free tours are being offered so that locals do not miss the opportunity to learn and experience their city.

Tours will be held this Thursday by Experience Oxfordshire - the county's tourism board - and Oxford Official Walking Tours to mark International Day of the Tourist Guide.

These tours will offer residents the chance to discover the story of the buildings they walk past every day.

Starting at 10.30am and 1.30pm from the Visitor Information Centre in Broad St, tours will include iconic sites such as Radcliffe Square and the Bridge of Sighs.

Oxford Official Walking Tours, part of Experience Oxfordshire, work exclusively with the Guild of Guides, to provide high-quality professional tours.

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Guild guides undergo year-long training, followed by written and practical tests on their knowledge of Oxford, in order to win the right to wear a green badge and sign their name into the guide book, kept in Oxford City Hall.

Hayley Beer-Gamage, Chief Executive of Experience Oxfordshire, said: “We are delighted to be offering free tours to Oxfordshire residents to celebrate the International Day of the Tourist Guide. Oxford’s rich history and heritage is for everyone – residents and visitors alike – and the free tours are a great way for local people to spend an hour exploring their city with our professionally trained tour guides”.

Oxford Official Walking Tours limit tour groups to 19 people per tour to ease congestion in the city, so places on the free tours on February 21 are limited.

To sign up, go to eventbrite.co.uk.