Visiting the Oxford Colleges
Oxford University is made up of 39 independent colleges spread across the city. Unlike a typical university campus, these colleges are woven into the fabric of the city itself, sitting alongside shops, pubs and ordinary streets. Many of them open their quadrangles, chapels and gardens to the public, giving visitors a chance to step inside some of the most historic academic buildings in the English-speaking world.
The level of access depends on the college. Some are open throughout the year with a modest entry fee, while others restrict access to certain hours or close during exam periods and other busy times. A few colleges are generally not open to casual visitors. Checking individual college websites before your visit is the best way to avoid disappointment.
Christ Church
Christ Church is Oxford's most visited college and the most famous. Its Great Hall, with its high hammer-beam ceiling and rows of portraits, inspired the Hogwarts dining hall in the Harry Potter films, though the actual filming used a studio replica. The college's Tom Tower, designed by Christopher Wren, is one of Oxford's most recognisable landmarks.
Christ Church also has its own cathedral, which doubles as the college chapel. It is the smallest cathedral in England and one of the oldest buildings in Oxford. The college's meadow, stretching down to the River Thames, is a peaceful open space that feels remarkably rural given its central location.
Entry to Christ Church requires a timed ticket, and it is one of the busier attractions in Oxford, so arriving early is advisable during peak season.
The Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest and most important libraries in Europe, and its buildings include some of the finest architecture in Oxford. The Divinity School, with its extraordinary fan-vaulted ceiling, is the oldest purpose-built university building in the city and has appeared in several Harry Potter films.
Guided tours take visitors through the Divinity School, the medieval Duke Humfrey's Library and sometimes the Radcliffe Camera, the iconic circular reading room that is one of the most photographed buildings in Oxford. Tours must be booked in advance and fill up quickly during summer.
Other Colleges Worth Visiting
New College, founded in 1379, has a beautiful cloister and a chapel with a striking modern sculpture by Jacob Epstein. Its medieval cloister was used as a filming location for Harry Potter. Magdalen College is known for its deer park and its bell tower, from which choristers sing at dawn on May Morning each year.
All Souls College is unusual in having no students, only fellows. Its twin towers and the Codrington Library are architecturally stunning, though access is limited. Merton College claims to be one of the oldest colleges and has a medieval library and a quiet, atmospheric quad.
Exeter College, Balliol College and University College are all centrally located and often open to visitors. Each has its own character and history, and wandering between them along the narrow lanes of the old city is one of the pleasures of visiting Oxford.
Practical Advice
The summer vacation from late June to September generally offers the widest access to colleges. During term time, particularly during the exam period from May to mid-June, many colleges close or severely restrict visitor access. Weekend mornings tend to be the busiest times.
A practical approach is to focus on two or three colleges rather than trying to see them all. Walk through the city centre to absorb the atmosphere and choose the colleges that interest you most. The views of the colleges from the surrounding streets, particularly from Radcliffe Square and the High Street, are impressive even without going inside.
