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Welcome to Worcester, a forward-looking college where everyone should feel welcomed, valued and respected.

Opening hours

Come to visit our wonderful grounds, discover seven centuries of history and experience Worcester College for yourself.

Since summer 2023, we have been piloting a self-guided tour and free public admission to our gardens and grounds. Following a review of the pilot, the College has decided to pause free public admission and the following arrangements will be in place until further notice.

Please note that, for all visitors, group sizes are limited to six people and only assistance dogs are allowed on site. Sometimes we need to close at short notice for events or College business: please check before you travel.

Visitor information

For prospective applicants.

You are welcome to visit free of charge between 12.30pm and 4pm seven days a week. Call in at the Porters’ Lodge to collect a prospectus when you arrive. If you have any questions about visiting or applying to Worcester, please get in touch with our admissions teams in advance at [email protected] or g [email protected] .

For Old Members

You are welcome to visit free of charge between 12.30pm and 4pm seven days a week. Ask for the Development Office in the Lodge during working hours and we’d love to catch up with you if we’re free. Alternatively, arrange something in advance by emailing [email protected] or calling 01865 288325. Why not pick up a tour leaflet or family trail in the Lodge if you’re visiting with friends or family?

Alumni events Map of memorial benches, trees & plaques

For local residents

Residents of OX1 and OX2 postcodes are welcome to visit free of charge between 12.30pm and 4pm seven days a week. There is no need to pre-book.

For tourists

Tourists are currently only able to visit Worcester on an official tour led by a member of the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides.

Oxford Guild of Tour Guides

Upcoming closures

No closures are currently planned.

Our location

Worcester College can be found on the junction of Beaumont Street, Walton Street and Worcester Street in the centre of Oxford. To find the main entrance, you can use the what3words code ///credit.rivers.echo

We’re about 10 minutes’ walk from Oxford train station, and across the road from the main bus and coach station at Gloucester Green. If you or one of your party needs a Blue Badge parking space, please contact the Porters’ Lodge ahead of time at [email protected] or on 01865 278300.

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Worcester College

A constituent college of the University of Oxford in England,  Worcester College was founded in 1714 by Sir Thomas Cookes, whose coat of arms the college adopted. Gloucester College existed on the same site from the late 13th century until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. Worcester has been coeducational since 1979.

What's the History of Worcester College?

Worcester College has been a coeducational college since 1979. It was founded as a men’s college in 1714 by the benefaction of  Sir Thomas Cookes , 2nd Baronet (1648-1701) of Norgrove, Worcestershire. Then, there were only sufficient funds to rebuild the Chapel, Hall and Library and the north side of the Front Quad, known as the Terrace. In 1736, Clarke generously left to the College his great collection of books and manuscripts.

The Buildings of Worcester College

Worcester College has a diverse range of buildings, including a row of medieval houses known as “the cottages” that are amongst the oldest in Oxford. 

The Chapel was built in the 18th century. Its benefactors included Dr George Clarke, Henry Keene and James Wyatt. The interior columns, the dome, and the foliage plastering are all Wyatt’s work. Between 1864 and 1866 the chapel was redecorated by William Burges . The chapel is highly unusual and decorative, predominantly pink, with pews decorated with carved animals (including kangaroos and whales!). The walls also have frescoes of dodos and peacocks. Oscar Wilde said of the Chapel, “ As a piece of simple decorative and beautiful art it is perfect, and the windows very artistic .” Worcester has not one, but two chapel choirs of equal status. They share out the weekly services between them.

A reduced design of that presented by William Burges was completed in 1877 and substantially altered in the early twentieth century. In 1966 Wyatt’s designs were restored using his original drawings .

Modern Buildings

New residential blocks for undergraduates and graduates were added in recent years. These include the Earl building, Sainsbury Building, Linbury Building, Canal Building, Ruskin Lane Building, the Franks Building, and the Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak Centre.

The Gardens

Because Worcester College was situated on the edge of the city in the eighteenth century, it has been able to retain very extensive gardens and contiguous playing fields. These gardens have won numerous awards.

What is it Like to Study at Worcester College, Oxford?

Every three years in June, the college hosts a  Commemoration Ball . Worcester College also holds a Formal Hall  every day of term except on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturday.

Before each meal, the College grace is recited by a scholar, or student studying a field related to Literae Humaniores. Every Hilary (spring) term on the Saturday of 4th Week, second-year members of the College celebrate ‘Midway’ to mark the point at which they are exactly halfway through their degree.

Worcester College is known for its sporting prowess, especially in football, cricket and hockey.

Where is Worcester College?

Worcester College is located on Worcester Street (OX1 2HB), Oxford. Tel 01865 278300.

Can you Visit Worcester College?

Yes, Worcester College is open to the public. 

• Open : Daily 14.00-16.00.
• Charge : Free.
• Groups : Maximum 6 people in a group; larger groups by appointment.

More Oxford University Colleges

A constituent college of the University of Oxford in England, Worcester College was founded in 1714 by Sir Thomas Cookes.

Wolfson College

Wolfson College is an all-graduate college affiliated with the University of Oxford in England, located near the River Cherwell.

Wadham College

Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. It is located in the centre of Oxford.

University College

University College (colloquially known as “Univ”) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England and possibly the oldest.

Trinity College

Trinity College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It was founded in 1555 by Sir Thomas Pope.

Visiting the Colleges

Things to do in oxford.

The Old Parsonage Hotel

The Old Parsonage Hotel is one of the best-ranked hotels in the city and dates back to the 17th century. Here’s how to visit.

The Randolph Hotel

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Westgate Oxford

Westgate Oxford has more than 100 stores featuring prestigious luxury brands and beloved high-street choices.

Barefoot Jericho

Barefoot offers homemade cakes, pastries and bread, delicious coffee for eat-in or takeaway in the neighbourhood of Jericho, in Oxford.

The Cake Shop

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Oxford Museums & Art Galleries

Antiques on High

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Aidan Meller Gallery

Aidan Meller Gallery is one of Oxford’s longest-established specialist art galleries. They showcase modern, contemporary and old masters.

Christ Church Picture Gallery

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Oxford Parks & Meadows

Shotover Country Park

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Prettiest Oxford Colleges To Visit, Prices + Map

Table of Contents

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Thinking of visiting the Oxford colleges? The city is built around 38 of them, each with different entry prices and opening times. Since it’s slightly confusing, I’ll let you in on the prettiest colleges in Oxford as well as the cheaper ones to enter. With almost 800 years of history, the Oxford colleges make the city a captivating place to explore. Stick your head around a door on the High Street and find a whole little world, sometimes with a field of deer or the Harry Potter Great Hall inside. There are many famous Oxford colleges as well as plenty of hidden gems. If you’re spending a weekend in Oxford and want to see the best of the city, you won’t want to miss them. Even if you’re just visiting Oxford as a day trip , you can squeeze a couple into your itinerary. After living and working in the city for years, here are the best colleges to visit in Oxford …

OXFORD ESSENTIALS Oxford & Cotswolds Pocket Lonely Planet guidebook Accommodation:  Booking.com Activities:  GetYourGuide Getting there: Trainline / Busbud

Oxford University colleges map

Check out this Oxford University map which shows you all the Oxford colleges and university buildings spread across the city.

FAQ – are all Oxford colleges open to the public? The answer is no. You cannot freely wander into any college. However, all the ones included in this guide are open to the public. Stick to these and you won’t have any problems, plus they’re the prettiest colleges in Oxford anyway!

Visiting the prettiest Oxford colleges

Unless you have a month in Oxford, you probably won’t have time to explore them all . I’ve collated the most beautiful Oxford colleges to visit including their opening times and entrance fees. Be sure to plan your trip around these. Here’s my full visitor’s guide to the Oxford University colleges…

Want a local hand? Take this Oxford University colleges tour with a local guide !

Magdalen College (#1 prettiest Oxford college)

Magdalen College is one of the most traditional and pretty Oxford colleges to visit. Inside you’ll find an Instagrammable phone box and a whole field of deer inside the massive grounds. For an escape from the busy city, this is the perfect place for a leisurely walk.

Read next: 20 Instagrammable spots in Oxford

Magdalen’s grand nature is because of the ex-Bishop of Winchester who was Lord Chancellor of the University in the 1450s. He desired a grand college with room for 40 fellows and a choir. He got what he wanted: to this day, Magdalen is one of the most impressive colleges to visit in Oxford. Nine Nobel Prize winners and C.S Lewis (author of the Narnia series) have studied at Magdalen. Magdalen College is set slightly away from Oxford city centre, just beside Magdalen Bridge. The 10-minute walk is well worth it since not many tourists stray so far from the centre. When you visit Magdalen College Oxford, you’ll get the grounds almost to yourself!

Where: Towards the end of the High Street, beside Magdalen Bridge Boathouse. Entrance: £6, June-September 1pm-7pm, rest of the year until 6pm.

