Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church is one of Oxford's largest and most prestigious colleges, notable for combining a working college with Oxford's cathedral, an unusual dual role unique among the university's colleges. Its Great Hall, a soaring wood-panelled dining room, was a direct visual inspiration for the Hogwarts Great Hall in the Harry Potter films (though the actual filming took place on a soundstage rather than here), and Lewis Carroll, an Oxford mathematics don, wrote Alice in Wonderland partly inspired by the college's dean's daughter, Alice Liddell.
Tom Quad, the largest quadrangle in Oxford, and the cathedral itself, considerably smaller and more intimate than most English cathedrals given its origins as a monastic priory church, round out the main visitor sites. It's one of the more heavily visited colleges given its film connections and historical pedigree (13 British Prime Ministers were educated here), so it can feel more crowded and commercialised than some of Oxford's quieter colleges.
Budget about an hour to see the Great Hall, cathedral, and Tom Quad.
Christ Church, Oxford FAQs
The Great Hall inspired the visual design of Hogwarts' Great Hall, but the actual film scenes were shot on a purpose-built soundstage rather than at Christ Church itself, a common point of confusion for visitors.
Yes, uniquely among Oxford colleges, Christ Church combines a working college with Oxford's cathedral, a comparatively small and intimate building given its origins as a monastic priory church.
Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) was a mathematics don at Christ Church and wrote Alice in Wonderland partly inspired by Alice Liddell, daughter of the college's dean at the time.
About an hour to see the Great Hall, cathedral, and Tom Quad, the largest quadrangle in Oxford.
13 British Prime Ministers were educated at Christ Church, more than any other Oxford college.
Reviews/Comments
No comments yet — be the first.