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Christ Church

Christ Church, Oxford

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Christ Church

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See all things to do
Christ Church
4.5
2,507
#23 of 169 things to do in Oxford
Historic Sites • Castles • Religious Sites • Educational sites
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The area
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Attractions
184 within 6 miles
War Memorial Garden
30
134 ftGardens
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143 ftEducational sites
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331 ftSpeciality Museums
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510 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
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Carfax Tower
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Modern Art Oxford
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0.1 miArt Museums
Christ Church Picture Gallery
48
0.1 miArt Galleries • Art Museums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,509 reviews
Excellent
1,533
Very good
673
Average
199
Poor
74
Terrible
30
Love_to_travel_0084
52 contributions
Pleasant visit
Feb 2022 • Couples
Lovely place to visit although did think it was overpriced. Understandably there has to be a balance between maintaining the privacy of the students and providing access to visitors, but would have expected the ticket price to be more reflective of this. Would recommend purchasing tickets online in advance as it does get busy and indeed was sold out on the day we visited. Having said that, it didn't feel too crowded and we had a pleasant walk around. The Harry Potter linked locations were the most popular. Do try and go when the Chapel is open as it was well worth seeing. The short videos on the multimedia handset were informative and much better than just audio. They recommend taking your own headphones but they do have some if you forget. Overall we spent about an hour and a half there.
Written March 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
fortybefore40
United Kingdom295 contributions
Fascinating place
Oct 2021
We had so much fun at Christ Church college! First up make sure you go to the visitors centre with your pre booked ticket email. We wandered for ages at each doorway for the college before we found the visitors centre it's a large barn type structure as you go into Christ Church meadows. There's a gift shop there too. You pick up your headset for the self guided tour and head over to the entrance opposite. We went first thing on a Saturday and it wasn't busy, you can spend as much time as you like listening to the history and looking around. The highlights for me were Old Tom - it ring son the hour so make sure you are there at some point its really impressive! The Harry Potter staircase (great photo op!) You might also recognise the fall tower from the movies too. The cathedral windows are beautiful and I enjoyed learning about St Frideswide. I imagine ti would get busier throughout the day and mid week when there are more students about. Sadly the great Hall was closed but the tour still covers it and we knew this before we booked so we weren't disappointed.
Written October 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
ange55
Metfield, UK500 contributions
If you only have time for one college make it this one
Jan 2020 • Couples
If you only have time for one college ...... it’s beautiful, expensive but you’ll only prob be here once . Audio tour interesting , great to learn history , lovely to see references to Harry Potter too plus the ‘CS Lewis connections & the beautiful Alice window . We visited unfortunately on a Sunday , didn’t open until 2pm , we got there at 12 ( shop ) were told we had to come back at 2pm to buy tickets , asked if we could use toilets , told no as code was only available on ticket ( two 65+ people who had driven a very long way ! ) We returned at 1.15 , thank goodness we did , queue was already outside the door ! Didn’t start selling tickets until 2pm and yet four members of staff there .By the times we returned at 4pm queue was all the way across to the college . Cathedral closed which was disappointing , given a £2 reduced ticket but still asked for another £2 to visit the art gallery . I would suggest not visiting on a Sunday as guess cathedral is likely to be closed . We visited in January can’t imagine what queues are like in summer . Get there early ! It’s lovely but don’t expect to be able to use toilets until you get your ticket , I was directed into town to use those in Marks & Spencer’s ! After travelling from Suffolk to Oxfordshire ( 160 miles ) thought somewhat uncharitable act by member of staff but that said it’s a nice place to visit & we enjoyed it .
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Frances H
Leyland, UK123 contributions
Very rude porter
May 2022
We wanted to visit particularly to see the staircase and hall but couldn’t get a civil response out of the porter on the entrance. When we realised we needed to pre-book tickets on line we were unable to do so because the ‘phone signal was so poor so I asked where I might go to get a better signal and he responded that he wasn’t responsible for telephony services. Eventually we decided we would just go to the college shop and he waved us off down the street to find that. The shop had good information about booking tickets but I overheard someone was saying the hall was closed because it was a graduation day. Despite this the college were still selling tickets at £16 each so we decided we wouldn’t bother. If the porter on the main gate has difficulty dealing with people then perhaps a simple sign at the gate stating the hall was closed because of graduation but tickets for the meadow could be purchased from the shop located elsewhere would have been very helpful.
Written May 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
madabout V
Tredegar, UK15 contributions
Check opening times before visiting
Mar 2020 • Couples
Entry to this college costs £15 each. We decided to give it a go, but then was told the college would be closing in 30mins at 11:30am and wouldn't reopen until 2:30pm.
We found most colleges in Oxford recommended to visit we're closed on Monday. It was term time.
Oxford tourist information office was unhelpful and it charge 80p for a small map. I found the people selling the red bus city tours knowledgeable and gave me a free map.
Oxford is very expensive. Careful what you pay for. We saw lots of tourists on walking tours just stood outside the colleges being told about them from the street, because entry to them was either unavailable because the college was closed, or it cost a lot to go in.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Karen
Crowthorne, UK2 contributions
Not worth the money
Mar 2022 • Friends
At £16 to get in with the Cathederal closed, even with the audio tour it took little more than 15 minutes to get round the places we were allowed. Met in the Great Hall by the rudest of guides. Honestly, you are just as well wandering the streets admiring the architecture for free, or take one of the numerous walking or bus tours of Oxford for a better experience.
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
piggyonemoon
West Midlands, UK30 contributions
Visit Magdalen college instead, this is a rip off
Jun 2021 • Family
Over priced rip off

We arrived at 4pm outside the entrance and were told we needed to purchase tickets, we we had to via the website, then had to collect the tickets from a different building. The tickets are £18 per adult so we were expecting something quite decent. However having once paid we were told that 45 minutes later we would be ushered out of the college as it shut at 5pm. This should have been made clear before purchasing the tickets or be given a reduced entry price.
Then on walking around the college there is really not much to see other than a dining room, a cathedral ( There are much more impressive ones to visit) and the quad (which can be seen by viewing in from one the gates!)
I advise you to save your money and visit Magdalen college which is much prettier and far cheaper and the staff are wonderfully friendly
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Paul C
1 contribution
Very overpriced, smug and disappointing
Oct 2021 • Couples
Christchurch self guided tour £15 pp (concession). Told in advance cathedral closed but not told this amounted to 10 of 21 "stops" on audio tour. Guide itself was poorly responsive though informative. In cloisters advised to note architecture in Chapel which was off limits.
Written October 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dhara S
62 contributions
The building is awesome but not worth the ticket price
May 2019
this place has all the hype about harry porter shootings taking place. The ticket is pricy and i would not recommend spending money just to see one hall that was ever part of harry porter movies. The time i visited this place, there were exams going on, so we were not even allowed to see half of the spots on the campus. But the whole christ church campus is awesome. Huge, and artistic. Excellent architecture. Worth taking a 3D shot. But unfortunately the fountain was not functioning :( and we were not even allowed to walk towards it. Can get crowded.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
claeview
Taupo, New Zealand102 contributions
Oxford must see.
Jan 2020 • Couples
Cathedral is somewhat unique and good to see, however the 15 pounds entry charge is worth considering. The fee includes the grounds and surrounds. Bowler -hatted staff are very helpful and polite.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Christ Church
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