The gorgeous city of Oxford draws in academics and tourists alike for visiting Oxford colleges, exploring the city’s cobbled streets, and enjoying its hallowed halls of learning. With over 40 colleges and Permanent Private Halls as part of the University of Oxford, there are plenty of beautiful and unique buildings and grounds to explore while in this university town. But with so many options, how do you know which are the best colleges to visit in Oxford?
While there are many to choose from, there are several colleges that you should definitely make sure to see during your time in this city! Some of these colleges require a fee to enter; others are free to visit. But regardless of cost, seeing the colleges of Oxford will be an experience you will never forget. Here are some of the most beautiful Oxford colleges to visit!
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12 of the Best Colleges to Visit in Oxford
1. Christ Church College
When visiting Oxford, seeing Christ Church College should definitely be at the top of your list! It is one of the best Oxford colleges to visit (and is definitely on the list of the most fun things to do in Oxford if you have kids with you!)
Besides being one of the grandest colleges at Oxford, Christ Church is as close as you’ll get to a real-life Hogwarts and was used as a filming site for the Harry Potter movies. Of particular note is the dining hall (which inspired the Hogwarts dining hall) and the entrance to the dining area (which is where Professor McGonagall met the first years in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone).
But of course Harry Potter isn’t the only literary connection here; long before Harry Potter even existed, a man called Charles Dodgson called Christ Church his home. You may recognize his pen name, Lewis Carroll, and you will certainly recognize his most famous work—Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. While this is certainly a work of imaginative fiction, after exploring Oxford you will discover that echoes of Oxford infiltrate every corner of Alice’s adventures.
Yet even if you aren’t a literary fan, you will still stand in awe of Christ Church’s splendor. Wander and explore the grounds for a small fee, or attend Evensong in the beautiful cathedral for free…either way, this college will leave you with a sense of wonder!
Opening Times | Ticket Information | Cathedral Schedule | Location
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2. Exeter College
On Turl Street you will find Exeter College—the fourth oldest college at Oxford University—which was established in 1314 by Walter de Stapledon. Like most colleges here it was originally intended for religious purposes and educating clergymen.
This college provides excellent views of the nearby Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian Library…and has a lovely chapel with stained-glass windows that wrap around the walls. You won’t want to miss these views—and bonus, this is a free college to enter!
Exeter is also a special college because of its literary alumni, including J.R.R. Tolkien and Philip Pullman—both authors whose books are closely tied to the world of Oxford. If you’re interested in learning more about the literary world of Oxford, this college is a good place to start.
Opening Times & FREE entry | Chapel Schedule | Location
3. Trinity College
This college, founded in the sixteenth century, originally chose its location because of its rural setting. Now, ironically, Trinity stands in the heart of Oxford’s city center.
Trinity has a lot of open space, but is a relatively small college when measured by student numbers. Their chapel is also unique with a beautiful scrolled floor that makes it stand out among the many chapels throughout Oxford.
Opening Times & Ticket Prices | Chapel Schedule | Location
4. Corpus Christi College
This college has one of the smallest student populations in Oxford, but it is still cute to see. If you are around in May you will want to come here for the biggest event of the Oxford year—the Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair. At this event, all the colleges across the university come together to race their tortoises (yes, many of the colleges keep tortoises as college pets!) If you’re interested, check out more about this exciting event alongside other amazing free things to do in Oxford!
Visitor Information & FREE entry | Chapel Schedule | Location
5. Magdalen College
When thinking of famous Oxford colleges, Magdalen is definitely high up on the list! It is one of the prettiest and most memorable colleges and is definitely worth a stop during your time here.
Like many of the colleges, Magdalen is well-represented by famous literary minds. In this case, the most famous author associated with Magdalen is C.S. Lewis.
Lewis lived and worked here, and Magdalen is also home to one of his favorite walks (Addison’s Walk) which he frequented with his friend J.R.R. Tolkien. A visit to Magdalen allows you to literally walk in the footsteps of these great authors!
Make sure to stop by the chapel, which contains many intricacies that are delightful to see. The wood-paneled dining hall is worth a stop as well. Students and fellows still dine in this hall today!
Although there is a small fee to enter, it is worth the money to get to see these beautiful grounds and explore in the footsteps of some literary greats!
Opening Times & Ticket Information | Chapel Schedule | Location
6. St. John’s College
St John’s takes the title for the wealthiest college in Oxford, and was officially founded in 1555. If you decide to visit this college, look out for the super symmetrical arches and quadrangles! St. John’s is free to visit and located close to the heart of Oxford, so you can stop by here easily during your time in the city center.
Opening Times & FREE entry | Chapel Schedule | Location
7. Merton College
Merton College was founded in 1264 and is one of the three oldest colleges at the university—and the first fully self-governing college. Interestingly, J.R.R. Tolkien taught here as a Professor of English Language and Literature during part of his Lord of the Rings period.
