University College
University College
4.5
About
Endowed by William of Durham in 1249, University College is the oldest college of Oxford University.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
35 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
13
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
permia
Ireland65,967 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
It may well have the acclaim of being the oldest of the constituent colleges, being founded in 1249. But this may well be in dispute by some other of the famous colleges.
It has an expansive campus with marvellous buildings. Many renowned people have associations with it including Stephen Hawking and C S Lewis.
Co-educational students were accepted in 1979.
It has an expansive campus with marvellous buildings. Many renowned people have associations with it including Stephen Hawking and C S Lewis.
Co-educational students were accepted in 1979.
Written August 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neptune24
Uk114 contributions
Nov 2011 • Family
This college is located on the High Street opposite the Queens College. There is no admission charge but ask the porters to see if it is possible for you to take a look at the white marble Shelley memorial. Also ask if you can see the Wisteria in the Radcliffe Quad.
Written January 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ardhanareeshvara
Pune, India1,056 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
While there is friendly joshing between Oxford colleges the concept
primus inter pares (first among equals) does not exist. The University
are the colleges and the colleges are the University.In addition the term Town & Gown is appropriately applied to the City co-existing with College.
Founded in 1249 University College by William Durham , sited next to the University Church of St.Mary the Virgin and the University Schools (where exams are taken)further down High Street , is built on traditional lines and has several claims to make.
Notable Alumni - V.S.Naipaul (author and Nobel laureate)
C.S.Lewis (Writer)
Stephen Hawking (Mathematician)
Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton
Shelley Memorial -To Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)Romantic
Poet
Best View of Atop the University Church of St.Mary the Virgin
Oxford
Ending as we began, the distinction of Excellent applies to each of the 38 colleges embraced by the University, and a new appellation
is required to create room for new entrants,
primus inter pares (first among equals) does not exist. The University
are the colleges and the colleges are the University.In addition the term Town & Gown is appropriately applied to the City co-existing with College.
Founded in 1249 University College by William Durham , sited next to the University Church of St.Mary the Virgin and the University Schools (where exams are taken)further down High Street , is built on traditional lines and has several claims to make.
Notable Alumni - V.S.Naipaul (author and Nobel laureate)
C.S.Lewis (Writer)
Stephen Hawking (Mathematician)
Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton
Shelley Memorial -To Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)Romantic
Poet
Best View of Atop the University Church of St.Mary the Virgin
Oxford
Ending as we began, the distinction of Excellent applies to each of the 38 colleges embraced by the University, and a new appellation
is required to create room for new entrants,
Written April 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rayrest
Fenton, UK7,993 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Another contender for oldest college. Founded in 1249 by William Durham university college is located on the high street in Oxford city centre amongst many other colleges.
Written February 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
futtock21
London, UK17,261 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
University College inevitably causes confusion amongst American tourists who find it difficult to understand It is just one of more than thirty or so constituent colleges and not congruent with the University itself. 'So there's a university university as well as University college' is a response I once elicited to my attempt to distinguish the two. Founded in 1249 by William of Durham it claims to be Oxford's oldest college, although this is disputed by both Merton and Bailliol. Until the 16th century it was open exclusively to fellows of divinity. Its original medieval buildings were replaced in the 17th century by the main quadrangle we see today. Radcliffe Quad dates from 1719 and the Library from 1861. Its most unusual building houses the Shelley Memorial designed by a former student sen down for writing an article called The Necssity of Atheism. It has the longest Latin grace of any Oxford college. Its alumni include politicians such as William Beveridge, Harold Wilson, Bill Clinton and former Australian PM Bob Hawke. I has a very good college choir, which I know from my own experience of participation in performances of three Bach cantatas although I was an undergraduate at Christ Church at the time.
Written June 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
catherinesX223EU
Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK27 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
Walking past the beautiful entrance to the college we saw a tour was about to start. £2 for a fascinating 30min tour by a geology post grad student.
Written April 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ColumbusCompass
Reading, UK113 contributions
Apr 2016
30 min guided tour taken by one of the students. Entry was just £2 for an adult which covered inside the chapel, dining room and other areas of the college. Well worth a visit.
Written April 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin M
Oxford, UK11 contributions
Sep 2014 • Solo
Founded in 1249 by William of Durham, University College (or Collegium Magnae Aulae Universitatis, as its Latin name states) is one of the oldest colleges in the University of Oxford. Next to the marvellous sandstone quadrangles, beautifully maintained and always adorned by splendid floral arrangements, Univ (as it is known amongst Oxonians) features a marble memorial to the poet Percy Shelly, a former student of the college banned for his heretical writings.
Many of the treasures, such as a tiny door in the 90 High St building which may well have been an inspiration for a similar door in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, are not usually accessible to the general public, since Univ does not regularly admit visitors. If asked politely, the porters will usually allow visitors to see the Shelley Memorial, and even the magnificent chapel with its stained glass windows.
Many of the treasures, such as a tiny door in the 90 High St building which may well have been an inspiration for a similar door in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, are not usually accessible to the general public, since Univ does not regularly admit visitors. If asked politely, the porters will usually allow visitors to see the Shelley Memorial, and even the magnificent chapel with its stained glass windows.
Written September 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Relentlessvoyager
Oxford273 contributions
Apr 2012
My friends tell me stories about who and what are associated with this college. Set on the High, it's one of the colleges that add up to a beautiful street scene.
Written June 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geoff H
Seville, Spain5 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
University College gives a much more realistic sense of what an Oxbridge college is really like certainly in comparison to Christ Church, which you get to see for 45mins on a tour.
We really enjoyed the gardens of the college, seeing the tomb stone of Shelley and the stain glass windows in the chapel are amazing.
We really enjoyed the gardens of the college, seeing the tomb stone of Shelley and the stain glass windows in the chapel are amazing.
Written August 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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