Balliol College (the second prettiest Oxford college)

Balliol College quibbles with Merton and University College about who is the oldest. While no one is quite sure, it’s known that Balliol was built in the 13th century. People also quibble over which is the prettiest Oxford college. IMO, it’s probably Magdalen then Balliol. Have you seen the wisteria window display? This Oxford college was founded by John de Balliol, a rich landowner from County Durham. It’s of the most famous Oxford colleges because of its alumni including Boris Johnson and John Wycliffe, the man who translated the Bible into English, who was the college master in the 1360s.

When visiting the Oxford colleges, Balliol is a must for its beautiful gardens. In spring months, wisteria wraps its way around golden window frames while daffodils and wallflowers grow below, giving the college a yellow and red colour pop. Balliol College has lots of quirky traditions although many of them have come to a halt in the modern day. It was one of the last Oxford colleges to compete in the annual tortoise race and was previously home to a society that saw students living one day of each term backwards. Balliol’s central location means it’s one of the best Oxford colleges to visit if you’re short of time. If you’re making your way down Broad Street, you can easily pop inside for a quick lap of the quad. Where: The entrance is on Broad Street near to the junction of St Giles and Cornmarket. Entrance: £3, 10am-5pm.

Christ Church College (the most famous Oxford college)

No guide to visiting the Oxford colleges would be complete without a little Oxford Harry Potter history! Christ Church College is the most famous Oxford college to visit, apparently because of a movie about a boy who goes to wizard school? To set the record straight, only a couple of Harry Potter scenes were filmed at Christ Church. The most famous is the scene in the Philosopher’s Stone when Harry, Ron and Hermione are greeted at the bottom of the staircase by Professor McGonagall. However, the dining hall at Christ Church is thought to be the inspiration for the Hogwarts Great Hall in the Harry Potter movies.

Read next: A self-guided Harry Potter Oxford tour

In other Oxford University facts , the real Alice in Wonderland (her father was the Dean of the college) actually lived at Christ Church, as did Alice and Wonderland author, Lewis Caroll. Christ Church is one of the largest Oxford colleges with over 600 students and its own cathedral where you can catch a daily evensong, one of the best free things to do in Oxford during your visit. Like many of the top Oxford colleges, it was male-only for centuries and only started accepting female students around 40 years ago. Where: St Aldates. Entrance: £15, usually between 10am-5pm depending on the season. See Christ Church rates and times . Yup, this is the most expensive college by a long shot.

University College

University College is another of the best Oxford colleges to visit due to its long history and pretty outside quad. The website declares they’re Oxford’s oldest college, however the main University website says they share the title with Balliol and Merton. We may never know the truth! Don’t miss the opportunity to wander the symmetrical quad at University College, knowing that famous alumni Stephen Hawking and Bill Clinton did the same during their studies. You can also pay a visit to nearby pub, the Turf Tavern, where Clinton allegedly smoked a spliff but famously ‘didn’t inhale!’. Where: High Street. Entrance: £2, 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm outside of uni term time only.

New College

This is another famous Oxford college, full name The College of St Mary of Winchester in Oxford. With a mound island in the middle of the grounds, it makes you wonder how all the colleges fit in such a small city centre.

A little-known fact about New College is that Hugh Grant and Kate Beckinsale both studied there. Who could blame them? It’s easily one of the most beautiful colleges in Oxford. More recently, the TV show His Dark Materials was filmed at New College. Author Philip Pullman studied at Oxford and based the novels in alternative universe Oxford so it only makes sense that the TV adaptation was filmed locally. In episode two, you’ll see the characters take off in airships from what they call Jordan College (a fictional place not named after any real Oxford college). The scene from Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire  where Harry turns Malfoy into a ferret was filmed beside New College Cloisters (the semi-covered walkways around the edge of the college). For fans of Harry Potter and His Dark Materials, New College is a must-visit Oxford college. Where: Enter on Holywell Street or Queen’s Lane. Entrance: Free from 2pm-4pm, October-March (Holywell Entrance), £5 from 11am-5pm the rest of the year (Queen’s Lane entrance).

Worcester College

Built in 1714, Worcester College is practically a brand new Oxford college! Actually, a college has stood on this patch of land since the 13th century but it used to be called Gloucester college, somewhere that no longer exists. Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter movies, studied at Worcester College just a few years ago. There are many contenders for the most beautiful college in Oxford but Worcester College has 26 acres of gardens, a wood and a lake. Who could argue with that? Since it’s just a 10-minute walk from the main bus and train station, it’s an easy Oxford college to visit and enjoy before heading home. Where: The corner of Worcester, Walton and Beaumont Street. Entrance: Free, 2-4pm.

Merton College

Merton College has its own chapel, loads of gargoyles and an apparently ‘haunted’ alley called Dead Man’s Walk. Sound similar to your uni halls? (NOPE).

Merton is another of the oldest and prettiest Oxford colleges, built to house 20 original fellows. During its 750 years of history, it’s hosted famous alumni like American poet, T.S Elliot, and author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R Tolkien. Merton College is hidden away on Merton Street (which runs adjacent High Street) making it one of the quietest and peaceful Oxford colleges to visit. This street is a personal favourite of mine with red and golden leaves lining the walls come autumn. Where: Merton Street. Be sure to check out some of the quirky buildings and doorways along the way. Entrance: £3 from 2pm-4.30pm, Mon-Fri and 10am-5pm at weekends.

Lincoln College

Lincoln College is one of the smallest and cosiest Oxford colleges. It may not be as impressive as Magdalen or Christ Church but it’s still worth popping inside especially since it’s free. Lincoln College can be found on Turl Street, one of the most photogenic streets in Oxford. Bikes lean against grand doorways and golden window frames. Make sure to grab a coffee at the Missing Bean, one of my favourite coffee shops in Oxford , just outside Lincoln College. Where: Turl Street. Entrance: Free, 2-5pm, Mon-Fri and 11am-5pm at weekends.

All Souls College

A final contender for the prettiest college in Oxford is All Souls. Founded by the King of England at the time, All Souls College is one of the grandest and wealthy colleges. Apparently, the entrance exam for students is one of the hardest in the world.

While a visit inside is awesome, I still think the best view is this aerial one from the top of University Church on High Street. Where: Catte Street. Entrance: Free from 2-4pm on weekdays and Sundays.

Tips for visiting Oxford colleges

• In winter, the colleges will shut when it gets dark – even if that’s before closing time.
• Remember that not all Oxford colleges are open to the public.
• Check for closure dates like Christmas on the individual colleges’ websites.
• Christ Church is busy and touristy so plan your visit early or late in the day, especially during summer and weekends.
• Budget more for the more famous Oxford colleges as they have higher entrance fees (listed above).
• Don’t wave a selfie stick around. Even in the prettiest Oxford colleges, the staff and students won’t be impressed!
• The list above isn’t a complete one – for all the colleges you can visit, see the Oxford University website .

Thanks for reading

I hope my guide has given you a good idea of the prettiest Oxford colleges to visit. Remember to use my Oxford University colleges map to navigate around. Have a fantastic trip!

Check out my other Oxford posts:

• Guide to backpacking the UK & spending tips
• How to spend a weekend in Oxford
• The perfect Oxford day trip
• Where to eat in Oxford
• The best restaurants in Oxford with outdoor seating
• A self-guided Harry Potter Oxford tour
• 32 free things to do in Oxford
• Guide to Gloucester Green Oxford Market
• Oxford Covered Market visitors guide
• A guide to the food markets in Oxford
• Cafes and coffee shops in Oxford
• 12 best Oxford pub gardens
• 10 amazing Asian restaurants in Oxford
• My top 20 Instagrammable spots in Oxford
• Neighbourhood guide to Jericho, Oxford
• Jericho food guide, Oxford
• Where to find the best brunch in Oxford

See you next time for more adventures,

For more travel content, follow me on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter and YouTube .

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Visiting Oxford Colleges – The Ultimate Guide

Don’t tell me – you’re making a special trip to Oxford to see the Headington Shark right? The towns random piece of art reflecting some emotions of Chernobyl (a giant shark sculpture sticking out of a roof).

NO, OF COURSE NOT – YOU CAME TO OXFORD TO SEE THE COLLEGES.

The one with the famous dining room, the one with that Venetian-like bridge, the one with the wisteria? Oxford has been turning up on tv screens for years and immortalised in books for even longer. It’s the most beautiful city in the UK and I can totally understand why you would want to visit.

Choosing The Best Oxford Colleges To Visit

But, choosing the best colleges to visit in Oxford can be a time-robbing conundrum and if you’re only here for a short period you’re going to need a little help. Let’s face it – you’ll be kicking yourself later if you learn you were literally the other side of a wall or doorway and you missed an incredible piece of Oxford.

But worry not, we have been visiting Oxford for decades and we think we’ve worked out which colleges you ought to be putting on your bucket list.

