10 Best and Most Beautiful Oxford Colleges

Wondering which of the 39 Oxford colleges are the best and most beautiful? Here are the 10 best Oxford colleges as picked by an Oxford alumna!

Each and every one of Oxford’s 39 colleges has its own special charm and each Oxford student will be biased towards their own.

However, there’s no denying that some Oxford colleges are just a notch above the rest in terms of architectural and natural beauty.

Here are ten of the best Oxford colleges, which I have chosen based on the college grounds and buildings.

They also tend to be some of the oldest and richest colleges with the best facilities and most interesting histories.

If you have arrived at this Oxford colleges guide because you are a future applicant and trying to decide which college to pick, please read my post on the 8 Do’s and Don’ts When Choosing an Oxford College first.

This will give you application advice and help you figure out what is important to you before you get swept up in the pretty pictures.

Now begins this guide to visiting Oxford colleges! This is by no means an exhaustive Oxford college list, simply a list of some of the best Oxford colleges.

Magdalen College

Magdalen College is one of the best Oxford colleges to visit and steals the top spot for me on this list.

If I had to pick just one of these as the most beautiful Oxford college it would be this one.

Magdalen is one of the biggest Oxford colleges and the grounds are simply enormous.

There’s so much to admire from the numerous architecturally impressive buildings, Magdalen Tower, the cloisters, the deer park (yes, a DEER PARK) and the river running through. 

Poking out in the middle there is Magdalen Tower, which is one of Oxford’s iconic landmarks.

On the 1st of May every year, Oxford celebrates something called “May Day”. On this day, the Magdalen college choir sings from the top of the tower at 6am in the morning.

It’s a tradition for Oxford University students to go out partying the night before and stay up all night before gathering in front of Magdalen college in the early hours of the morning.

The crowds are usually made up of a mix of Oxford locals, keen tourists and many merry students. 

Magdalen College also has its very own deer park, which always reminds me of Richmond Park in London. It’s crazy to think that inside a university you could find a deer park!

This part of the college is called The Grove and is home to a herd of fallow deer that have been present in Magdalen College for over 300 years.

There are several dozen deer here so if you’re visiting Oxford in the Spring, make sure you pop into Magdalen to see the fawns!  

Magdalen College has many notable alumni including Oscar Wilde (author of The Importance of Being Earnest), George Osbourne (previous Chancellor of the Exchequer), Ian Hislop (editor of Private Eye) and Thomas Wolsey (who founded Christ Church below).

Additionally, C S Lewis taught at Magdalen College between 1925 and 1954. Check out my literary tour of Oxford for more information about the famous authors who attended Oxford University. 

Address: Magdalen College, Oxford, OX1 4AU
Opening Hours: Vary by season.
Jan – June: 1pm to dusk or 6pm, whichever is earlier
June – Oct: 10am to dusk or 7pm, whichever is earlier
Oct – Dec: 1pm to dusk or 6pm, whichever is earlier
Price: £9.50 adults, £8.50 concessions, £28 family ticket
Website: www.magd.ox.ac.uk

Christ Church

Ah, Christ Church. Christ Church was my home for four years so I am slightly biased towards it but it is objectively one of the most impressive Oxford colleges in terms of architecture.

If you’re planning to visit Oxford University then Christ Church would be the one college I’d recommend you visit.

RELATED: How to Spend One Day in Oxford

Tom Tower featured below was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St Paul’s Cathedral in London, and it’s another iconic Oxford landmark. 

Each quad you visit at Christ Church is more impressive than the last and your final stop on any tour of Christ Church will be Peckwater Quad (below left).

Here you will find the best rooms in Christ Church and thus the ones that many students have squabbled over.

I was fortunate enough to live in one of the “Peck sets” in my second year at Oxford, sharing the set with one of my best friends.

My room was where the two windows on the far left in the middle are! I had amazing views of the quad and the library from my room, which is pictured on the right.

Christ Church library is absolutely enormous and is one of the best-stocked libraries in Oxford.

Unfortunately, the library is strictly for students only but you can check out my post on beautiful Oxford libraries here to get an insider’s look! 

Of course, one of the things that Christ Church is most famous for and, indeed, the reason that I applied to Christ Church, is the Harry Potter filming locations.

The Christ Church dining hall is the hall that the Hogwarts Great Hall is based on.

This also makes it one of the most popular Oxford colleges for tourists to visit.

Below you can see the Harry Potter steps which are used in the first and second Harry Potter films. Check out my Harry Potter tour of Oxford to find out exactly which spots were used and when! 

For more posts about Christ Church, check out these:
Harry Potter Tour of Oxford University
15 Facts About Christ Church, Oxford
10 Reasons to Apply to Christ Church
Inside Christ Church Dining Hall

Address: Christ Church, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DP
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (Monday to Saturday), 2pm – 5pm (Sunday)
Price: £16 adults, £15 concessions (online prices), children under 5 free
Website: www.chch.ox.ac.uk

Worcester College

Currently only open to prospective applicants, Oxford University students and alumni. Check their website for the latest information.

