Balliol College
Balliol College
4.5
About
Part of the University of Oxford, Balliol College was founded in 1263 by John Balliol and was one of the first colleges to create academic opportunities for women.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
393 reviews
Excellent
210
Very good
146
Average
30
Poor
4
Terrible
4
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FeganShakespeare
Stoke-on-Trent, UK201 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
There are lots of colleges to see in Oxford and you could spend forever and a day visiting them all.
However, I feel once you have seen one - they are all pretty similar…
This is hands down a wonderful college to visit to get the experience that Oxford has to offer but at an affordable price.
It was £1 for myself being a student and £1 for miss you grandmother.
You also get a map to guide you round, access to the chapel and the great hall- which has serious Harry Potter vibes.
Nestled within the town centre there isn’t parking in the town, save for a few disabled bays which fill up quickly.
The best thing to recommend if parking in the park and ride … so convenient and affordable.
It was around £6 for the parking and the bus ticket return.
You park up and simply hope on a bus that runs every 10 minutes - I’ve popped info in the pictures.
Enjoy xx
However, I feel once you have seen one - they are all pretty similar…
This is hands down a wonderful college to visit to get the experience that Oxford has to offer but at an affordable price.
It was £1 for myself being a student and £1 for miss you grandmother.
You also get a map to guide you round, access to the chapel and the great hall- which has serious Harry Potter vibes.
Nestled within the town centre there isn’t parking in the town, save for a few disabled bays which fill up quickly.
The best thing to recommend if parking in the park and ride … so convenient and affordable.
It was around £6 for the parking and the bus ticket return.
You park up and simply hope on a bus that runs every 10 minutes - I’ve popped info in the pictures.
Enjoy xx
Written 31 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mahlerfan93
Potters Bar, UK45 contributions
May 2022
Seeing the lovely manicured grounds and ancient buildings still in use. I only paid £1 to access the grounds which was a bargain. I was pleased to find it open, as I had just had a negative experience at Christ Church Cathedral where I found I could not pay "on the door" but had to pre-book via a QR code which I don't know how to do. I gave up and went to Balliol instead. Cash on the door, no problem!
Written 10 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michel_Louise_2013
Quebec City, Canada28,272 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
St Cross Church is said to be one of the oldest buildings in Oxford. This church located at the junction of St Cross Road and Manor Road is said to have been erected around 890 AD by St Grimwald, a French monk invited to England by Alfred the Great. Subsequently, different sections would have been rebuilt, restored or added: the chancel arch around 1180, the chancel in 1200, the west tower added in the middle of the 13th century and raised in 1464, the north aisle rebuilt in the 15th century and restored in 1839, the sundial adorning the tower since 1803, the south aisle in 1843, new clerestory windows installed in 1893. Following the reconversion of St Peter-in-the-East Church as the library of St Edmund's Hall in 1957, St Cross Church became the parish church of Holywell until 2008, serving as a historical collections center for Balliol College a few years later. Behind the church is Holywell Cemetery housing the graves of some notable people of the parish. This church can only be visited during heritage days.
Written 28 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BackinBracknell
Bracknell, UK1,589 contributions
Jan 2020
We were still charged £3 entry even though the Great Hall was closed and no access to any other buildings apart from the Chapel. Grounds and gardens nice but not much to see at this time of the year. We were in and out in 15 minutes.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
permia
Ireland66,982 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Founded in 1263 it has claims to be not only the oldest college in Oxford but in the English-speaking world. Indeed impressive.
For almost two hours we savoured strolling around the great institution, visiting some of its fabulous buildings.
None more so than the grand Dining Hall. This is an 1877 replacement for an older one that is now part of the Library. Numerous portraits halo the walls. Also noteworthy is the presence of a Willis organ.
Another exceptional part is the Chapel. Also a rebuilding for previous iterations it dates from the late 1850s and is beautiful.
For almost two hours we savoured strolling around the great institution, visiting some of its fabulous buildings.
None more so than the grand Dining Hall. This is an 1877 replacement for an older one that is now part of the Library. Numerous portraits halo the walls. Also noteworthy is the presence of a Willis organ.
Another exceptional part is the Chapel. Also a rebuilding for previous iterations it dates from the late 1850s and is beautiful.
Written 28 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
geo3
Calgary, Canada2,448 contributions
Oct 2022
I have to admit I only visited this because it is home college of Dorothy Sayer's fictional detective Peter Wimsey, but it turned out to be a worthwhile visit.
It is a nice counterpoint to the much larger and more elaborate Magdalen College, but with the same architectural and historical interest, just in a smaller package. The highlight was the Great Hall, which looked like something lifted straight out of the 17th century (except for the cashier's computer), and the small but elaborate chapel was certainly also worth a visit.
Even in October it was also worth spending a bit of time in the Fellow's garden and then searching for the entrance to the tiny Master's garden.
Enjoyable.
It is a nice counterpoint to the much larger and more elaborate Magdalen College, but with the same architectural and historical interest, just in a smaller package. The highlight was the Great Hall, which looked like something lifted straight out of the 17th century (except for the cashier's computer), and the small but elaborate chapel was certainly also worth a visit.
Even in October it was also worth spending a bit of time in the Fellow's garden and then searching for the entrance to the tiny Master's garden.
Enjoyable.
Written 4 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isle-o-Wighty
Isle of Wight, UK235 contributions
Oct 2021
We were just walking by and noticed that Balliol College was open to visitors including the chapel and the great hall. It was only 3.00 per person as well which is incredible value.
The grounds were amazing, It was so peaceful which was a real surprise considering that the hustle and bustle was only a stone's throw away.
The real highlight was the architecture which was truly stunning!! Both the chapel and the hall were awe inspiring, my son is hoping to study in Oxford next year and this trip made him realise that all his hard work will be worth it if he gets accepted.
I just want to mention the staff in the porter's office who were so friendly, they looked like they enjoyed their work and they couldn't have been more helpful
The grounds were amazing, It was so peaceful which was a real surprise considering that the hustle and bustle was only a stone's throw away.
The real highlight was the architecture which was truly stunning!! Both the chapel and the hall were awe inspiring, my son is hoping to study in Oxford next year and this trip made him realise that all his hard work will be worth it if he gets accepted.
I just want to mention the staff in the porter's office who were so friendly, they looked like they enjoyed their work and they couldn't have been more helpful
Written 1 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisajallenatty
East Amherst, NY8 contributions
Apr 2023
What a wonderful and beautiful College!! Enjoyed the tour and the gardens, which were in full spring blossom and couldn't have been more picturesque!! Great for photo shoots and the history of the College and its alumni was fascinating!! Look for the artwork by Grayson Perry outside the dining hall!!
Written 28 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nazrul
Kuching, Malaysia761 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
Beautiful college, cheap entrance fee. The dining hall is open at 2 pm. Very pretty. Not exactly like one in Harry Potter but close
Written 21 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John Broadbent
Cambridgeshire, UK2 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
Upon entering Balliol College, I was impressed by the architecture and the friendliness of the porters. I immediately headed towards the dulcet tones of Mariah Carey in their JCR, excited for an opportunity to sample their Bop. Immediately, I knew my error. I was shocked and appalled to discover their extortionate Bop Juice pricing (£2 for 1 cup £5 for 3, the House can provide 20 for £5). Despite the Christmas theme, there was a distinct lack of cheer or even merriment; I'm sure I was not the only attendee grief stricken by the costing of the bop. I soon found myself in debt but not inebriated. This is more than Bop juice, this is social mobility, elitism. But yeah it was fairly lit, I guess.
Written 2 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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