The Classic College Circuit

This is the walk that every first-time visitor to Oxford should do. It loops through the heart of the university, passing the most beautiful and historically significant colleges, and takes about 90 minutes at a comfortable pace — longer if you go inside any of them.

The route

Start: Carfax Tower (corner of Cornmarket and High Street)

The crossroads that has been Oxford's centre since the Saxons. If you want, climb the tower for the best panoramic view of the city (small admission charge).

1. Christ Church (5 min walk south down St Aldate's)

Oxford's grandest college. Tom Tower by Christopher Wren marks the entrance. The Great Hall was the inspiration for Hogwarts. The cathedral — Oxford's smallest — doubles as the college chapel. The meadow behind the college is free to walk through and offers classic views of the skyline.

2. Merton College (2 min walk east via Merton Street)

One of the oldest colleges (1264). Mob Quad is the oldest quadrangle in Oxford, possibly in the world. The medieval library above it is the oldest continuously functioning library in England.

3. University College (2 min walk north to High Street)

Claims to be the oldest college (founded 1249, though this is contested). The Shelley Memorial inside houses a striking white marble sculpture of the drowned poet.

4. The Queen's College (directly opposite on High Street)

Baroque grandeur — one of the few classical-style colleges, with a magnificent facade by Hawksmoor. The library is stunning but not always open to visitors.

5. St Edmund Hall (1 min walk down Queen's Lane)

"Teddy Hall" — the last surviving medieval hall. The tiny chapel has a Morris & Burne-Jones stained glass window. The graveyard garden is unexpectedly peaceful.

6. New College (continue down Queen's Lane)

Don't be fooled by the name — it's from 1379. The Great Quad is one of Oxford's finest spaces. The cloisters were used in Harry Potter. The gardens run along the old city wall.

7. Hertford College / Bridge of Sighs (emerge onto New College Lane)

The Bridge of Sighs — Oxford's most photographed structure — connects Hertford College's two halves across New College Lane. It's not actually modelled on the Venice original, but on the Rialto Bridge.

8. The Bodleian Library (continue west to Radcliffe Square)

Turn the corner and the Radcliffe Camera appears — Oxford's most iconic building. The Bodleian's courtyard (Old Schools Quad) is free to enter. The Divinity School inside has the finest fan vaulting in England.

9. Brasenose College (south side of Radcliffe Square)

Named after the brass nose door knocker (now inside the hall). The quad is small but perfectly proportioned. Look for the view of the Radcliffe Camera from the lawn.

10. Exeter College (back to Turl Street)

The chapel, modelled on the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, is the highlight. Tolkien studied here. The Fellows' Garden has one of the best elevated views in Oxford.

End: Turl Street — from here you're 2 minutes from the Covered Market (for lunch), the Turf Tavern (for a pint), or back to Carfax where you started.

Practical notes

• Distance: approximately 2 km (1.2 miles)
• Time: 90 minutes walking, 2-3 hours if entering colleges
• Admission: some colleges charge visitors (typically GBP 3-8), some are free, some close during exams
• Best time: early morning (before 10am) for photography without crowds, or late afternoon for golden light on the stone
• Accessibility: mostly flat, but some colleges have steps and cobbled surfaces