How to visit Christ Church College in Oxford: times, prices

The movies of Harry Potterr have taken the image of their imposing dining room around the world, and have made it the most famous of the colleges for the historic university town of Oxford, which you find just an hour away north london.

But I will tell you that the Christ Church College It was previously the most prestigious and largest Oxford University College, as well as the most visited by tourists.

And it has its merit in a city where, currently, there are 38 colleges, institution that in Oxford (and also in Cambridge) is much more than a simple university residence or residence hall.

Indeed, colleges British offer a wide range of services to students, including classes and exams provided by the faculties with which they are associated.

Where is the dining room? Hogwarts of Harry Potter

And, indeed, in the Christ Church College is where you can see the Great Hall from the Harry Potter movies.

But apart from this very important fact for fans of these films, I will tell you that it is not the oldest college from Oxford.

This merit is assumed by Balliol College which was founded in the year 1263, but the importance of Christ Church The fact that inside is the Britain's smallest cathedral.

And one more anecdotal fact: my last trip to oxford coincided with a visit from the Queen of England, who visited…the Christ Church College (and it prevented me from seeing the cathedral again, since it was closed for that reason).

Curiosities from the history of Christ Church College

El origin of Christ Church dates back to 1525.

In that year construction began on a college to replace an ancient abbey that had been closed following the dissolution of the monasteries in England by order of the king Henry VIII, who by then had broken with the power of Rome.

But until 1546 this university college did not take its current name.

By then the famous tower of the main entrance door was already built, on which the Great Tom, a bell that every night, at 21 p.m., is rung 101 times in memory of the first students of the college.

Specifically, it rings at 21,05:5 p.m., XNUMX minutes later than it should to reflect that Oxford is a little west of midnight time. Greenwich.

This is the experience of visiting Christ Church College

In your visit to Christ Church College, Oxford You will enter through the door on a side façade, facing a large meadow and wooded area through which the rivers flow Cherwell e Isis (The Thames).

You will be in the building Meadow, built in 1863 in Venetian style.

Christ Church College Grand Staircase

From there, and after passing by a cloister, you will reach one of the iconic places of the school, the grand staircase, which was the protagonist in the film Harry potter and the Philosopher's Stone, since the students of Hogwarts.

Hogwarts Dining Hall at Christ Church College

El Great Hall, famous living room It is the center of the activities of the Christ Church College, and it will surely be where you will spend the most time during your visit.

It will be easy for you to see that it is the large room where many of the events take place. scenes from the movies Harry Potter.

With the long tables that you will see with the services ready for lunch or breakfast, its imposing wooden ceiling stands out, as well as the numerous portraits that hang on its walls.

They are illustrious people who have been students of the college, among which are six of the thirteen Prime ministers who have studied in Christ Church.

You will also see the portrait of Charles D0dgson, the real name of Lewis Carroll, Author of Alice in Wonderland, who was also another of his students.

Next you will go down the stairs again to the large central patio, known as Tom Quad, after the name of the aforementioned famous bell, whose tower you will see in front of you.

Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford

you will arrive at the Christ Church Cathedral whose building was largely built in the 12th century, during the construction of the original monastery that was in this place.

Now, it has had several modifications, the most important in the 19th century when it was remodeled in a neo-Gothic style.

Inside the cathedral, you will be struck by the numerous war memorials dedicated to former students who fell during the two world wars, as well as the large organ that, although it was installed in 1976, had a history from the XNUMXth century.

Also worth highlighting are the stained glass windows and its various chapels, especially the one known as Latina.

After visiting said cathedral, you will reach a smaller patio, Peckwater Quad, where there was once a medieval inn.

The buildings in this area, including the Library, are from the 18th century.

Christ Church College Painting Gallery

Finally you will have the possibility to visit the Painting Gallery, where more than 200 works by great artists such as Tintoretto o Lippi, as well as more than 2.000 drawings by authors such as Leonardo da Vinci y Miguel Angel.

Visiting hours of Christ Church College

The Christ Church College Oxford visiting hours They are, under normal conditions, from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m., and on Sundays from 14 p.m. to 17 p.m.

Now, as it is a school in full activity, said schedule varies each week, apart from the fact that it is not guaranteed that you can visit the school. Living room or the Cathedral.

In fact, times to visit the Living room They are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 14 p.m. to 17 p.m., on weekdays, and only in the afternoons on weekends.

Therefore, it is advisable that you consult the availability and schedules to ensure your visit, information that is updated every week.

El college It is open to visitors every day of the year, except on Valentine's Day. Christmas.

Christ Church College ticket prices

The ticket prices to visit Christ Church College in a free audioguided tour They are, for adults, 16 pounds, and 15 pounds for those under 18 years of age.

You can buy tickets online only on Monday of the week you are going to visit, and you can also sign up for guided tours, lasting 30 minutes or an hour.

In case you cannot visit the aforementioned Living room or the Cathedral, There are reduced ticket prices.