Wadham College

Wadham is the college that quietly gets everything right. Founded in 1610 — late enough to benefit from Jacobean architectural confidence, early enough to feel historic — it has a well-regarded front quad: symmetrical, golden-stoned, and perfectly proportioned. But Wadham's real distinction is cultural. It has been Oxford's most progressive and politically engaged college for decades, with a famously active student bar and a reputation for welcoming people who don't fit the traditional Oxford mould. The Royal Society effectively began here, in the lodgings of Warden Wilkins in the 1650s, which tells you something about Wadham's long tradition of thinking differently.

What to look for

• The Front Quad — Built in a single campaign between 1610 and 1613, it is one of the most harmonious quads in Oxford. The Jacobean Gothic is warmer and more decorative than the medieval colleges, and the hall and chapel face each other across the quad in perfect balance. The hammerbeam roof in the hall is well preserved.
• The Gardens — Wadham's back gardens are among the largest in central Oxford. They include formal areas, mature trees, and a modernist extension that works better than you'd expect. On a summer afternoon, this is one of the most pleasant spots in the city.
• The Chapel — Original early-seventeenth-century stained glass survives here, which is rare (most Oxford glass was destroyed during the Civil War). The east window is particularly fine.

Visiting

Wadham is on Parks Road at the corner of Broad Street. It is usually open to visitors during the afternoon and rarely charges. Check the college website for current hours. The gardens are the highlight and reason enough to visit, but don't skip the front quad or chapel. Wadham is less crowded than the big-name colleges and all the better for it.