Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College
4.5
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Founded in 1517 by Richard Fox, then Bishop of Winchester, this is the smallest Oxford college with approximately 350 undergraduate and graduate students.
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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.
4.5
26 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
9
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
WalsallLass
Walsall, UK91 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Minuscule college, small but perfect. I am one of those privileged people whose child attends CCC, so I have visited quite a few times. Of course, the Pelican is what most people will want to see. As far as I am concerned, I particularly enjoy the garden, which is small but so beautiful. When we visited firt on open day, it was the terrace that sold it to my then teenager. She still loves the terrace and the garden.
Written 6 July 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.
permia
Ireland64,748 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Didn’t get to see the interior campus but what is viewable on Merton Street is impressive architecturally.
Its foundation in 1517 makes it the 12th oldest of the many colleges. Taking into account the number of students renders it one of the smallest of the constituents. But it is also one of the highest academic achievers.
Its foundation in 1517 makes it the 12th oldest of the many colleges. Taking into account the number of students renders it one of the smallest of the constituents. But it is also one of the highest academic achievers.
Written 25 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.
Gregory H
35 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
Visitors to England should not miss seeing Oxford - the city Hitler forbade the Luftwaffe from bombing because he wanted to make it his home after the fall of Britain to the Nazis. And aside from all the grand delights of the City of Dreaming Spires is to be found one of the smallest, and most charming, of the Oxford Colleges. Corpus Christi College celebrated its quincentenary in 2017. It remains a quiet, charming haven sandwiched between the rather more grand Christchurch, Oriel and Merton. Through the main gate one enters its beautiful main quad, with the magnificent Pelican sundial at its centre. The pelican is, of course, plucking at its own breast and drawing blood - an ancient symbol of the eucharist. Corpus Christi, indeed. Corpus is very small, and won't take you long to visit - but find the Hall (to the left of the main Quad) and the gardens (to the rear).
Written 27 December 2017
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.
Wayne K
Hamilton, New Zealand1,321 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Visited as part of a walking tour.
A good example of the colleges.
As a rule you get to visit the hall and the chapel, both are a delight.
Nice, peaceful garden out the back.
A good example of the colleges.
As a rule you get to visit the hall and the chapel, both are a delight.
Nice, peaceful garden out the back.
Written 30 May 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.
Simon K
Portsmouth, UK173 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
One of the delightful little ironies which become obvious when attempting to visit all thirty-eight of the autonomous and independent Colleges, which together constitute the world-famous University of Oxford, is that (as a general rule) the larger, older and richer the institution concerned, the more of their hard-earned money casual visitors must part with in order to have a look around.
This principle certainly holds true for the beautiful little Corpus Christi College, which admits tourists of all kinds for free, whilst its much bigger and wealthier neighbours, Christ Church and Merton, charge adults £10 and £3 respectively for the privilege of a self-guided tour.
Tucked away in a quiet corner off Merton Street, in the south-east quadrant of Oxford's City Centre, Corpus Christi College - or, more formally, "The President and the Scholars of the College of the Body of Christ" - was founded in 1517 by Richard Foxe, Bishop of Winchester, in order to encourage the "New Learning" of the Renaissance.
In terms of both size and numbers - 252 undergraduates and 93 graduates - Corpus Christi is one of the smallest of the Oxford University Colleges, but at the same time it happens to be one of the most beautiful, as well as one of the more academic.
It took seven years (1513-20) for Master Mason William Vertue's team of craftsmen to complete the main buildings of Corpus Christi College, at which time it was said to have the finest academic library to be found anywhere in Europe.
One of Corpus Christi's lasting claims to fame is the role which its academic staff members played, not only in the production of the King James Bible, but also in the establishment of the post-Reformation Church of England. Originally a male-only eastablishment, Corpus Christi College first admitted women students in 1979 and currently has, in Dr. Helen Moore, a female President.
Corpus Christi College is open to casual visitors from 13.30-16.30 every day and a free map is available from the Porter's Lodge. The crowning glory of the Main Quad(rangle) is the Pelican Sundial, a tall pillar of honey-coloured limestone surmounted by a golden Pelican, which was designed by Charles Turnball and built in 1570. There are actually 27 separate Sundials within this imposing structure, upon whose shaft is also carved a matrix which allows readers to tell the time by moonlight!
The main College Garden, incorporating into its perimeter part of the Medieval City Wall, faces south across Christ Church Meadow and offers an excellent and unusual view of Oxford's adjacent Anglican Cathedral. The beautiful Chapel of Corpus Christi College is always open to visitors. Ordinary members of the public may, of course, attend the service of Evensong which takes place at 17.45 on Sundays during term time, even when the College is otherwise closed.
