Oriel College

Oriel is the oldest royal foundation in Oxford, established in 1326 by King Edward II, which means the reigning monarch is still technically its official "visitor." That royal connection earned it the alternative names King's College and King's Hall, though everyone calls it Oriel — after the distinctive bay window (an "oriel") on the original medieval building. The college sits on Oriel Square, one of Oxford's most handsome small squares, tucked behind the High Street with Christ Church to the south and Corpus Christi to the east.

The front quad, rebuilt in the 17th century, has an impressive Jacobean facade with statues of Edward II, Charles I, and the Virgin Mary. The college made international headlines in 2015-16 during the "Rhodes Must Fall" campaign over the statue of Cecil Rhodes on the High Street frontage — it stayed, controversially. Beyond the politics, Oriel is a solid, good-looking college that's less visited than its neighbours, with a pleasant back quad and a hall that's worth seeing. Walter Raleigh was a student here, as were several of the leading figures of the Oxford Movement.

What makes it special

Oriel's location on Oriel Square is its trump card — the square itself, shared with Christ Church, St Mary the Virgin, and the back of Merton, is one of the most photogenic spots in Oxford. The Jacobean facade is well preserved, and the college's role in the Oxford Movement (the 19th-century Anglo-Catholic revival led by Newman, Keble, and Pusey) gives it real intellectual-historical weight. It's a college for people who like their history layered.

Visitor info

Oriel is sometimes open to visitors, but hours are limited and variable. Check the college website before making a special trip. The facade on the High Street (with the Rhodes statue) and the Oriel Square entrance are both visible from the street even when the college is closed. No admission charge when open. Oriel Square is accessible anytime and makes for a good photo opportunity.