Worcester College is similar to Magdalen in that it boasts both beautiful buildings and beautiful grounds.

It’s another very large Oxford college though visited less frequently by tourists than the two colleges above.

This is surprising given that there is no admission price and it is one of the best free things to do in Oxford.

Worcester has surprisingly extensive grounds for a college in the centre of Oxford, 26 acres to be precise.

This is simply because back in the eighteenth century, this college was actually on the outskirts of the city. 

The library can be found above the arches of the entrance and I must admit that the beautiful exterior just may be even more beautiful than that of Christ Church library. 

The main quad is flanked on one side by medieval cottages which are remnants of “Gloucester College”, which originally stood here.

As you can see, the walls are covered with beautiful flowers and Worcester College Gardeners have been named the winners of the Oxford in Bloom competition numerous times.

Further into the college, you’ll find a lake. Yes, an actual lake. It’s an idyllic spot where you’ll feel like you’ve been transported away from Oxford to the Cotswolds beyond.

It’s astonishing that such a large private water feature could be in the middle of the centre of Oxford but that’s one of the many charms of Oxford colleges.  

Fun fact: The Worcester College gardeners even have their own blog where they post regular updates about what taking care of these extensive grounds entails! Check out the Worcester College Garden Blog here.

Address: Worcester College, Walton Street, Oxford, OX1 2HB
Website: www.worc.ox.ac.uk

All Souls

All Souls is the most elusive Oxford College and it takes no undergraduate students.

In order to get in, graduate and postgraduate students apply for examination fellowships through “the hardest exam in the world”, which is followed up with an interview if you are shortlisted. 

If you are granted a place here, you immediately become a fellow. That’s a pretty big deal. 

You can visit the college free of charge between 2pm and 4pm on weekdays and Sundays.

However, if you want the best views of All Souls, you’d be better off climbing the tower of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, which is opposite the Radcliffe Camera.

Not only can you get the best views of the Radcliffe Camera here, but you can also see right into All Souls College.

The Codrington Library is one of the most beautiful libraries in Oxford but you can only gain entry if the tutor at your college refers you.

As such, most Oxford University students never step foot inside this library, which is a shame because it’s so damn beautiful!  

And yes, The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness is indeed named after this Oxford College.

Address: All Souls College, Oxford, OX1 4AL
Opening Hours: 2pm – 4pm every day
Price: FREE
Website: www.asc.ox.ac.uk

Keble College

Keble College is an ‘acquired taste’ shall we say as it differs wildly from the other beautiful Oxford colleges on this list. It’s newer than a lot of the others too as it was built in 1870.

Its distinctive neo-gothic red brick design has always been somewhat controversial and people either love it or hate it.

I am one of those who loves it, though I can’t say I prefer it to the neoclassical and gothic architecture of the other Oxford buildings. 

The red brick design was actually so abhorred by the students at St Johns College, that they created a secret society.

Entry to said society required you to present a red brick to the society’s elders. If you managed to get either a white or a blue brick, you would be given an even more prestigious position.

Their aim was to take Keble down – brick by brick! 

Inside Keble’s Chapel is a famous painting by William Holman Hunt called The Light of the World. Another version of this painting hangs in St Paul’s Cathedral in London! 

Address: Keble College, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PG
Opening Hours: 2pm – 5pm every day
Price: FREE
Website: www.keble.ox.ac.uk

Exeter College

Exeter College is on Turl Street, one of the most central streets in Oxford. The reason I love it is because of its numerous literary connections.

Fans of Phillip Pullman’s book The Northern Lights will be delighted to know that the fictitious Jordan College is actually based on Exeter College!

The film adaptation, The Golden Compass, does actually use some parts of the college as filming locations too. 

It’s one of the smaller Oxford colleges but Exeter has some beautiful gardens and the college’s proximity to Radcliffe Square means you can get amazing views of the Radcliffe Camera from the Fellows’ Garden.

Exeter College chapel is another of the college’s highlights. I love it because the architect drew inspiration from Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and you know I love anything to do with Paris. 

Famous alumni include writers J R R Tolkien, Phillip Pullman and Martin Amis, as well as Roger Bannister. Find out more in my guide to literary Oxford.

Address: Exeter College, Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DP
Opening Hours: 2pm – 5pm every day (last entry 4:30pm)
Price: FREE
Website: www.exeter.ox.ac.uk

New College

New College is one of the largest and wealthiest colleges in Oxford, which is evident from a walk around its grounds. It’s also one of the oldest Oxford colleges, despite the name New College! 

You might recognise the cloisters you see below as they were used as a Harry Potter filming location in Oxford.

The tree you see on the left is the tree under which Mad Eye Moody turns Draco Malfoy into a ferret! 

RELATED: Harry Potter locations in Oxford

New College chapel is renowned for its extravagant interior, which dates back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The rows and rows of statues you can see below were added retrospectively in the nineteenth century and make for quite a unique feature of the chapel. 