There are 38 Oxford Colleges in total but we have you covered for the prettiest ones, the ones you can see for free, Harry Potter filming locations and other famous Oxford colleges with impressive alumni or fascinating histories. And to avoid any unconscious walk-by’s we’ve added a map of ‘ Oxford Colleges ‘ at the bottom to make your visit easier – just click the drop-down menu at the top left to save to your device.

Here’s our list of the best Oxford colleges to visit…

pin for later…

Christ Church College

CALLING ALL POTTER FANS…

Many people with a penchant for wizardry make the day trip from London to Oxford just for the Harry Potter locations. This makes Christ Church College the most popular and most recognisable spot in town. The Dining Room inspired the Great Hall at Hogwarts and the cloisters and the Bodley tower were actually used in the filming.

But make no mistake – all this Potter-patter makes Christ Church undoubtedly one of the busiest places to visit in Oxford and if you are interested in stopping by you might want to consider booking ahead. (See their website for details and booking info )

However, even before Harry had us hurrying to investigate, Christ Church has always been a popular place to visit in Oxford for several reasons…

The Dining Room especially stands to impress, with its walls of hung portraits of notable alumni like King Edward VII, Albert Einstein the Winklevoss Facebook twins, John Wesley and over a dozen English Prime Ministers. But as you walk into Christ Church make sure you take note of Tom Tower – the grand entrance designed by Christopher Wren, of St Pauls Cathedral fame. Signalling that the Great Doors are about to close, the Bells of Tom Tower go off 101 times every evening at 9.05pm, and you don’t need to be bound to the building to hear it!

Being one of the wealthiest Colleges of Oxford, Christ Church also has its very own picture gallery with works of art by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Raphael no less. Amazingly, the students are allowed to borrow certain pieces to hang in their dorm-rooms for their duration – can you just imagine falling over last nights empties and straight into a Da Vinci!?

But my favourite fact of all about this wonderful Oxford college is that the real Alice of Alice in Wonderland lived here! Her family (her father was the Dean) were friends of Lewis Carroll and regularly took trips on the river together, where the tale of Wonderland began and Alice became the main character. Top tip : look out for the Alice stained glass in the dining room.

Just outside of Christ Church College is the sweet shop where Alice bought her sweets as a child ( Alice’s Shop ) and also a cute little cafe called Cafe Loco which gives a little nod to Alice and her far-out friends.

Where is Christ Church College? Tickets can be bought at Meadow Gate on the Broad Walk. At the Magdalen Bridge end of the High Street.

New College

Not new at all actually, unless you’re the type of person who has medieval mead in your amazon basket. New College is one of the oldest colleges in Oxford, completed in 1386, older than the Azteks, China’s Forbidden City and Cher. And, I’ve got to say, if you’re the type of person who writes a tick-list of goals on January the first, or own a clip-board full-stop, in terms of a check-list, this is one of the Oxford colleges to visit that has it all.

For just £5 (the chapel is free to visit) you get to see some of the prettiest insta-worthy Oxford university gardens, Harry Potter locations, a stunning chapel, famous artworks, beautiful architecture and it even has its own mountain. It’s value for money for definite.

Pretty herbaceous borders line the ancient city wall (built 1200’s) and climbers and Wisteria enhance the already gorgeous college buildings – it’s an English-Garden postcard. Head to the New College cloister courtyard quadrangle to see the old Oak tree used as a seat for Malfoy in Harry Potter – The Goblet of Fire.

The ancient dining room is a highlight, Jacob Epstein’s ‘Lazarus’ statue stands in the chapel and so does an original El Greco (St James The Greater) – as far as colleges at Oxford go, this one has so much to take in. Plus, Hugh Grant went here, now what greater reason do you need?

Where Is New College?  Access is by Hollywell Street. See their website for opening times and ticket prices.

Magdalen College

Pronounced Mawd-lin, Magdalen is definitely one of the prettiest Oxford colleges you could visit. If you’re arriving in town via the High Street it’s also one of the first colleges you’ll see on your trip to Oxford. Being one of the wealthiest colleges in Oxford you can easily see why many a notable King or Prince have chosen it as their Bed and Breakfast for the night, it’s pretty impressive!

Magdalen also has a notable literary alumnus: Oscar Wilde, C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkein all walked these old cobblestones. In fact, if you take a stroll along the college’s Addison’s Walk it’s just a little bit awesome that you are literally following in the footsteps of good friends Tolkein and Lewis who used to promenade together – how cool is that!

Adjacent to the river, Magdalen often throws out an epic scene of low lying mist across its very own Deer Park. It’s a beautiful picture and if you are visiting Oxford in winter or spring you might want to make this your early morning stop-off for the best chances of seeing this beautiful scene. The deer are more likely to be in the riverside meadows during summer but have been rutting here for over 300 years.

Included in your ticket price (£7) is the opportunity to see the Dining Hall, Medieval Chapel, Old Kitchen Bar and the Cherwell riverside walk. By the way, the Old Kitchen Bar is the riverside seating area you can see from Magdalen Bridge and is a beautiful place to sit and watch the world go by with your beverage – I’m giving you that tidbit for free, it took me years to work out how to get access to that terrace!

Where is Magdalen College?  Entrance is via the lovely Victorian tower gateway on High Street.

Balliol College

Balliol is one of those Oxford colleges where history seems palpable. It reminds me of Christ Church and I’m sure if Christ Church wasn’t available, Balliol would have been the second choice for certain filming locations. It’s grand, it’s beautiful and it’s impressive, but with considerably fewer crowds than others.

Founded in 1263 it’s one of the oldest colleges in Oxford and also a great place to retreat from the crowds out on the pavement – there are more than a handful of nooks and crannies in the Balliol gardens and some very pretty spots amongst the wisterias.

The ticket price is only £2 but it has great Quads, a Great Hall and a great chapel – it’s a handsome all-rounder.

Where is Balliol College? Entrance is on Broad Street.

Which Oxford Colleges Are Free To Visit?

Several colleges at Oxford open their doors to the public for free at certain times of the day or week. They may not be as impressive as some of the ones with a ticket price but some have features that are definitely worth a little peek if you find yourself in the area. Here’s our recommendations and a few reasons why they are worth a visit…

All Souls College

The poet Matthew Arnold once labelled Oxford; 

‘that sweet city with her dreaming spires’

Because from places like Boars Hill, just west of the metropolis, the tall steeples are what fashion the Oxford skyline and All Souls College is the show-stopper.

In order to get in you have to take the hardest exam in the world, or just turn up between 2 and 4pm on week-days (all day on Sunday) and entry is free! 

Access includes a visit to the college front, the Great Quadrangles and the Chapel and it is definitely worth a look as you will more than likely find yourself at this popular Oxford location at some point anyway (it’s next door to the Radcliffe Camera). However, it’s the spires which make it glorious and you’ll get the best views of these from the top of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin across the way. (The church tower makes our list of Top Things To Do In Oxford and you can find out more details here )

The Gothic chapel of All Souls College is a particular highlight as are the unique angles of the Radcliffe Camera through the foliage of the gardens. You might not spend too long here but it’d be a shame to just walk on by.

The main entrance is on Oxford High Street.

Keble College

A little bit controversial, Keble College isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. It’s been called a Zebra, a humbug and a lasagne – but in my books, the latter is definitely not an insult! In any other town though, this Victorian piece of architecture in the Neo-Gothic style would receive the attention it actually deserved. In short, it looks nothing like the rest of the Oxford Universities!

Photo credits; Holly Hayes, Keble College – Flickr

For starters, it’s way younger, but that shouldn’t deter you from a quick peek. You’re more than likely going to be stopping by the Pitt Rivers Museum over the road if you’re visiting Oxford for the day (and if not, why not!?), so you may as well visit Keble.

Check out the Dining Hall and Common Room, both a bit reminisce of a posh grand-mothers house and easy to imagine a soiree with Queen Victoria. However, Keble is anything but stuffy – it’s probably the friendliest college you will visit and the more laid back atmosphere is noticeable. Meal-times are a big deal in this place; the University keeps food prices low and in turn students make it a priority to eat here, including 3 formal dinners a week. Rumour has it that Keble is the envy of other Oxford Colleges when it comes to dining.

The College also has a rather beautiful chapel too. And, all for free – just make sure you plan your visit between 2 – 5pm.

Entrance is on Parks Road, opposite the Pitt Rivers Museum

Exeter College

Exeter is the 4th oldest college at Oxford and has a few famous alumni including William Morris, Tolkein and Roger Bannister of 4-minute-mile fame.

Check out the pretty Fellow’s Garden and the spot where Inspector Morse had his heart attack on the lawn! It’s also a filming location for some scenes in The Golden Compass . The hall and chapel are also great too, the latter where a William Morris tapestry of Christ’s Birth hangs. Open for free between 2-5pm.

Entrance is on Turl Street.

