Corpus Christi College

Corpus Christi is one of Oxford's smallest colleges. Founded in 1517 by Bishop Foxe as a Renaissance humanist foundation, it has a front quad so compact you could throw a tennis ball across it. The college is dwarfed by Christ Church next door, but that's part of its appeal: while the tour groups shuffle through the grand colleges, Corpus sits quietly with some notable details.

The famous pelican sundial in the front quad is the single most photographed object in any Oxford college that isn't the Christ Church dining hall. It's a perpetual calendar from 1581, topped by a pelican (the college symbol), and it actually works — the shadow markings show the month, zodiac sign, and time. Most visitors glance and move on. Spend a minute figuring it out.

What makes it special

For a college of fewer than 250 students, Corpus has a lot to see. The pelican sundial alone is worth the detour, and the chapel has an altarpiece attributed to Rubens. The fellows' garden, if you can access it, has a clear view across Christ Church meadow. The college's size means it feels like a working academic community rather than a museum.

Visitor info

Corpus is generally open to visitors during the afternoon, but hours are limited and it closes during exams. Check the college website for current times. No admission charge, which is increasingly rare for central colleges. The front quad is visible from Merton Street even when the college is closed — worth a glance through the gate for the sundial.