Oxford is the city of ‘dreaming spires’ with a world wide reputation for learning.
It’s a collection of about 40 colleges, the oldest being University college founded in the 13th century. This has grown over time and now includes a few colleges founded in the past few years.
A visitor would need several days to visit all of them, plus other university buildings such as the Bodleian library – and probably wouldn’t want to visit some of the more modern ones anyway.
And so here is our guide to the 10 colleges and sites you should visit either as a brisk walk (if on a day trip) or a more leisurely explore on a longer visit.
1. Christ Church
If there’s one college that screams ‘Oxford’ it’s Christ Church.
Built by Cardinal Wolsey, a key advisor to Henry VIII, it has featured on several movies and TV shows, notably Brideshead Revisited and the recent Harry Potter: the Dining Hall scenes were filmed in the college’s ancient Hall.
It’s also one of the more tourist friendly colleges: be sure to have a leisurely stroll round Tom Quad, following in the footsteps of WH Auden, William Gladstone and Lewis Carroll who all studied here.
2. Magdalen College
Pronounced ‘Mor-da-lin’ this is one of the prettiest of the colleges. It even has its own deer park.
Be sure to take a stroll along Addison’s walk past the park, as Oscar Wilde, CS Lewis and the present British Prime Minister, David Cameron, would have done.
3. Bodleian Library
The ‘Bod’, as it is known, contains, by law, every book ever published in England.
It’s also a gorgeous place for present day students to work – all oxford students are members by right.
You can’t go in alone but there are several tours you can join. Just remember to be quiet…
4. Oriel College
A great example of one of the ‘small but old’ colleges such as University College and the Turl Street colleges.
5. Turl Street Colleges: Jesus, Exeter and Lincoln
I’ve grouped these together as they are small, very close and can be visited quite easily together.
Turl Street runs between the High Street and Broad Street – the two main thoroughfares – and so is easy to visit.
6. Covered Market
This isn’t anything to do with the University, but is a lovely nevertheless.
The covered market off the High Street contains every time of butcher, baker an