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Original poster

Oxford: most picturesque college

42 replies

gramercy · 01/06/2010 13:12

OK, apologies that this is not really on topic, but thought I might get an insider's view here!

Off to Oxford for a day trip, and want to walk round the colleges, but I see that they all charge a not insignificant entrance fee now.

Which college would you pick out as the most attractive/impressive to visit, and also, if anyone knows, which Evensong would you recommend? I will be accompanied by the dcs, but they are fairly civilised.

Thanks v much!

OP posts:
cleanandclothed · 01/06/2010 13:20

Well, Christ Church is great, but does charge quite a bit I think. The Hall was the basis for the Harry Potter hall (and the college was used for filming, and also for filming some of the Golden Compass).

I would say it is the most impressive but probably not the most attractive (Magdalen/New College/Worcester perhaps?)

Evensong at Christ Church is good (the 'chapel' is also Oxford's cathedral), and has a good choir - check in advance that the normal choir are singing as sometimes in school holidays they go away on tour. They will not charge for entry to the grounds if you go straight to the service, so I would recommend that you pay to go into one of the other colleges, and then go to Evensong at Christ Church, and then you at least get to see the main quad and the cathedral anyway. Depends on how Harry Potter interested you/DCs are!

Original poster
gramercy · 01/06/2010 13:23

Thanks v much - v good tips!

OP posts:
Summersoon · 01/06/2010 14:16

Magdalen's gardens and buildings are beautiful and I would recommend you go for a walk around what is known as "Addison's Walk" - access through the college between cloisters and the so-called (18th C) "New Buildings". It is a very pretty flat walk and you will be able to see the deer.
Evensong in the 15th C chapel is lovely, too.
But do find out about opening times on the college website as times are restricted if you didn't attend the college yourself.
(I did, hence huge bias )

PigeonPie · 01/06/2010 14:28

gramercy, when are you thinking of going? Just to warn you that it is 6th week at present so the finalists are in the final stages of finals and the first years are doing mods and prelims so it's a bit mad in Oxford at the moment with loads of students rushing round in sub fusc wearing carnations in their buttonholes or tipping flour and champagne over themselves as they've finished!

Best advice I'd give is to check the individual college websites for opening times. Look at www.ox.ac.uk/colleges/colleges_and_halls_az/index.html for a full list.

Sorry cleanandclothed, but according to the Domestic Bursar and others, it was Keble's Hall that was used for the basis of HP's Hall! Apparently, they came and photographed it and built it as a set as college couldn't accommodate them for the filming - and it does bear an uncanny resemblance (I hadn't realised it when I saw the first film and it just felt like I knew it) - but I may be wrong!

Original poster
gramercy · 01/06/2010 17:05

I knew this was the place to ask this question! Thanks to all.

Does the fact of it being "6th week" mean that colleges will be closed? Obviously if students are taking exams, especially finals, it would be rather a disturbance to have random members of the public wandering around.

OP posts:
Eleison · 01/06/2010 17:15

New College has the best chapel, IMO, and cloisters. The Epstein statue of Lazarus there is beautiful also. New College choir is highly rated so I think Evensong there would be good.

Goldberry · 01/06/2010 17:24

Most impressive: Christ Church. Most beautiful: Magdalen, New College. Trinity has very pretty gardens.

KnitterNotTwitter · 01/06/2010 17:32

I was at Trinity and agree that the gardens are beautiful - AND you can walk on the lawns which isn't the case at many other colleges. St Johns is nice too, as is Univ.

KnitterNotTwitter · 01/06/2010 17:34

Oooh and I'd agree that the New College chapel is beautiful

mummytime · 01/06/2010 18:34

I love St John's, very biased. I think Worcester and the lake is wonderfully picturesque. But if you are going to Oxford do go to the Pitt River's museum, even after being refurbished its still a magical, mad place.

snowmash · 01/06/2010 18:55

Confused that you think all the Colleges have entry fees - a lot of them do open in the afternoons for tourists.

Some do charge (like Christchurch), and I agree with mummytime re: Pitt River's.

Which evensong depends which day, and what you are after (at least in my book - lots of the chapels are lovely in different ways).

If you are outside of full term, then you're more restricted if you want a choral service.