Lincoln College

Worth a stop in Autumn-time just to see the beautiful red Virginia Creeper vines in the Quadrangles. Famous alumni – John Le Carre and Emily Mortimer and John Wesley.

Entrance on Turl Street.

Worcester College

A bit off the beaten path in Oxford, Worcester is a little hidden gem. It’s like a blend of stately home and quaint chocolate-box cottages, all set to a beautiful backdrop of gardens. Throw in a lake for good measure and you’ll find yourself in a city-centre secret place of calm. The college has won Oxford in Bloom a few times over the years – that should tell you something. And don’t miss the mosaics in the church, there’s a distinct Byzantian temple feel to it.

Entrance on Worcester Street, just along from the Ashmolean.

Corpus Christi College

The smallest College of Oxford University but also one of the cutest, Corpus Christi is famous for is annual Tortoise Fair, held in May. Over a thousand fans turn up to see the race between the college tortoises across the gardens. Don’t miss the Pelican sundial in the Quad and the scenic vista’s over Merton’s Field.

Entrance is on Merton Street and it’s open to visitors every day from 1.30 – 4.30pm.

TIPS FOR VISITING OXFORD COLLEGES

Open Doors Oxford is an event which takes place over a weekend in mid-September every year and makes several Oxford colleges open to visitors that usually charge an entrance fee. It’s a good time to visit if you want to see as many colleges as possible.

When you visit Oxford colleges it may be wise to check ahead of time to see if all the areas are open, sometimes libraries or halls are closed for events or other reasons. Also, some Oxford college tours need to be booked in advance.

Here’s our map of Oxford colleges worth visiting. Remember, if you want to save this map just click on the arrow in the top left corner and star or save.

More Places To Visit In Oxford

Of course, there is more to Oxford than the university. The city has a fascinating royal and political past which you can learn more about. Plus, it’s not short on great places to eat and a good handful of historically famous pubs. We’ve come up with a list of the best things to do in Oxford if you’d like to take a read – stuff you really shouldn’t miss if you’re visiting Oxford for a day.

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Worcester College

Why choose a summer course at worcester college.

• Single en-suite rooms
• Sports fields
• Tennis courts
• Dining hall
• Computer rooms
• Music room theatre/performance space
• Multi-faith prayer room

When first laying eyes on Worcester College, it’s easy to see why it’s often called one of the most beautiful Oxford University colleges. Not only is the architecture mesmerising, but the acres of gorgeous gardens and grounds, including a stunning lake, is the perfect place to have a peaceful study session or a walk with friends. The long list of facilities completes the package and produces an inclusive and impressive place to study.

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Authentic Oxford & Cambridge Experience by Oxford Summer Courses immerses high school students in diverse academic studies and cultural explorations at these historic universities.

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FACULTY AND ADVISORS

Faculty and Advisors

Oxford, England

• University of Oxford, Worcester College Partnership

Program Overview

It’s said that reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body. Worcester College has taken that to heart; it’s the only Oxford college to have its own sports grounds on site! You’ll grow mentally and physically whilst at Worcester, which was founded in 1714, and is located in the center of Oxford.

Worcester College is a great option for computer science, economics, English, history, philosophy, and political science.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Minimum GPA

Credit load

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Instruction language

Language prerequisites

Visa required?

In some cases. Learn More.

CHART Your Course Find the classes you need fast with CHART . Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

Because of the individualized nature of the tutorial system, colleges at Oxford do not have an online class catalog. However, Worcester College has a helpful website  with advice on choosing tutorials and a list of possible subjects.

Students take one primary (major) and one secondary (minor) tutorial every term. Students are not permitted to receive extra credit by taking two primary tutorials in one term. Students will be awarded 8 U.S. semester credit hours for each primary tutorial and 4 U.S. semester credit hours for each secondary tutorial. No credit will be awarded for additional work undertaken even if the University of Oxford approves it.

Students will earn:

• 16 U.S. semester credit hours for the Fall Term (September Seminar plus Michaelmas Term)
• 24 U.S. semester credit hours for the Spring Term (Hilary Term and Trinity Term)
• 36 U.S. semester credit hours for the Academic Year (Michaelmas Term, Hillary Term, and Trinity Term)
• 40 U.S. semester credit hours for the Early Start Academic Year (September Seminar, Michaelmas Term, Hillary Term, and Trinity Term)

Science and math students may be required to attend University lectures or to take one or more short tutorials. Regardless of the number of tutorials or lectures required, science students will earn the same number of credits as other students.

Tutorial System The hallmark of the University of Oxford academics is the tutorial system. The tutorial is typically a one-hour meeting between one or two students and the tutor. Tutorials usually meet once a week or every other week, and at the center of the tutorial is an essay on a topic the tutor previously assigned. The tutor will lead a discussion about the essay topic in an effort to provide new insights. At the end of the tutorial, the tutor will assign a new topic and may offer recommended reading. Tutorials are individually arranged, taking into account the subject to be studied and the tutor’s area of expertise. They are similar to independent study classes, but Oxford students bear even more responsibility for conducting independent research and maintaining good academic progress. The University of Oxford organizes weekly lectures on myriad academic subjects, and all students at the University, regardless of college, are welcome to attend. Lectures are not usually mandatory except for some science subjects, but tutors often recommend them as good supplements to tutorials and research.

September Seminar IFSA students studying at Worcester College for the Fall Term arrive in early September for a September Seminar in humanities. This month-long program helps students better understand the Oxford system in advance of the Michaelmas Term.

Academic year students can also apply for the  September Seminar (Early Start) in humanities and earn an additional 4 U.S. semester credit hours.

The September Humanities Seminar will be interdisciplinary within the humanities and include Oxford faculty from classics, English literature, and modern languages. Students will attend a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-on-Avon, as well as excursions to review primary source materials at various Oxford locations. Assessment will include a final research essay related to the topics taught in the seminar.

Lab & Field Trip Fees Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

Your tutorial topics should be limited to no more than two subjects, and those subjects should be related. For instance, the tutors reviewing your application will look more favorably at a tutorial request form that has choices limited to Politics and History Departments. They would not be as impressed with a tutorial request form that also lists choices in the Earth Sciences or Mathematics Departments.

Tutorials in the Chemistry, History of Art, and Linguistics Departments are not currently available to study abroad students.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Application Deadline The application deadline is Dec. 15 of the preceding year for Fall Term, Academic Year, and Spring Term for all University of Oxford programs.

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
• Admission to Oxford colleges is highly competitive. Students typically study abroad at Oxford their junior year, having completed two (2) full-time years of study at their home institution before the start of the Oxford term. Oxford colleges may consider an applicant with just one (1) full-time year of completed study, but those students will be competing with students who have completed greater study in their specific subject area. A student with less than two years of completed study may be limited to first- and second-year classes.

Application Acceptance This program gives preference to students applying for the Academic Year over students applying for just the Fall Term or the Spring Term.

Recommendation Letters Your application to this program will require two (2) academic letters of recommendation on home institution letterhead.

TRANSCRIPT Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost . See our  Transcripts  page for more information.

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

• London Pandemics–Past and Present:  This event will engage you with both an historic overview and a contemporary look at concepts of community health and global health, with a particular focus on London and the pandemic. You will attend a guest lecture at the IFSA London Flagship, followed by the John Snow Cholera Tour. This tour will take you to the nearby streets of Soho to visit important sites in the story of Dr. Snow and the cholera outbreak in 1854.
• London Statue Walk:  This walking tour includes stops at some of London’s most iconic statues as well as some of its most obscure, weaving in historical, cultural, literary, and political threads as it seeks to put the past into dialogue with the present.
• Homelessness in London–A Dialogue:  This event will explore the realities of homelessness in London from three perspectives. First, you will participate in a dialogue with guest speakers followed by a tour of Central London developed, curated, and delivered by vulnerably housed individuals through Unseen Tours.
• The Uncomfortable Walking Tour:  This tour is dedicated to raising awareness about the “uncomfortable” aspects of history. Tours focus on a specific theme and ask questions aimed at provoking new ways of seeing Oxford’s city landscape and history. Students will engage with the politics of memory in the city whilst uncovering histories of empire, class divides and gender discrimination, highlighting how these legacies have left an enduring impact on our modern lives.
• Visit to Oxford Castle & Prison:  Explore the 1,000-year history of Oxford Castle & Prison. You will take a step back in time with costumed tour guides, bringing fascinating stories back to life. Engage with tales of Empress Matilda or the fate of Mary Blandy, one of the prisons’ most famous criminals. You can touch the stones where Oxford University is rumoured to have begun and stand in the birthplace of King Arthur.
• The Pitt Rivers Museum Tour:  Go behind the scenes at one of Oxford’s most popular attractions, famous for its period atmosphere and outstanding collections from many cultures around the world, past and present. Receive a private tour of the museum founded in 1884 by Lieutenant General Augustus Pitt Rivers, who donated approximately 22,000 items to be displayed. The collection has now grown to 500,000 items, many of which have been donated by travellers, scholars, and missionaries from across the world.
• Cotswolds Villages and Blenheim Palace Day Trip:  The Cotswolds are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The famous picturesque villages of mellow honey-colored stone, gentle hills, peaceful pastures, and winding rivers offer a contrasting backdrop to engage with stories about the bloody battles and violent skirmishes that took place during the English Civil War. Next up is a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site Blenheim Palace, home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
• Oxford Regatta Course River Cruise:  Explore Oxford University’s famous regatta course on a Thames River sightseeing cruise. Hop aboard your sightseeing vessel in the heart of Oxford and cruise out onto the famous waterway. You’ll learn more about the city’s rich history from a different perspective, while sharing the waters with punts, university boats, rowing eights, and cruisers. The river cruise offers a chance for sightings of native river wildlife along the banks too.

