Somerville College

Somerville has the most impressive alumnae list of any college in Oxford, and possibly any college anywhere. Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Dorothy L. Sayers, Iris Murdoch, and Cornelia Sorabji (the first woman to study law at Oxford) are just the headline names. Founded in 1879 as Oxford's first non-denominational women's college — the secular alternative to the Anglican Lady Margaret Hall, which opened the same year — Somerville has always had a reputation for intellectual seriousness and social liberalism. Gowns are still not worn at formal hall, a tradition of informality that dates back decades.

The buildings are a mix of Victorian, Edwardian, and modern, spread across a generous site on Woodstock Road. The Margaret Thatcher Centre (2019) is a handsome modern addition. The college doesn't have the medieval atmosphere of the central colleges, but it has space, light, and a confidence that comes from knowing its own history. It began admitting men in 1994 but still has a higher proportion of women than most colleges.

What makes it special

Somerville's significance is historical and intellectual rather than architectural. This is where Oxford's women proved they could match and surpass the men, at a time when the university barely acknowledged them. The alumnae list speaks for itself. For visitors interested in women's history, the social history of education, or modern British political history, Somerville is essential context. The gardens are pleasant and the Woodstock Road location puts it near the Ashmolean.

Visitor info

Somerville is on Woodstock Road, about a 10-minute walk from the city centre. The grounds are sometimes open during the day, but it doesn't have regular tourist visiting hours. Check the college website for open days and events. No admission charge when accessible. Best combined with a walk along Woodstock Road to the Ashmolean or Little Clarendon Street for coffee.