Hi, I’m Shane Sterling — a professional magician, expert Oxford tour guide and founder of Oxford Magic Walking Tours, recognised as one of Oxford’s leading walking tour experiences for its unique blend of history and live entertainment. We are proud to have been named Best New Tourism Business 2025 and to have received the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in both 2025 and 2026.

I have been fortunate to perform for many remarkable audiences, including members of the Royal Family, but one of my greatest passions is sharing the magic of Oxford itself. I have lived and worked in and around the city for more than 20 years and know it inside out. From hidden alleyways and ancient colleges to the traditions, characters and stories that make Oxford unlike anywhere else in the world, I love bringing its history to life in a way that is entertaining, memorable and accessible to everyone.

Alongside my work as a magician and tour guide, I have spent many years competing in judo for Team GB, of which I remain an active member. I am an 18-time national champion, a Commonwealth silver medallist and the recipient of an Oxford University Full Blue in Judo, the University’s highest sporting honour, awarded only under strict criteria. I also continue to help teach at Oxford University Judo Club, supporting and mentoring the next generation of student judoka.

Sport has shaped much of who I am. Judo has taught me discipline, resilience, humility and the importance of never giving up, qualities that I bring into every part of my life and business.

My competitive career was recently put on hold after I suffered a serious neck injury involving damage to a vertebra. For a time, I genuinely did not know whether I would ever be able to compete again. It was one of the toughest challenges I have faced, both physically and mentally.

However, setbacks do not define us. How we respond to them does.

As of July 2026, I am delighted to be back on the mat, carefully rebuilding my fitness and training once again. My goal is to represent Team GB at the 2027 European and World Judo Championships. It is a long road back, but I am embracing every step of the journey and looking forward to seeing where the next chapter takes me.

Most importantly, I am a husband and a dad. My amazing wife keeps everything running behind the scenes, while our two brilliant children make life full of wonder and just the right amount of chaos. They are my greatest motivation and biggest supporters.

We are incredibly proud to have earned hundreds of five-star reviews across Google, Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide, and we have had the privilege of welcoming guests from all over the world. Our guests have included members of the House of Lords, recipients of OBEs and MBEs, academics, celebrities, families and visitors experiencing Oxford for the very first time.

To everyone who has taken the time to leave us a review, thank you. Your kind words do not simply help our business  they mean the world to us as a small, independent family company.

When you book with Oxford Magic Walking Tours, you are not simply booking another walking tour. You are joining me on a journey through one of the world’s greatest university cities with someone who genuinely lives and breathes Oxford.

My aim is simple: to make sure you leave knowing more, laughing more and with memories that stay with you long after you return home.

Whether you are visiting for the history, the Harry Potter connections, the live magic or simply a fantastic day out, I cannot wait to welcome you to Oxford.