St John's College

St Giles', Oxford, OX1 3JP, GB

Rating: 4.8 ★ (100 ratings)

Details

The Front Quadrangle of St John's College, with parts dating back to 1437 when it was a Cistercian St Bernard's College, offers a tangible link to Oxford's monastic past. Sir Thomas White, a wealthy merchant tailor, acquired these buildings and founded St John's in 1555, envisioning it as a source of educated Roman Catholic clerics. Visitors can usually see the Front Quad, Canterbury Quad, the Chapel, Kendrew Quad, and the extensive gardens daily from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm in summer, or until dusk in winter, with free admission. The Canterbury Quadrangle, commissioned by Archbishop Laud and completed in 1636, is a notable example of Italian Renaissance architecture in Oxford and houses part of the college library. Don't miss the statue of St John the Baptist by Eric Gill above the Porters' Lodge.

Beyond the historic quads, St John's boasts around five acres of stunning gardens, a highlight for many visitors. These gardens, which evolved from formal 16th and 17th-century layouts to the current 18th-century landscape style, provide a tranquil oasis. The extensive lawns are framed by mature trees, including notable specimens like copper beeches and a cork oak. The gardens were once so admired that King George III, on a visit in 1785, reportedly exclaimed that his dominions did not contain another specimen of gardening skill to match it. The serene atmosphere extends to the modern Garden Quadrangle, a 1993 neo-Italianate design that has won multiple architectural awards. Public access to the gardens generally aligns with the college's overall visitor hours.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Tuesday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Wednesday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Thursday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Friday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Saturday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Contact

+44 1865 277300