Housing and Meals

Worcester College is in the center of Oxford city. Students live in residence halls on the college grounds or within a 5-minute walk from campus.   

• Living space. Students live in single rooms with a mini fridge, bed, desk, chair, and storage. Students share bathrooms and kitchen facilities.   
• Meals. There is no meal plan. Students are responsible for purchasing or preparing their own meals.  The college dining hall serves breakfast and lunch for a nominal fee. Eating with your peers is part of the Oxford experience, so be sure to give it a try.   
• Additional. Laundry on site.   
• Nearby. Bodleian Library (10-minute walk). Castle Mill Stream.   

Dates and Fees

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Kevin Cañas

Enrollment Counselor

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Worcester College, Oxford

Oxford england, oxfordshire, introduction.

The gardens, grounds and playing fields of Worcester College cover approximately 12 hectares. The college was founded in 1714 on a medieval site. Its original 18th-century gardens were landscaped in about 1820 by Richard Burswell. The present grounds include playing fields, tennis courts and a cricket ground.

The following is from the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. For the most up-to-date Register entry, please visit the The National Heritage List for England (NHLE):

www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list

Fifteenth-, 18th- and 20th-century college buildings with 18th-century quadrangles, and early 19th-century landscape gardens surrounding a contemporary lake.

DESCRIPTION

LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING

Worcester College lies close to the centre of Oxford, 500m north-west of Carfax. The c 12ha college is bounded to the north by the C19 residential area of Jericho and to the south-west by the Oxford Canal, and beyond this by the River Thames. To the east the college is bounded by the contiguous Worcester Street and Walton Street, this boundary marked largely by medieval walls (C15, listed grade II) on either side of the classical entrance façade, the northern wall containing a C15 gateway (listed grade I) adjacent to the North Range. The site slopes away towards the Canal and within the largely level Main Quad terraces to the east and north raise the ground to street level. The setting is largely urban, with the old railway sidings to the south of the river being developed (1997) for residential accommodation.

ENTRANCES, APPROACHES AND QUADRANGLES

The main entrance stands at the junction of Worcester, Walton and Beaumont Streets, its imposing, east-facing, classical ashlar façade overlooking the slightly curved Beaumont Street running east towards St Giles' street. Beaumont Street, laid out 1828-37, is a broad street lined with long terraces of three-storey, ashlar-faced houses with iron verandas and balconies, its west end broadening out and terminated by the entrance to Worcester College (said by Pevsner to be the finest street ensemble in Oxford). The college Bursar at the time, Richard Greswell, is said to have insisted that the plans for the development of Beaumont Street were modified to include its attractive curve (Devereux and Griffiths 1994). The college entrance, off Worcester Street, is marked by a wrought-iron screen and double gates with overthrow, standing on a dwarf stone wall (C18, listed grade II), from which a stone path flanked by narrow panels of lawn runs west through the entrance in Main Block to Main Quad. The centre of Main Block (1720-86, listed grade I), containing the library, recedes deeply behind projecting wings, containing the hall and chapel, which flank the panels of lawn, so forming a small quad which is open to Beaumont Street. The path continues through the gatehouse, emerging in a stone loggia or cloister beneath Main Block, part of the east range of Main Quad, which it overlooks.

Main Quad contains a raised terrace along the north and east sides, supporting the stone North Range (classical main range to west, Dr George Clarke 1735-59; adjacent camerae to east C15, all listed grade I) forming the north side of the Quad, together with the classical Main Block, with its loggia, forming the east range. The stone south range, lying at the lower level of the centre of the Quad, runs east into Pump Quad (the whole C15, listed grade I), consisting of blocks of camerae, or cottages in which each unit was the responsibility of one particular monastery. The west side of Main Quad is closed by a high stone wall (listed grade II) of varying dates, topped by a wrought-iron fence, and with a gateway inserted towards the north end giving access from the Quad directly into the Provost's Garden to the west. The terraces are topped by gravel paths, access from them to the lower central level being via a set of straight stone steps in the centre of the north terrace and curved stone steps by the south end of the loggia on the east terrace. A gravel path bounds a central, rectangular panel of lawn at the lower level. A passage through the east end of the south range gives access to the college garden, mirrored by a second passage at the west end of the range. This passage passes beneath a 'hanging garden' adjacent to the west front of the westernmost camera. Here a lawn is elevated to first-floor level, supported by a banked mound enclosed by stone walls (listed grade II). A central door in the first floor of the camera opens directly on to the east end of the raised lawn, this elevation of the camera being decorated in cottage orné style. The west end of the lawn is reached from the south lawn below by a set of stone steps at the west end. The bank was probably created from the spoil from digging out the adjacent lake in the early C19, and taken advantage of when the cottage orné was made, with a first-floor window made into a door opening onto the raised 'hanging garden' (M Batey pers comm, February 1999).

Main Quad stands on the site of the medieval quad of Gloucester College, shown in the C16 (Agas, 1578) with buildings around three sides and a wall or fence along the fourth, west side, and the C15 south range much as it is now (1997). Two entrances are visible: one in the boundary wall north of the north range (where the medieval gateway now gives access to the Fellows' Garden from Walton Street), entering a rectangular courtyard with access through the centre of the north range into the quad to the south; the other standing in a similar position to the current entrance, slightly set back off the road, at the centre of the small, irregular east range of buildings which predated the current main block. By the mid C17 (Loggan, 1675) a ruinous building ran along the roadside parallel with the east side of the quad, with the main entrance being through the northern gateway. Pump Quad was enclosed, and the site of the 'hanging garden' was enclosed by garden walls. By the end of the C18 (Davis, 1797) the current (1997) main entrance was laid out, overlooking meadow or cultivated ground east of the road, although the flanking wings containing the hall and chapel were not shown. The mid C19 (Hoggar, 1850) saw the entrance and Main Quad in their most recent arrangement, the entrance overlooking the newly created Beaumont Street, opening out to the west to reveal the full width of the hall and chapel wings.

The Fellows' Garden lies adjacent to the north side of North Range, laid largely to lawn with a curved perimeter path and informal planting against the walls. Access is gained from a door in North Range, or off Walton Street through the medieval gateway in the boundary wall, or through a further gateway in the north-west corner.

The main part of the college gardens, laid out in the early C19 as picturesque pleasure grounds, consists of three informal sections of open lawn, each area with its own wooded perimeter path, all connected by the central lake. The south lawn, entered from Main Quad, is overlooked to the north by the C15 south range, given picturesque detailing on this face in the C19 to imitate a row of rural cottages. Along the east and south boundaries of the lawn stand several C20 buildings in varying styles. The perimeter path, encircling the lawn, runs in front of the buildings, overlooking the lawn planted with mature specimen trees including a very large plane tree. Some of the mature trees on the lawn remain from early C19 shrub bed planting, when they were meant to be seen as spires in the beds and then removed. They were never removed and the canopy killed the floriferous underplanting (M Batey pers comm, February 1999). Along the north side of the lawn the path passes the bottom of the steep stone steps giving access to the west end of the small 'hanging garden'. Adjacent to the bottom of these steps stands a stone gateway (listed grade II) giving access from the south lawn to the Provost's Garden to the north, past the end of the south arm of the lake. At this point the path around the south lawn reaches the south arm of the lake, continuing along the lake side to a stone gateway (C16, listed grade II), an arch re-sited in the early C19 from the remains of the medieval college buildings. Here the south-west arm of the perimeter path joins the path around the south lawn. The south-west path is largely screened from the south lawn by shrubs, with various breaks allowing views across the lawn to the picturesque camerae.

The path continues north-west along the west edge of the lake, past three stone benches sited at various points overlooking the lake, breaking into two at the western tip of the lake to encircle the cricket ground (created out of marshy meadow c 1900). This forms the second perimeter walk, with an informal path and adjacent drainage ditch running north-west through a wooded belt (present by the mid C19, Hoggar, 1850), overlooking the Canal to the south-west, continuing along the north and east sides of the cricket ground and running along the lake's north edge back to the southern tip of the cricket ground, where the early C20 cricket pavilion stands. Views extend east from the west side of the lake, towards the upper floor of the elevated Main Block in Main Quad, and the west end of the Provost's Lodgings, and north towards the 1981 Sainsbury Building. The north arm of the lake was extended to the edge of this building so that it sits on the edge of the water.

