All Souls was founded in 1438 by Henry VI and Henry Chichele. The Statutes provided for the Warden and forty fellows - all to take Holy Orders, twenty-four to study arts, philosophy and theology, and sixteen to study civil or canon law. Today the College is primarily an academic research institution. The college is a bit of an oddity in Oxford as its members automatically become fellows, full members of the college governing body.

Opening Times
Oct-Apr: Mon-Fri 2pm-4pm Apr-Oct: Mon-Fri 2pm-4.30pm. Advance booking is required for groups of 6 or more.

Contact Details
Tel: 01865 279379

Address
High Street, OX1 4AL

Cost
None

Website
All Souls

One of the more attractive Oxford colleges, based at the heart of the University, Brasenose was founded in 1509 by Sir Richard Sutton, a lawyer, and William Smyth, a Bishop of Licoln. Brasenose was built on the site of Brasenose Hall, a medaevil lodging house that grew into a seat of learning. Brasenose features as Lonsdale College in the Inspector Morse novels and TV adaptations, as well as Brazenface College in the Cuthbert Bede comic novel of the 19th century, Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman.

Interesting Facts
Brasenose College was used in the TV adaptation of Inspector Morse to represent the fictional Lonsdale College. Lonsdale College was created by author Colin Dexter and featured in several of his novels, The Riddle of the Third Mile and Death is Now My Neighbour.

Opening Times
Daily 10am-11.30am (tour groups only), 2pm-4.30pm (until 5pm in summer)

Contact Details
Tel: 01865 277830

Address
Radcliffe Square, OX1 4AJ

Cost
Individuals £1, group charge varies according to size (contact the college for details)

Website
Brasenose College

One of the more attractive Oxford colleges, boasting some truly stunning works of architecture. The college was also the location for the Harry Potter films, a must see for all Harry Potter fans, and home to author Lewis Caroll in his student days. Christ Church, founded in 1546, appears to be one of the more aristocratic colleges, producing thirteen British Prime Ministers, more than any other college in Oxford or Cambridge college. Christ Church is also the only college in England that is also a cathedral, which also boasts the world famous Christ Church choir.

Opening Times
Every day except Christmas Day, Mon to Sat 9am to 5.30pm, Sun 1pm to 5.30pm Last admittance 4.30 Christ Church Cathedral closes at 5pm, for special services see church website. Large parties may be split. Advanced booking is not required, except for special behind the scenes tours, for which an additional fee is payable.

Contact Details


Address
St Aldates, OX1 1DP

Cost
4.50 adult, 3.50 seniors, student, children

Website
Christ Church

Magdalen College is one of the more beautiful University colleges, boasting a stunning deer park and extensive grounds. The college was founded in 1458, and is currently one of the wealthiest of the Oxford colleges, boasting a financial endowment of about £ 115 million. Standing next to the river Cherwell and containing a deer park, the college is one of the most visited. The large, square Magdalen Tower is a famous Oxford Landmark from the top of which the college choir traditionally sings early on May Morning. While the choir sing, students will often be seen launching themselves off the Magdalen Bridge into the river Cherwell in drunken celebration of May Day.

Interesting Facts
Bertie Wooster, the hilarious fictional character created by P. G. Wodehouse, was educated at Magdalen College, although P. G. Wodehouse himself was never university educated.

Opening Times
Open 1 Oct to 21 Jun: 1pm to 6pm or dusk (whichever is the earlier). Then open from 25 June to 30 Sept: 12 noon to 6pm.

Contact Details
Tel: 01865 276000

Address
High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AU

Cost
Adults £3; seniors, children, students £2 (includes leaflet, available in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, Italian or Russian). Entry is free to Oxford residents.

Website
Magdalen College

Trinity College is one of the smaller Oxford colleges in terms of student numbers, but it occupies an exceptionally spacious site with some of the most beautiful gardens and buildings in Oxford. Trinitys buildings also have many notable features. On the top of the West Tower sit four female statues, which represent Astronomy, Geometry, Medicine, and Theology. The Chapel, though relatively modest in size compared to some of its Oxford counterparts, is also of particular note, being the first College chapel to be designed entirely in the neoclassical style. The noted architect Sir Christopher Wren is said to have assisted in its design.

Interesting Facts
Trinity College was not always there. The building actually stands on the site of a former college founded in 1286.

Opening Times
Mon-Fri 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm Sat-Sun in term 2pm-4pm, Sat-Sun in vacation 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm. Groups of more than 25 must be accompanied by a guide

Contact Details
Tel: 01865 279900

Address
Trinity College, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BH

Cost
£1.50 adults, 75p seniors, children (includes booklet)

Website
Trinity College

Wadham College was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I in 1610. Although it is one of the youngest of the historic colleges, Wadham has some of the oldest and best preserved buildings, a result of the rash of rebuilding that occurred throughout Oxford during the 17th century. Wadhams front quad, which served as almost the entire college until the mid 20th century, is the first example of the Jacobean Gothic style that was adopted for many of the Universitys buildings. A dramatic expansion since 1952 has made use of a range of 17th and 18th century houses, a converted warehouse originally built to store bibles, and several modern buildings designed by Gillespie, Kidd and Coia and McCormac Jamieson Prichard. It also includes the Holywell Music Room, the oldest such building in Europe. Under the original statutes, women were forbidden from entering the college, with the exception of a laundress who was to be of such age, condition, and reputation as to be above suspicion. These rules were relaxed over the years, and in 1974 they were altered to allow for the admission of women as full members of college at all levels. In fact, Wadham was the first historically all male college to have a female student.

Opening Times
Term time 1pm-4.15pm, vacation 10.30am-11.45am, 1pm-4.15pm. Groups must book in advance and be accompanied by a guide.

Contact Details
Tel: 01865 277900

Address
Parks Road, OX1 3PN

Cost
None

Website
Wadham College