Adventure to Alice in Wonderland’s Oxford

There is a place like no place on Earth….. ~ The Mad Hatter

When Lewis Carroll (Rev. C.L. Dotson) penned the literary tales of a young girl named Alice and her fantastical adventure of following a white rabbit, I wonder if he ever imagined the story would become such a well-known treasure, much less Disney and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland in 3D. Alice was a real girl who was the daughter of the dean of Christ Church in Oxford while Carroll was a lecturer and mathematician. He made up stories for the then four year old Alice and her sisters.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass bring to life an imaginary world as seen through a child. Disney’s animated classic brought Mad Hatter tea parties and a grinning Cheshire cat to the attention of children worldwide. Now, the story continues in a new film that will entertain all ages.

At TravelingMamas.com we’re firm believers of entertaining the mind through reading, but with Disney and Tim Burton bringing this imaginary world back to the big screen, it just seems appropriate to tell you about where the story was created and how you can visit real places mentioned in this classic literary adventure.

The River Thames – Pack a picnic and enjoy lunch along the River Thames, just like Alice. Be sure to watch out for those rabbit holes as you enjoy a sunny afternoon. A cruise along the provides a wonderful scenic ride to Oxford.

Christ Church, Oxford – The Alice Tour is usually reserved for school groups, but with the release of Disney’s latest film, the cathedral may be getting an influx of summer travelers searching for Wonderland. Don’t just search for Alice, as this medieval cathedral has been around for more than 800 years and has so much more to offer. For group tour information visit Christ Church, Oxford Official Website.

Museum of Oxford – This museum houses memorabilia from the literary classic. There are rotating exhibits and a downloadable schedule for visitors.

Alice’s Shop – Did you know that the shop in Through the Looking Glass is real? The inspiration for Alice’s character, Alice Liddell, used to purchase her sweets at this business. Now it houses all kinds of Alice in Wonderland memorabilia for sale. The shop also arranges guided Alice tours throughout Oxford, led by a local historian for a set fee.

Of course, there are many other places that inspired Carroll or that have a tie to the storyline and/or characters, but these should provide a starting point when planning your own family adventure.

Here’s a featurette of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, bringing to life the imaginary world that Lewis Carroll created. I plan on watching the full-length film with my family now that it has been released. Have you visited any of the real places where Alice or Lewis Carroll walked?

Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Featurette