College sights in Oxford
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All Souls College
One of the wealthiest of Oxford's colleges and unique in not accepting undergraduate students, All Souls is primarily an academic research institution. It was founded in 1438 as a centre of prayer and learning, and today fellowship of the college is one of the highest academic honours in the country. Each year, the university's top finalists are invited to sit a fellowship exam, with an average of only two making the grade annually.
Much of the college facade dates from the 1440s and, unlike other older colleges, the front quad is largely unchanged in five centuries. It also contains a beautiful 17th-century sundial designed by Christopher Wren. Most obvious, though, are t…
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Christ Church College
The largest and grandest of all of Oxford's colleges, Christ Church is also its most popular. The magnificent buildings, illustrious history and latter-day fame as a location for the Harry Potter films have tourists coming in droves.
The college was founded in 1525 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who suppressed 22 monasteries to acquire the funds for his lavish building project. Over the years numerous luminaries have been educated here, including Albert Einstein, philosopher John Locke, poet WH Auden, Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and 13 British prime ministers.
The main entrance is below the imposing Tom Tower, the upper part of which was designed by former student Sir Chris…
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Magdalen College
Set amid 40 hectares of lawns, woodlands, river walks and deer park, Magdalen (mawd-len) is one of the wealthiest and most beautiful of Oxford's colleges.
An elegant Victorian gateway leads into a medieval chapel, with its glorious 15th- century tower, and on to the remarkable cloisters, some of the finest in Oxford. The strange gargoyles and carved figures here are said to have inspired CS Lewis' stone statues in The Chronicles of Narnia. Behind the cloisters, the lovely Addison's Walk leads through the grounds and along the banks of the River Cherwell for just under a mile.
Magdalen has a reputation as an artistic college, and some of its most famous students and fellow…
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New College
From the Bodleian, stroll under the Bridge of Sighs, a 1914 copy of the famous bridge in Venice, to New College. This 14th-century college was the first in Oxford for undergraduates and is a fine example of the glorious Perpendicular style. The chapel here is full of treasures, including superb stained glass, much of it original, and Sir Jacob Epstein's disturbing statue of Lazarus.
During term time, visitors may attend the beautiful Evensong, a choral church service held nightly at 6pm. Access for visitors is through the New College Lane gate from Easter to early October, and through the Holywell St entrance the rest of the year.
William Spooner was once a college warden h…
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Merton College
From the High St, follow the wonderfully named Logic Lane to Merton College, one of Oxford's original three colleges. Founded in 1264, Merton was the first to adopt collegiate planning, bringing scholars and tutors together into a formal community and providing a planned residence for them. The charming 14th-century Mob Quad was the first of the college quads.
Just off the quad is a 13th-century chapel and the Old Library (admission on guided tour only), the oldest medieval library in use. It is said that Tolkien spent many hours here writing The Lord of the Rings. Other literary giants associated with the college include TS Eliot and Louis MacNeice.
During the summer month…
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Trinity College
This small 16th-century college is worth a visit to see its exquisitely carved chapel, one of the most beautiful in the city, and the lovely garden quad designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
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St Edmund Hall
St Edmund Hall is the sole survivor of the original medieval halls, the teaching institutions that preceded colleges in Oxford. The Mohawk chief Oronhyatekha studied here in 1862 (and eloped with the principal's daughter) but it is best known for its small chapel decorated by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones.
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Exeter College
Exeter is known for its elaborate 17th-century dining hall and ornate Victorian Gothic chapel housing The Adoration of the Magi, a William Morris tapestry.
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Corpus Christi College
Reputedly the friendliest and most liberal of Oxford's colleges, Corpus Christi is small but strikingly beautiful. The pelican sundial in the front quad calculates the time by the sun and the moon, although it is always five minutes fast.
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Brasenose College
Small and select, this elegant 16th-century place is truly charming. Look out for the door-knocker above the high table in the dining hall – and ask about its fascinating history.
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