Christ Church College Oxford: Everything You Need To Know
Christ Church College, Oxford is one of the best and most well-known colleges in Oxford. With its stunning architecture, long-standing history, and notable alumni it’s not difficult to see why. Although it’s a working institution, many are unaware that you can book tickets to walk around this incredible college. Here is everything you need to know about Christ Church College so you can be prepared and plan your visit with ease.
History of Christ Church College, Oxford
Christ Church College, Oxford was founded in 1546 as a renaissance movement to improve education and train young men for life in the church and state. The first steps to achieve this however were taken in 1524 by Cardinal Wolsey.
He planned to build a new Cardinal’s college and the money would come from the closing of some monasteries, including the St Frideswide Priory in Oxford. The site of the old Frideswide Priory would serve as the central hub for the college due to its idyllic location.
The priory was on the edge of what was already a university town and had its own priory church and buildings. Wolsey’s hope for closing the monastery and turning it into a college was based on his need to prove his credentials as a humanist intellectual and put the wealth of the church to more practical use.
The foundation stones were soon laid and work began on the hall, however, in 1529 Wolsey fell from power and his grand plans had to be revised. This left Henry VIII to take over the college. He re-founded it in 1546 as Aedes Christi, the House (or Church) of Christ and his plans were even more ambitious than Wolsey’s.
The College would now be a cathedral church of a new diocese as well as a place of scholarship. Henry VIII’s involvement with Christ Church College ensured there would be a strong connection between the Royal Family and the college.
Almost 100 years later Charles I was forced to leave London by his Parliamentarian opponents during the English civil war, and it is where he ended up staying for almost four years, although this had not been intended. When his son, Charles II, was restored to the throne in 1660 Christ Church College, Oxford was jubilant.
During the years following 1660, the famous Tom Quad was finally finished and to this day it still remains as one of Oxford’s most famous places. From the 16th–century onwards, Christ Church College has seen many influential members pass through its doors, from prime minters and philosophers to religious leaders and famous authors.
Today the college is one of the larger colleges in Oxford with around 450 undergraduates and roughly 150 graduates from all walks of life and this diversity ensures the college remains a lively academic community. The cathedral still ministers to the whole diocese however it is also a college chapel with regular services open to all.
Where Is Christ Church College?
Address: St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DP
Christ Church College is located on St Aldates, just a few minutes’ walk from Oxford city centre.
Getting There
Getting to Christ Church College from all over the UK is relatively easy plus our properties are all within a short distance of Oxford City Centre meaning you’re never too far away from any of the Oxford Colleges. Here are a few additional ways to get to Christ Church College, Oxford.
By bus:
There are plenty of local buses that can get you to the college from all across Oxford. Use the Oxford Bus Company’s Journey Planner to a route that serves your needs and to find out which buses you’ll need to catch.
By car:
Parking in and around Oxford City Centre can be difficult plus there is no parking at the college itself. So the best option if travelling by car would be to use one of the park and ride buses. Or check on the Oxford City Council website for car parking in Oxford.
By train:
No matter where you are coming from a train offers some of the easiest ways to get to Oxford. There’s a direct service that operates from London Marylebone or London Paddington to Oxford Station. There are also direct services from Birmingham, Worcester, Manchester, New Castle, Hereford, and York. Plan your route using the National Rail website.
Interesting Facts About Christ Church College, Oxford
Christ Church College is one of the most well-known and famous colleges in Oxford and with over 500 years of history, it’s sure to have developed a large number of fun facts. Here are a handful of interesting facts and traditions you may or may not know about Christ Church College, Oxford:
- Christ Church College has an award-winning choir. The Cathedral Choir over the years has attracted many accomplished composers and organists and has many award-winning recordings to their credit. They have even been the subject of a Channel 4 television documentary called Howard Goodall’s Great Dates. This collaboration has also led the choir to sing the TV themes for Mr Bean and The Vicar of Dibley.
- The Cathedral at Christ Church is one of the smallest in England. Most cathedrals are grand buildings and by their standards, Christ Church Cathedral is pretty small in comparison. In fact, from its unassuming entrance in Tom Quad, you would have no idea that a cathedral was even there, which in itself makes it rather impressive.
- Tom Tower was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Christ Church College is by far one of the prettiest colleges to visit in Oxford and that’s down to its stunning architecture. Not a lot of people know this but the iconic Tom Tower was designed by world-renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren.
- Tom Tower chimes 101 times every evening. Here’s a little fact that you might only learn when you’ve been a student at Christ Church College. Every evening at 9.05 pm the tower will chime 101 times in honour of the 101 first students to ever attend Christ Church.
- Koi Carp are rumoured to have been gifted to the college by the Japanese Prime Minister. Mercury pond which sits in the centre of Tom Quad is home to lots of Koi Carp and the rumours say that they were gifted to the college by the Japanese Prime Minister, whether this is completely true is uncertain but it’s still pretty cool to see them swimming around.
- Christ Church College has been used as a location for several well-known films. The college is most well-known for being a filming location for Harry Potter with the dining hall being an inspiration for the Great Hall. Besides Harry Potter, other films that have used Christ Church include The Golden Compass and Heaven’s Gate. Plus several TV series such as The Secret World of Lewis Carroll and Inspector Morse.
- The college has its own picture gallery. The gallery is home to around 300 paintings and 2000 drawings including ones by notable artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
- The oldest form of graffiti can be found within the grounds. As well as having its own picture gallery, Christ Church College is home to one of the oldest forms of graffiti on record. As you approach the stairs to the dining hall there’s an old brown door to the right where you’ll see the words ‘PEEL’. This was marked on the door in protest of Sir Robert Peel who was the British prime minister in the 19th Century.
Planning Your Visiting To Christ Church
The Christ Church College website has all the information you may need to help you plan your visit.
You will need to book a ticket in advance via their online booking system. Tickets are released on a weekly basis. Keep an eye on their website as you approach your chosen day as the Cathedral and Dining Hall may be closed due to the college being a working institution.
There are several options when you visit Christ Church College, Oxford. You can either do a self-guided tour which is perfect for those that might be a little short on time or only want to see a specific part of the college or you can do a fully guided tour where you’ll be provided with knowledge from local experts and they will also take you to all the best parts of the college.
Things To Do Around Christ Church College
There are plenty of additional things to do around Oxford to help you fill your day. From exploring Blenheim Palace and Oxford Prison and Castle to taking guided walking tours around the city centre and visiting several of the other Oxford Colleges, you’ll never be short on things to do.
For more ideas check out these blogs on our website:
Upcoming Events
For all upcoming events check out the Christ Church College events page on their website. Or take a look at our events page for all upcoming events in Oxford and the surrounding area.