This principle certainly holds true for the beautiful little Corpus Christi College, which admits tourists of all kinds for free, whilst its much bigger and wealthier neighbours, Christ Church and Merton, charge adults £10 and £3 respectively for the privilege of a self-guided tour.
Tucked away in a quiet corner off Merton Street, in the south-east quadrant of Oxford's City Centre, Corpus Christi College - or, more formally, "The President and the Scholars of the College of the Body of Christ" - was founded in 1517 by Richard Foxe, Bishop of Winchester, in order to encourage the "New Learning" of the Renaissance.
In terms of both size and numbers - 252 undergraduates and 93 graduates - Corpus Christi is one of the smallest of the Oxford University Colleges, but at the same time it happens to be one of the most beautiful, as well as one of the more academic.
It took seven years (1513-20) for Master Mason William Vertue's team of craftsmen to complete the main buildings of Corpus Christi College, at which time it was said to have the finest academic library to be found anywhere in Europe.
One of Corpus Christi's lasting claims to fame is the role which its academic staff members played, not only in the production of the King James Bible, but also in the establishment of the post-Reformation Church of England. Originally a male-only eastablishment, Corpus Christi College first admitted women students in 1979 and currently has, in Dr. Helen Moore, a female President.
Corpus Christi College is open to casual visitors from 13.30-16.30 every day and a free map is available from the Porter's Lodge. The crowning glory of the Main Quad(rangle) is the Pelican Sundial, a tall pillar of honey-coloured limestone surmounted by a golden Pelican, which was designed by Charles Turnball and built in 1570. There are actually 27 separate Sundials within this imposing structure, upon whose shaft is also carved a matrix which allows readers to tell the time by moonlight!
The main College Garden, incorporating into its perimeter part of the Medieval City Wall, faces south across Christ Church Meadow and offers an excellent and unusual view of Oxford's adjacent Anglican Cathedral. The beautiful Chapel of Corpus Christi College is always open to visitors. Ordinary members of the public may, of course, attend the service of Evensong which takes place at 17.45 on Sundays during term time, even when the College is otherwise closed.
Written 12 November 2018
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.
34Doris
Oxford, UK133 contributions
Feb 2018 • Business
Hey there. Take it easy! I am Dietmar from Germany, wanting to be in European Unions with you! This college small but small is beauty, I say. The sundial stands proud, and is accurate for time. Great British political leaders the Milliband boys studied here - one likes bendy bananas, the other gobbling - a bacon sandwich. All is good. Famous old codgers of the college include Hans Gottenburg Van Spreaegle - inventor of kinde homes for sad boys und Sir Chris Eubank - fist user.
Written 18 February 2018
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.
allanmaciver
Aberdeen, UK280 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
This college can be found next to Merton College, I would have walked past it had the door not been open. I was given a warm welcome and I paid my £2 entrance fee. The lady on duty told me what there was to see and where the Chapel was and I was free to wander and enjoy.
The Chapel is well hidden within the College Bounds but I turned a handle and here I was in the most compact and beautiful Chapel. The heating was on, the lights were on and it was nice and cosy.
I love visiting the different colleges in Oxford it just gives you a greater sense of the history of this amazing City.
The Chapel is well hidden within the College Bounds but I turned a handle and here I was in the most compact and beautiful Chapel. The heating was on, the lights were on and it was nice and cosy.
I love visiting the different colleges in Oxford it just gives you a greater sense of the history of this amazing City.
Written 26 September 2017
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.
futtock21
London, UK17,226 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
Extraordinary to think that despite being founded in 1517 (by the then Bishop of Winchester, Richard Fox) Corpus Christi is still only the 12th oldest Oxford college. It's also one of the smallest both in terms of its size and undergraduate population of around 230 and graduate population of around 120. Its most celebrated features are the 1581 Pelican sundial, the library of similar vintage praised by Erasmus as a wonder of the world, still intact today boasting 60,000 volumes in three languages, one of which is Latin. Not surprising then that Literiae Humaniores (classics) is by far and away the most popular subject here. Surprising then that both the Milliband brothers Ed and David studied here.
Written 16 June 2017
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 H
Oxford, UK17 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
Excellent welcome from the Lodge Porter, who gave me a brief insight in to the College history, soon celebrating 500 years from founding.
Well worth a visit, to see the Pelican sun dial.
Well worth a visit, to see the Pelican sun dial.
Written 5 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.
AtlanticTyger
London, UK1,000 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
Though one of the smallest colleges in Oxford it is no less lovely. Worth a visit to see the old (1581) pillar style Pelican Sundial. Also a scenic overlook to Merton Field.
Written 22 January 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.
birgitta34
Bolton, United Kingdom
Hi, birgitta34. What would you like to know about this attraction?
Written 11 July 2019
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