PigeonPie · 01/06/2010 20:10

Colleges aren't closed, but it's not a very relaxed time of year (although it may look it when they've finished their exams!). Most of the exams take place in the Exam Halls on the High Street, but there will be some students who, for some reason or other, are taking theirs in their College.

In fact once the Vacation, or now more commonly known as the 'Conference Season' starts, there may be more limited access to the Colleges as conferences are able to specify access sometimes.

It's always just better to look at websites and see where you might like to go and ring them to find out.

I must say I'm biased, but Keble has one of the most impressive Chapels, although it's in the parochial style rather than collegiate - it also has the Holman Hunt painting The Light of the World which some like. It's opposite the Natural History Museum / Pitt Rivers which is also a great visit.

I'd second Trinity's gardens and St John's are rather good too with some interesting modern architectural buildings. I know more on the north side of Broad Street than south!

azazello · 01/06/2010 20:15

Magdalen definitely .Possibly a bit biased. Magdalen, New college and Christchurch have the best boys choirs and do evensongs at weekends in term time.

A really nice walk is to go down Rose Lane opposite Magdalen and take the right hand path round the back of Merton to Christchurch and then back along St Aldates and the High.

gerontius · 01/06/2010 20:18

New College definitely has the best choir. And I'd say it's the most beautiful too.

cassell · 01/06/2010 20:30

Aah nostalgia Oxford is so beautiful this time of year.

Definitely worth going to Christ Church - and walking through the meadow to the river. Magdalen grounds are lovely and the deer are great you can then walk up into the university parks which are lovely - and you could always pop into Lady Margaret Hall at the top of the parks, gardens are nice going down to the river and they don't charge. While you're up that end Keble architecture is quite unique - but you can get the idea from the road no need to go in. Not a huge New College fan but agree the choir is good. Worcester lake/gardens can be really atmospheric if it's a bit overcast/misty. Most of the other city centre ones are much of a muchness - all attractive but nothing special. Trinity gardens are pretty I agree but not sure it's worth paying to go in - I'd rather go to the botanic gardens which are great - the giant lily pads are amazing!

My college was not the most attractive so not recommending that one!

Enjoy! Quite envious now

zapostrophe · 01/06/2010 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ib · 01/06/2010 20:41

I would say Christ Church, also walk along the river.

There are loads of beautiful gardens around, but in terms of buildings it has to be Ch Ch. Although the cloisters and chapel in New are really very pretty indeed.

iloveasylumseekers · 01/06/2010 20:43

Christ Church is grandest, Magdalen is most beautiful, but I always had a soft spot for New College.

I would add that the Pitt Rivers Museum is a must if you have children.

hatwoman · 01/06/2010 20:43

personally Christ Church left me a bit cold, as it were. I think some of the smaller colleges are among the prettiest. iirc Jesus is rather lovely. also Merton, and Worcester (not particularly small). And agree re Magdelen. One of my favourite places is the Radcliffe Camera - but not sure about access for tourists though.

iloveasylumseekers · 01/06/2010 20:50

hatwoman I agree having studied at one of the ones you mention but sssh - don't tell anyone that the little colleges are the prettiest - one of the best thing about the small ones is the lack of tourists peering into your rooms....

Wigeon · 01/06/2010 21:01

Another vote for Evensong at New College. DH and Noahandthewhale's DH ex-choristers and would say it's definitely the best Evensong! (and it actually is ). Chapel pretty impressive too.

DH's top tip is that if you go at Evensong time then it is free to get into the college.

Have a lovely trip!

MrsJohnDeere · 01/06/2010 21:04

Christ Church leaves me cold too.

Magdalen, Trinity, or Corpus are prettiest imho.

I went to one of the uglier ones that nobody bothers to visit.

Wigeon · 01/06/2010 22:02

PS - someone has to say it, so it might as well be me: go to Cambridge instead, much better colleges, far more pretty, and Evensong at King's far superior.

gerontius · 01/06/2010 22:05

St John's choir is better than King's at the moment....arguably Trinity as well. And Cambridge is not prettier. It also feels really austere.

PigeonPie · 01/06/2010 22:10

And the book shops are far superior in Oxford