Oxford University & Colleges, Oxford

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This college, founded in 1438, is unique in Oxford: It is a highly esteemed academic rsearch institute which does not admit undergraduate students.

The college facade dates from the 1440s. In the front quad the highlight is the beautiful 17th century sundial designed by Christopher Wren.

The Great Quad offers a good view of the nearby Radcliffe Camera, it is surrounded by spires and is dominated by twin towers designed in 1710. If the college is closed to visits when you arrive, you can peek through the gates on Catte Street and admire these pseudo-Gothic towers and the Great Quad.

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Worcester College was a pleasant surprise. It is a little less discovered because it is further from the city centre (but not far from the railway station). Despite this, it is rich in history, has beautiful buildings, large tranquil gardens by the Oxford canal and, importantly, is open every day and FREE to enter!

Worcester College began as Gloucester College in 1283, easily making it one of Oxford's oldest colleges. It was dissolved by King Henry VIII and later bought by a wealthy local tailor, Thomas White. Unfortunately the college continued to decline until it received a masive bequest, of £10,000 from a wealthy baronet, Sir Thomas Cookes, who hailed from Worcestershire. The college was renamed Worcester College in 1714.

The college has a marvellous walled garden which has, on one side, some of the original 13th century buildings. From here you can walk through the grounds, around a large lake which is fed by the next-door canal.

Don't forget to visit the incredibly colourful chapel. When we visited (on a Sunday) one of the students was playing the organ here. The chapel is a 'recent' addition, completed in 1791. During the 1860's the interior was decorated by the flamboyant architect, William Burges (who was rumoured to sometimes design under the influence of hallucinatory drugs!).

Open 2pm to 5pm every day.

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We visited this beautiful college as part of a walking tour of Oxford.
Its architecture is outstanding, even by Oxford standards, and has won awards. The gardens are extensive and beautifully laid out, and were probably at their best during our visit in the spring.

St John's was founded in 1555 by Sir Thomas White, a wealthy London merchant and Lord Maor of London. He was a Roman Cathoic, and originally intended the college to turn out well educated clerics to support the Counter-Reformation.

Today it is one of Oxford's largest and richest colleges, is considered to be one of the most successful academically, and has students from various backgrounds. It has a reputation of providing a "lively, stimulating and supportive atmosphere" to its students. Tony Blair is among the many distinguished graduates.

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Merton is the third oldest college in Oxford, founded in 1264 and named after Walter de Merton, chancellor to both Henry III and Edward I. Merton acquired land around the old parish of St John's - by 1290 the old church had been replaced by the present chapel of the college and which stands proudly at the front quadrant of the grounds directly onto the street. A number of the buildings in the college are 14/15th century and, in the garden, the southeastern corner of the old walls of the city are incorporated.

Merton was placed 3rd in the academic rankings of the 30 colleges of Oxford University.

Alumni include:
Theologian John Wycliffe; Sir Max Beerbohm; Lord Randolph Churchill; athlete Roger Bannister; TS Eliot; actor Kris Kristofferson; HIH Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan; Tolkein

Open: Monday - Friday, 2-5pm: Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
Entry fee: £2

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Informally known as The Bod, The Bodleian Library was opened in 1602 by Thomas Bodley with 2,000 books. Nowadays, every copyrighted book must be lodged with The Bod - resulting in a collection of more than 9 million items and 176 kilometres of shelving.

Bodley was a former diplomat in the court of Elizabeth I and by the time of his death in 1613 an extension to the original 1488 building and the quadrangle we see today began. In addition to books, the Library began housing manuscripts, thus attracting academics from throughout Europe.

A purely research library, The Bod does not allow the borrowing of books (based on the fact that the original collection from the 14th and 15th century were 'dispersed' in 1550 by agents of King Edward VI in rooting out any traces of catholicism). King Charles I was famously refused permission to borrow books in 1645.

The collection continued to grow, and the taking on of the Radcliffe Camera in 1860 considerably increased space but with the collection growing at 30,000 items per year, more and more space was required. Thus, with the building on the New Library (on Broad St) in the the 1930s enabled the Library to house its collection in much better conditions.

But its the old Bod that is the pull - and the quadrangle can be accessed free of charge (it lies behind the Sheldonian). But beyond that, payment must be made.

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday, 9am-4.30pm; Sunday 11am-5pm
There are various types of visits - from £1 per person to access the Divinity Room only through to 90 minute guided tours (£13).

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Another of those mouthfuls for its full name - The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford... All Souls for short!

Founded in 1438 by King Henry VI and his Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry Chichele. All Souls is completely different from the other colleges - no undergraduate study. All 'students' are automatically Fellows of the College - recent top achieving graduates from other colleges apply to All Souls for a Fellowship for up to 7 years (for which a stipend is paid). The applicants are faced with 'the hardest exam in the world' (The Guardian) to be accepted.

Past Fellows include:
Sir Isaiah Berlin, Lord Curzon, A.L.Rowse, Lawrence of Arabia

Open: 2-4pm daily
Entrance Free.

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Founded in 1555 by Sir Thomas Pope, a trusted privy counsellor of Queen Mary I, Trinity is one of the smaller colleges in terms of numbers but has extensive grounds in the centre of the city (entrance is on Broad St virtually opposite the Bodleian Library).

Full title of the college is The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope. Hardly surprising it is called Trinity for short!

It was positioned 23rd of 30 colleges in the 2010 academic rankings.

Famous alumni include:
Richard Burton; Cardinal Newman; William Pitt the Elder; playwright Terence Rattigan

Open: Monday-Friday, 10am-12 noon & 2-4pm; Saturday & Sunday, 2-4pm (term time):
Saturday-Sunday, 10am-12 noon, 2-4pm (vacation).
Admission: £1.50/75p

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Founded in 1341, The Queen's College is named after Queen Philippa of Hainault, wife of King Edward III. Unusual for an Oxford college, The Queen's is renowned for its 18th century buildings (as opposed to the usual Gothic) due to renovations and rebuilding of the time.

Of the 30 colleges that make up Oxford University, The Queen's was ranked 14th in the 2010 ratings.

Famed alumni include Tony Abbott (Head of the Liberal Party and Australia's current Leader of the Opposition): Rowan Atkinson; philosopher Jeremy Bentham; King Henry V; playwright Thomas Middleton; writer Oliver Sacks.

The Queen's can only be visited by appointment and with a Blue Badge Guide booked through the Tourist Office.