Another famous author and literary critic, T.S. Eliot, studied philosophy here as a graduate student. (And yes, he’s that T.S. Eliot whose poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats inspired the famous musical Cats!)
There is plenty to see and do here at this historic college, and many fascinating and famous alumni to remember as you walk the grounds!
Opening Times & Ticket Information | Chapel Schedule | Location
8. Balliol College
Another of the oldest colleges at Oxford, Balliol was founded around 1263 and can certainly hold its own with the other amazing colleges at this university!
Although John I de Balliol was the original founder, when he died in 1269 his widow Dervorguilla—an independently wealthy woman—continued setting up the college, writing the statutes, and giving a permanent endowment to assure this college’s legacy. This officially made her a co-founder of the college…and perhaps even a more important founder, as she clearly turned it into the college we know today!
Balliol has consistently shaped great minds and is a veritable treasure trove of famous alumni. Alumni range from the bible translator John Wycliffe, to the political economist Adam Smith, to romantic poets like Robert Browning and Gerard Manley Hopkins, to authors like Aldous Huxley, and countless Noble Prize winners, politicians, and ambassadors. (This is also the college of fictional detective Lord Peter Wimsey!) If you want to walk in the footsteps of people who have shaped our world, this is certainly one of the best places to do that!
Opening Times & Ticket Information | Chapel Schedule | Location
9. The Queen’s College
Queen’s College is imposing and impressive, and so worth a visit. The neoclassical architecture is a treat to see and some of the buildings inside were designed by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren.
Unlike the other colleges, this college requires members of the public to be accompanied by a guide from the Visitor Information Center. So make sure you set up an appointment ahead of time so you are not disappointed when you want to visit this beautiful place!
Visiting Information | Chapel Schedule | Location
10. Keble College
Keble is one of the colleges that feels larger because of its remarkable amount of space in the main quads. It is particularly distinctive because of its 1870s neo-gothic brick buildings that give it an almost gingerbread-house appearance.
This brick design has always been somewhat controversial, but it makes this college stand out as strikingly different from all the others in Oxford. The chapel is also exquisite, with its use of elaborate mosaics and tiled floors!
This college is located near the Natural History Museum and the Pitt Rivers Museum, so make it a priority to stop by here on your way to explore these amazing collections!
Opening Times & FREE entry | Chapel Schedule | Location
11. All Souls College
All Souls College is one of the most exclusive and wealthiest colleges at Oxford, and is a gorgeous place. It also has a really cool library that is only occasionally open to the public, but the quads and the chapel are usually open for visitors.
This college was founded in 1438 by King Henry VI of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time. Interestingly, All Souls has been a graduate college from its very beginning with only a few exceptions to accept undergraduates.
If you want to see this college, you’ll be delighted to learn it is free! So at least pop by while you visit the central attractions in Radcliffe Square.
Opening Times & FREE entry | Chapel Schedule | Location
12. Worcester College
Worcester College has extensive grounds and is a lovely place to visit if you need to get away from the main city for a bit. Sit by the large pond and watch the ducks swimming past, or wander along the paths. This is the perfect place to while away the day!
Famous Worcester alumni include Richard Adams, of Watership Down fame, as well as producer and screenwriter Russell T. Davies of the Doctor Who 2005 revival. Definitely stop by for a leisurely stroll during your time in Oxford!
Opening Times & FREE entry | Chapel Schedule | Location
Tips for Visiting Oxford Colleges
While these are my top picks for the best colleges in Oxford to visit, there are so many more that you could see! Brasenose College, New College, Hertford College, University College, Lady Margaret Hall…the list goes on and on.
Being prepared and having a plan for which colleges you want to see when you visit Oxford is very important. You can use the map links above with each of the colleges to help you navigate, or check out the University of Oxford’s searchable map.
It is also fun to take a free walking tour led by real Oxford students. These student tour guides know the ins and outs of the university workings, as well as lots of cool facts about the city and all the different colleges. Taking walking tours can be an excellent way to learn about the history of the university as a whole and about some of the colleges in particular!
While in Oxford, you may also want to attend evensong at one or more of the colleges. Evensong is a traditional evening church service and is held throughout the week at college chapels and cathedrals. These are free to attend—so check out the chapels linked with each college to decide where you want to participate!
Looking for a place to stay in Oxford? Check out these great options!
- The Old Bank – Best views of Oxford
- Macdonald Randolph Hotel – Elegance in the city center
- Malmaison Oxford – Unique stay (converted Victorian prison)
- Old Parsonage Hotel – Boutique/luxury stay near the city center
- Rewley House – Budget-friendly stay
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