In the grounds, there is a gateway which opens onto the garden that is modelled on the gates of the Palace of Versailles. Did I mention this is one of the richest Oxford colleges? 

Notable alumni include: Kate Beckinsale, Sophie Kinsella, Hugh Grant and Richard Dawkins. 

NB. Many people think the iconic Bridge of Sighs in Oxford is part of New College but that beautiful feature actually connects two parts of Hertford College. 

Address: New College, Holywell Street, Oxford, OX1 3BN
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday inclusive (closed every Sunday and Monday) 1:30pm – 4:30 pm (last admission 4.15 pm)
Price: Seasonal. £8 adults, £7 concessions.
Website: www.new.ox.ac.uk

Pembroke College

The fact that Pembroke made it onto this list may strike some Oxonians with surprise but hear me out.

In the springtime, Pembroke College has some of the most beautiful displays of wisteria hysteria that I have ever witnessed.

The beautiful wisteria that covers the walls transforms Pembroke into some sort of flowery oasis that you can’t help but fall in love with. 

Pembroke is one of the smallest Oxford colleges but good things come in small packages, right?

The college chapel may be small but with the extravagant wall and ceiling details, it is absolutely stunning. 

A unique feature of Pembroke College is the modern bridge that connects two quads of the college that stand on different sides of a road.

Fun Fact: When J R R Tolkien was a Fellow here, he wrote The Hobbit and the first two books of The Lord of the Rings trilogy! Find out more in my literary tour of Oxford. 

Unfortunately, Pembroke College is only open to prospective students, alumni, members of the University or those with a connection to the college.

Trinity College

Trinity College is another Oxford college with extensive and beautiful grounds in the centre of the city.

However, unlike some of the other colleges, Trinity has a pretty small student body compared to the size of the grounds. 

The college has four large quadrangles walled in by beautiful buildings but a lawn and gardens too.

The back lawns can be seen through the gates opposite Wadham College on  Parks Road so you’ll often see tourists stopping there to take photos. 

The architecture blew me away every time I came here for a tutorial and I love all the intricate details and statues that make this college look oh so majestic. 

Trinity College was used as a filming location for the original series of Brideshead Revisited and also Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour. 

Address: Trinity College, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BH
Opening Hours: 10:30 to 12pm, 1pm to 4pm every day. 
NB the Dining Hall is closed for lunch 12-2pm, however, the Chapel and gardens remain open.
Price: £3 adults, £2 concessions
Website: www.trinity.ox.ac.uk

Queen’s College

Queen’s College is the fifth richest Oxford College, which isn’t surprising given its extravagant entrance and front quad. 

The entrance to Queen’s College is on the High Street at Oxford and it’s very easy to rush on by without noticing the amazing statue surrounded by columns sitting atop its entrance.

Another reminder to look up from your phone screens because you never know what you might discover! 

The college library is one of the most beautiful Oxford libraries and it dates back to the seventeenth century.

Students are still allowed to study in the amazing Upper Reading Room, which seems simply incredible given its age! 

Check out this post for an insider’s look at eight more beautiful Oxford libraries.

Notable alumni include Tim Berners Lee – only the inventor of the World Wide Web – and Rowan Atkinson, the lovable Mr Bean! 

Address: The Queen’s College, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AW
Opening Hours: Members of the public can arrange access by contacting the local Tourist Information Office.
Website: www.queens.ox.ac.uk

So there you have ten of the best and most beautiful colleges alongside many beautiful pictures to justify my choices!

Which do you think is the best Oxford college?

If you’re planning a day trip to Oxford, check out this free, interactive map of Oxford colleges to see where each is.

How to get to Oxford

By Train 

There are regular trains from all major UK stations to Oxford. If you are coming from London, you will need to go via London Paddington. Oxford station is a little way out of the city centre but you can then take a bus or walk into town.

Book via the Trainline for the cheapest tickets.

By Bus

If you’re planning to come by bus, aim to get off at either Oxford High Street or Gloucester Green bus station depending on your first Oxford destination.

The Oxford Tube is a super convenient and cheap bus service that’ll take you from the centre of London straight into the heart of Oxford. If you’re taking this route, I’d recommend getting off at the High Street so that you can walk to Radcliffe Square in just 3 minutes. 

By Car

Oxford is easily accessible via the M4, M25, M40 and A roads.

Where to Stay in Oxford

Booking.com

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If you liked this post, check out: 
Most Beautiful Libraries at Oxford University
15 Things You Didn’t Know About Christ Church
A Literary Tour of Oxford
Saltburn Filming Locations in Oxford
11 Best Places for Brunch in Oxford
21 Best Cafes in Oxford
10 Reasons to Apply to Christ Church
16 Quotes about Oxford

[ This article was first published in 2018 but was refreshed and updated in 2023 ]

The rights to all photographs in this post belong to whatshotblog.com unless otherwise stated.