The third section of the gardens consists largely of the Provost's Garden, mostly laid to lawn and surrounded by a perimeter walk, the west side of which runs through shrubs and trees alongside the east side of the lake, providing views west across the lake and cricket ground. Further informal lawns lie to the north-east. The Provost's Garden is dominated by the four-storey main, west façade of the Provost's Lodgings (Henry Keene 1773-6, listed grade I). The Lodgings, which are attached to the west end of North Range, have a Palladian front and a garden door at first-floor level from which the garden is reached by a stone double staircase. A small, formal garden lies in the south-east corner of the Provost's Garden, the subject of a formal Arts and Crafts design by Alfred Parsons for Provost Daniel (1903). It apparently contained a central sundial surrounded by beds of roses, pinks and snapdragons; delphiniums, tiger lilies, peonies, sweet peas and other herbaceous plants grew in the shelter of the stone wall (Cobham 1991) dividing it from Main Quad. The lawns to the north of the Provost's Garden and North Range are informally arranged, with a box-edged border running along the north boundary with Ruskin Lane, and garden service buildings in the north-east corner. An orchard is situated on the west half of this area. Prior to the construction of the Sainsbury Building, Ruskin Lane provided access to the cricket ground, screened from Ruskin College to the north by a line of mature ilex trees (Quercus ilex) planted by Provost Lys c 1913.

In the later C16 (Agas, 1578) the gardens of 'Glocester Haule' extended north as groves or orchards of trees, with a small enclosed grove adjacent to the west wall of Main Quad, where the Provost's rose garden now lies. The open area to the north-west, adjacent to the river, where the lake and pleasure grounds encircling the cricket pitch to the north now lie, was known as 'Glocester Haule Meadowes'. This area was crossed by several small streams draining into the river. By the later C17 (Loggan, 1675) the gardens had been extended, particularly to the south where they reached as far as Hythe Bridge Street, covering what is now the south lawn, and the meadows were encroached upon for the expanded gardening activity. At the end of the C18 (Davis, 1797) a nursery garden occupied the site of the south lawn, owned by the Tagg family who subsequently supplied plants for the C19 landscaping works, once the college had bought the ground from them; a small, formal garden, on the site of the Provost's Garden, lay west of, and on an axis with Main Quad; meadows extended west, as far as the new Canal, and north, with the drainage ditches crossing the area flanked by lines of trees. By the mid C19 (Hoggar, 1850; OS 1876) the dramatic landscaping around the college had been accomplished, with the creation of the lake, bounded to the east and south by lawns with island shrub beds and specimen trees. The lake was enclosed by perimeter walks, and enjoyed views to and from the buildings surrounding Main Quad. As Mavis Batey puts it in Regency Gardens 'The Fellows of Worcester College, in 1817, having skilfully contrived a would-be cottage orné with curly barge boards and trellis on the upper end of a monastic range of buildings, created a lake and a forest lawn with a perimeter Regency ornamental shrubbery in the college grounds'. There appear to have been open views between the Provost's Lodgings and its adjacent lawns and the lake, and likewise between the raised east terrace of Main Quad and the lake. These views are now largely obscured by later tree growth on the east side of the lake. The depiction of the grounds by Hoggar and the OS appears to be a good representation of the newly created landscape. An early to mid C19 view (in Batey 1982) looking east across the lake shows an open prospect of the Provost's Lodgings ( looking like a Palladian country house ( fronted by open lawn running down to the water's edge, with adjacent glimpses of the centre of the east range of Main Quad and the gabled west end of the south range with a rustic bridge below.

C H O Daniel and W R Barker, Worcester College (1900)

Country Life, 77 (27 April 1935), pp 426-31

Victoria History of the County of Oxfordshire 3, (1954), pp 302-9

N Pevsner and J Sherwood, The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire (1974), pp 218-23

M Batey, Oxford Gardens (1982), pp 126-9, colour plates 10-12

Oxfordshire Family History IV, 4, no 2 (Summer 1986) [article on Tagg family and nursery by Evelyn Brown Grant]

A Management Plan for Worcester College Gardens, (Cobham Resource Consultants 1991)

R A Devereux and D N Griffiths, Worcester College (2nd edition 1994)

M Batey, Regency Gardens (1995), pp 43-4

Agas/Bereblock, Map of Oxford, engraved 1728 from 1578 original

Hollar, Map of Oxford, 1643

Loggan, Map of Oxford, 1675

R Davis, A New Map of the County of Oxford ..., 1797

Hoggar, Map of Oxford, 1850

OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition published 1876

OS 25" to 1 mile: 1st edition published 1876; 2nd edition published 1900; 1921 edition

OS 1:500: 1st edition published 1876

Description written: December 1997

Amended: March 1999

Edited: March 2000

Oxford city centre

Other Websites

• http://www.worc.ox.ac.uk/
• https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000465

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

Gloucester College, founded in the 1280s at the edge of the City of Oxford, was one of the monastic colleges dissolved by Henry VIII, being dissolved in 1541. Its buildings were taken over by Gloucester Hall in 1560, which was re-founded in 1714 as Worcester College following an endowment from a Worcestershire baronet, Sir Thomas Cookes. Building work continued from 1720 to 1790, with no further major additions until the mid-20th century. By the early 19th century various garden elements existed, but the extension in 1788 of the Oxford Canal, along the college's river frontage to the south, prompted the creation of the crescent-shaped lake and surrounding picturesque landscape between around 1810 and 1820 (M Batey 1982; Cobham 1991), initiated by Whittington Landon (Provost 1795-1839). It has also been stated that the Bursar Richard Greswell laid out the gardens around 1827 (Daniel and Barker 1900), but this seems to relate to the planting of trees and shrubs within the garden. Several buildings were built around the south-west boundary during the 20th century, and the Sainsbury Building was erected at the north end of the lake in the early 1980s. The site remains (1997) in college use.

18th Century

• Richard Burswell
• Henry Keene

Designations

The national heritage list for england: register of parks and gardens.

• Reference: GD1434
• Boundary Wall
• Description: One boundary is marked largely by medieval walls.
• Earliest Date: 23 Dec 1399
• Latest Date: 22 Dec 1498
• Description: Classical entrance facade.
• College (featured building)
• Description: Fifteenth-, 18th- and 20th-century college buildings.
• Earliest Date: 24 Dec 1279
• Latest Date: 31 Dec 1789
• Description: Oxford Canal
• Description: Drainage ditches
• Description: Several streams draining into the river.

Principal Building

Open to the public.

• {English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest}, (Swindon: English Heritage, 2008) [on CD-ROM] Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest
• Pevsner, N. and J. Sherwood, {The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire} (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1974), pp. 218-23 The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire
• Batey, M., {Oxford Gardens} (Amersham: Avebury, 1982), pp. 126-9, colour plates 10-12 Oxford Gardens: The University's Influence on Garden History
• Salter, H.E. and Lobel, M {Victoria County History: Oxford, Volume 3} (London: 1954) 302-9 Victoria County History: Oxford, Volume 3
• Cobham Resource Consultants {Plan for Worcester College Gardens} (1991) Plan for Worcester College Gardens

A Management Plan for Worcester College Gardens - Hard copy

Cobham Resource Consultants - 1991

• Request Info

Build Your Program

• Workshops + Electives
• Sleepaway Program
• Ultimate Day Program
• Student Life
• Meet Our People
• Beautiful Campus in Greater Boston Area
• International Students

Veterinary Science

Focus program.

• Sleepaway or Ultimate Day Program

Design Your Program

• Overnight Program

Medical Specialties

• Overnight or Ultimate Day Program
• Suburban Campus in Greater NYC Area

Find Your Spark

• College Counseling
• College Visits
• Residential or Commuter
• Campus Life - Greater Boston Area

Explorations 

Explore possible futures, berkeley campus overview.

• Criminal Investigations
• Psychology + Neuroscience
• Explore San Francisco + the Bay Area
• Campus Life at Berkeley
• Strengthen Your College Application

Oxford + London Campus Overview

• Architecture, Art + Culture
• Business, Law + Politics
• Week 1: Oxford
• Week 2: London

Concentrations

Dive into your future.

• Concentrations 
• Earn College Credit
• Diverse Faculty + Professionals
• Industry Visits

Faculty + Staff

Play + learning, community + accomplishments.

• Student Outcomes
• Support EXPLO

Experience + Shine

• Health + Safety
• What's Important to Us
• Our Leadership
• Industry Collaborators
• Visits + Events
• Admission Process
• Tuition + Financial Aid

For Schools + Organizations

• How We Support Schools
• Purpose Project
• Meet the Team
• Our Clients
• Explorations at Oxford + London
• Grades 10-12

Summer Abroad Program at Oxford + London

Get ready for your Pre-College study abroad in England at the oldest English-speaking university in the world—University of Oxford. You’ll spend one week on the beautiful Worcester College campus in this summer abroad program at Oxford before traveling to University College London for week two, where the fascinating international city of London will be at your fingertips. 

• Residential: June 30 – July 13
• Location: Week 1: University of Oxford's Worcester College, Oxford, U.K.  Week 2: University College London, London, U.K.  
• Staff to Student Ratio 1:6
• Tuition: $7,590 Tuition + Financial Aid

A world of possibilities

Dive into your area of interest with real projects—and step out of the classroom and into diverse industry, research, and cultural settings. Explorations connect you with the experts and unique resources of Oxford and London to see just how many academic and professional disciplines are possible in your area of interest. 

Pick your passion

Experience new ideas with people who love what they do

Advisors, speakers, and faculty in your Pre-College study abroad in England are passionate and accomplished experts in political science, history, humanities, economics, and more. You'll be inspired to think big when you learn with leaders like these.

What’s an Exploration like? 

Explorations at Oxford + London are for motivated high school students who are excited to take a deep dive into new subjects and explore these two cities with high-achieving, adventure-loving peers.

Insights into the professional possibilities of your discipline 

Through hands-on work, see how academic subjects and professions intersect in these international settings.

Immersive learning experiences in unique settings

In this summer abroad program at Oxford and London, you’ll make the city centers and leading institutions of storied Oxford and London your classroom.

A taste of university life in the UK 

Experience life at two renowned universities with the freedom to explore both cities on your own terms.

Ways to strengthen your college applications

Get a written performance evaluation from your instructor that you can use with applications, as well as tips and workshops on the college application process in the U.K. including Oxbridge.

Unforgettable trips + activities 

Attend a performance at Shakespeare's world-famous Globe Theatre, go punting on the River Cherwell, visit the halls of Parliament, and so much more.

Connections with peers + experts

Form meaningful connections with motivated students from around the world, as well as a network of academic and professional connections across the many areas of study within your discipline.

Week 1—Welcome to Oxford

Known as the City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford is home to one of the most iconic cityscapes in the world—and the #1 ranked university where you’ll live. Worcester College sits in the heart of Oxford’s influential community. Here, medieval cottages coexist with state-of-the-art research facilities, and history, culture, and innovation come together.

Week 2—Living the London Lifestyle

University College London is known as London’s global university and won University of the Year 2024 for the UK (The Times). Located in the Bloomsbury district, you’ll be in London’s most learned quarter, near the British Museum and what is commonly known as “Museum Street.” From Buckingham Palace to Camden Market, you’ll enjoy the magic of London.

Dive into a day of Explorations at Oxford + London

Take a trip through each day and see the new directions they explored and the choices they made. How will you make Oxford and London your own?

Age: 16, rising 11th grader

Program:  Explorations in Architecture, Art + Culture at Oxford + London

Age: 15, rising 10th grader

Program: Explorations in Business, Law + Politics at Oxford + London

Preparing for your future—no matter where it takes you

Pre-College study abroad in England gives you the opportunity to tour University of Oxford, University College London, and Imperial College.  Attend workshops on applying to university in the U.K., the Oxbridge application process, and the differences in applying and studying in the U.K. and the U.S. You’ll get a written evaluation from your instructor that covers your work, contributions, and areas of strength that you may use for your university applications.

Where people do big things

Worcester College

College facilities, accommodation and meals.

• Courses available

About the college

Worcester College aims to provide a friendly and supportive academic and social environment where every member can thrive.

In addition to a wide range of support systems, Worcester offers excellent facilities for sport as well as strong musical and theatrical traditions.

The college has made strong, public commitments to equity and inclusion and seeks to cultivate a community of the widest variety of backgrounds and experience.

Library and IT services

Worcester College's library is one of its finest assets. The modern collection for students' use consists of 65,000 volumes. There is also an extensive additional collection on architectural history and its background culture and a separate law library containing books, periodicals and law reports (6,000 volumes). The magnificent Old Library houses collections of European importance.

The current library building was completed in 1736 and was built to house Dr George Clarke's great bequest of books, manuscripts, prints and drawings, which, together with Provost William Gower’s later bequest in 1771, makes the library a major holder of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century material (including one of the largest collections of English plays printed before 1750). Researchers may be interested in the special collections of prints, drawings, manuscripts and early printed books. There are particular strengths in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century literature, the English Civil War, and architectural history.

The Upper Library, which contains the modern collection intended for use by undergraduates and graduates, is open 24 hours a day. The holdings are registered on the University’s joint online catalogue. There is a special allocation in the budget for graduates, who are encouraged to make suggestions for book purchases. The beautiful old reading room, with its fine view over the college grounds, is also available as a study area.

The college has a graduate computer room and a self-service printer which can be accessed 24 hours a day. Wi-Fi is available throughout the college, including in all graduate accommodation. 

Sport, music and college facilities

Worcester College has an active music society, chapel choir and drama society (the "Buskins"). There is a gym and a sports field on the college site.

The following are available to provide assistance to graduates:

• Graduate Officer
• Tutor for Graduates
• Senior Tutor
• College Advisors
• Peer Supporters
• Welfare Officer
• Tutor for Women
• College Nurse
• College counsellor

Facilities for disabled students

Worcester College is committed to enabling disabled students to participate as fully as possible in college and university life. Prospective students are advised to  contact the Graduate Officer  to discuss any special needs.

All graduates at the college are full members of the  Worcester Middle Common Room (MCR) , representing the graduate student body.

Worcester’s MCR is a large, diverse and active community which provides a friendly atmosphere for helping students to settle in both socially and academically.

Accommodation

All graduate accommodation is located on residential streets surrounding the college.

Single accommodation is provided in the college's Franks Building, a purpose-built hall of residence with en-suite shower rooms and shared kitchen facilities, and also in a number of houses converted for student use. Each house has between five and ten bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities and communal kitchen/living/dining areas. There are several bedrooms in college accommodation which have been adapted to cater for disabled students. The letting period for single accommodation is nine, ten or eleven months (from October).

A very limited number of flats may be available for graduates with partners. The flats are suitable for two adults and one small child.

Graduate licence agreements at Worcester College are 10 months long with a default departure date of 1st August. Students may request to extend or reduce their licence terms by one calendar month to align with their course dates.

Worcester College does not provide single-sex accommodation blocks.

Further information on  accommodation at Worcester College  is available on the college website.

All graduate accommodation has kitchen facilities; meals are also available in the college during term time.

This college accepts graduate students for the following courses:

Course Mode of study Expected length Advanced Computer Science MSc Full time 1 year Ancient History DPhil Full time 3-4 years Ancient History DPhil Part time 6-8 years Ancient Philosophy MSt Full time 9 months Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition MSc Full time 1 year Archaeology DPhil Full time 3-4 years Astrophysics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Atomic and Laser Physics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems EPSRC CDT Full time 4 years Bachelor of Civil Law BCL Full time 10 months Biochemistry DPhil Full time 3-4 years Biochemistry MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Biodiversity, Conservation and Management MPhil Full time 2 years Biodiversity, Conservation and Management MSc Full time 1 year Biology DPhil Full time 3-4 years Biomedical Sciences (NIH OxCam) DPhil Full time 3-4 years Cardiovascular Science DPhil Full time 4 years Cellular Structural Biology DPhil Full time 4 years Chemistry DPhil Full time 3-4 years Chemistry MSc by Research Full time 2-3 years Classical Archaeology DPhil Full time 3-4 years Classical Archaeology MPhil Full time 21 months Classical Archaeology MSt Full time 9 months Classical Languages and Literature DPhil Full time 3-4 years Classical Languages and Literature DPhil Part time 6-8 years Clinical Medicine DPhil Full time 3-4 years Clinical Medicine DPhil Part time 6-8 years Clinical Neurosciences DPhil Full time 3-4 years Clinical Neurosciences DPhil Part time 6-8 years Clinical Neurosciences MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Clinical Neurosciences MSc by Research Part time 2-6 years Clinical Psychology DClinPsych Full time 3 years Comparative Literature and Critical Translation MSt Full time 9 months Computer Science DPhil Full time 3-4 years Condensed Matter Physics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Criminology DPhil Full time 3-4 years Criminology DPhil Part time 6-8 years Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc Full time 9 months Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc Part time 21 months Earth Sciences DPhil Full time 3-4 years Economic and Social History MPhil Full time 21 months Economic and Social History MSc Full time 11 months Economics combined MPhil and DPhil Full time 5 years Economics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Economics DPhil Part time 6-8 years Economics MPhil Full time 21 months Economics for Development MSc Full time 9 months EcoWild NERC CDT Full time 3-4 years Ecowild NERC CDT Part time 8 years Education DPhil Full time 3-4 years Education DPhil Part time 6-8 years Education (Child Development and Education) MSc Full time 1 year Education (Comparative and International Education) MSc Full time 1 year Education (Digital and Social Change) MSc Full time 1 year Education (Higher Education) MSc Full time 1 year Education (Research Design and Methodology) MSc Full time 1 year Education (Research Design and Methodology) MSc Part time 2 years Engineering Biology DPhil Full time 4 years Engineering Science DPhil Full time 3-4 years Engineering Science DPhil Part time 6-8 years Engineering Science MSc by Research Full time 2-3 years English DPhil Full time 3-4 years English DPhil Part time 6-8 years English (1550-1700) MSt Full time 9 months English (1700-1830) MSt Full time 9 months English (1830-1914) MSt Full time 9 months English (1900-Present) MSt Full time 9 months English (​650-1550) MSt Full time 9 months English and American Studies MSt Full time 9 months English Studies (Medieval Period) MPhil Full time 21 months Environmental Change and Management MPhil Full time 2 years Environmental Change and Management MSc Full time 1 year Environmental Research NERC DTP Full time 4 years Executive MBA EMBA Part time 24 or 26 months Experimental Psychology DPhil Full time 3-4 years Experimental Psychology DPhil Part time 6-8 years Experimental Psychology MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Experimental Psychology MSc by Research Part time 2-6 years Film Aesthetics MSt Full time 9 months Finance DPhil Full time 4 years Geography and the Environment DPhil Full time 3-4 years Geography and the Environment DPhil Part time 6-8 years Global and Imperial History MSt Full time 9 months Global Governance and Diplomacy MSc Full time 9 months Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature MPhil Full time 21 months Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature MSt Full time 9 months Greek and/or Roman History MPhil Full time 21 months Greek and/or Roman History MSt Full time 9 months Healthcare Data Science EPSRC CDT Full time 4 years History DPhil Full time 3-4 years History DPhil Part time 6-8 years History MPhil Full time 21 months History MSt Full time 9 months History MSt Part time 21 months History (Economic and Social History) DPhil Full time 3-4 years History (Economic and Social History) DPhil Part time 6-8 years History of Art DPhil Full time 3-4 years History of Art DPhil Part time 6-8 years History of Art and Visual Culture MSt Full time 9 months History of Science, Medicine and Technology MPhil Full time 21 months History of Science, Medicine and Technology MSc Full time 11 months Inflammatory and Musculoskeletal Disease DPhil Full time 3-4 years Inorganic Materials for Advanced Manufacturing EPSRC CDT Full time 4 years Integrated Immunology MSc Full time 1 year Intelligent Earth (AI for the Environment) UKRI CDT Full time 4 years Interdisciplinary Bioscience BBSRC DTP Full time 4 years International Relations DPhil Full time 3-4 years International Relations DPhil Part time 6-8 years International Relations MPhil Full time 21 months Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World MPhil Full time 21 months Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MPhil Full time 21 months Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MSt Full time 9 months Law DPhil Full time 3-4 years Law DPhil Part time 6-8 years Law MPhil Full time 1 year Law and Finance MSc Full time 10 months Learning and Teaching MSc Part time 2 years Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics DPhil Part time 6-8 years Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics MPhil Full time 21 months Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics MSt Full time 9 months Magister Juris MJur Full time 10 months Management DPhil Full time 4 years Master of Business Administration MBA Full time 1 year Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing MSc Full time 1 year Mathematical Sciences MSc Full time 9 months Mathematics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Mathematics MSc by Research Full time 2-3 years Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science MSc Full time 1 year Medical Sciences DPhil Full time 3-4 years Medical Sciences DPhil Part time 6-8 years Medieval and Modern Languages DPhil Full time 3-4 years Medieval and Modern Languages DPhil Part time 6-8 years Medieval Studies MSt Full time 9 months Modern Languages MPhil Full time 21 months Modern Languages MSt Full time 9 months Molecular and Cellular Medicine DPhil Full time 3-4 years Molecular and Cellular Medicine DPhil Part time 6-8 years Molecular and Cellular Medicine MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Molecular and Cellular Medicine MSc by Research Part time 2-6 years Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease DPhil Full time 3-4 years Musculoskeletal Sciences DPhil Full time 3-4 years Musculoskeletal Sciences DPhil Part time 6-8 years Musculoskeletal Sciences MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Musculoskeletal Sciences MSc by Research Part time 2-6 years Music DPhil Full time 3-4 years Music DPhil Part time 7-8 years Music (Composition) MPhil Full time 21 months Music (Composition) MSt Full time 9 months Music (Musicology) MPhil Full time 21 months Music (Musicology) MSt Full time 9 months Music (Performance) MPhil Full time 21 months Music (Performance) MSt Full time 9 months Nature, Society and Environmental Governance MSc Full time 1 year Neuroscience combined MSc and DPhil Full time 4 years Neuroscience MSc Full time 1 year Oncology DPhil Full time 3-4 years Oncology MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Particle Physics DPhil Full time 3-4 years PGCE PGCert Full time 1 year Pharmacology DPhil Full time 3-4 years Pharmacology MSc Full time 1 year Pharmacology MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Philosophical Theology MPhil Full time 21 months Philosophical Theology MSt Full time 9 months Philosophy DPhil Full time 3-4 years Philosophy BPhil Full time 21 months Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Political Theory Research MSc Full time 1 year Politics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Politics DPhil Part time 6-8 years Politics (Comparative Government) MPhil Full time 21 months Politics (European Politics and Society) MPhil Full time 21 months Politics (Political Theory) MPhil Full time 21 months Politics Research MSc Full time 1 year Psychiatry DPhil Full time 3-4 years Psychiatry DPhil Part time 6-8 years Psychiatry MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Psychiatry MSc by Research Part time 2-6 years Psychological Research MSc Full time 1 year Refugee and Forced Migration Studies MSc Full time 9 months Statistical Science MSc Full time 1 year Statistical Science PGDip Full time 9 months Statistics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Statistics MSc by Research Full time 2-3 years Statistics and Machine Learning EPSRC CDT Full time 4 years Statistics and Machine Learning EPSRC CDT Part time 8 years Study of Religions MSt Full time 9 months Surgical Sciences DPhil Full time 3-4 years Surgical Sciences MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment MSc Full time 1 year Sustainable Approaches to Biomedical Science: Responsible and Reproducible Research EPSRC CDT Full time 4 years Taxation MSc Part time 2 years Teacher Education MSc Part time 2 years Theology MPhil Full time 21 months Theology MSt Full time 9 months Theology and Religion DPhil Full time 3 years Theology and Religion DPhil Part time 6 years Theoretical Physics DPhil Full time 3-4 years Water Science, Policy and Management MPhil Full time 2 years Water Science, Policy and Management MSc Full time 1 year Women's and Reproductive Health DPhil Full time 3-4 years Women's and Reproductive Health DPhil Part time 8 years Women's and Reproductive Health MSc by Research Full time 1-3 years Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies MSt Full time 9 months World Literatures in English MSt Full time 9 months

Please note that not all subjects areas or streams of a particular course may be offered by this college. Please see the college information on the relevant course page for further details. For a comprehensive list of all graduate courses available at the University of Oxford, please refer to our courses A-Z listing . 

Worcester College is set in twenty-six acres of wooded grounds, including a lake and sports fields, yet it is only a few minutes' walk from the city centre and Oxford's railway and bus stations.

Worcester College,  Oxford OX1 2HB www.worc.ox.ac.uk

*Total across all year groups (see  source data )

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Worcester College Chapel

Thank you for visiting the website of the Chapel of Worcester College, Oxford.

Chapel is a place to sit, to breathe, to pray, to worship, to take time and be a little bit more human again. It is always open, always there, and you don’t need permission to open the door and go in.

Our choral services, based in the rites of the Church of England, are likewise open to everyone – whether faith is new or familiar or totally alien to you, and whatever life-story you bring as you join us. Our aim is to offer peace and hope and a few moments with eternity as we come before God together day by day. Our hope is that our whole community might find a safe space and an inspiration in our music and our prayers.

Download the termcard   and music list from Hilary Term 2024.

On this website you can find out more about the choral services  sung by the  Choir  every week in term time, as well as special events, concerts, and Christian education. Please do look at detail of our  services and music  and our calendar of  special events  .

The Chaplain of Worcester is the  Revd Marcus Green , who is pastorally available to all members of College. The Revd Dr Matthew Salisbury is our Assistant Chaplain, and Mr Caius Lee our Director of Music.

We hope that you will find all the information that you need on this website. Do get in contact with us via the  feedback form  if you have any comments. You can also find us on  Facebook  and  Twitter . If you wish to find out more about Worcester College, especially regarding admissions (including choral and organ scholarships), then please visit the  main College website .