Exeter College — Attraction in Oxford

The fourth-oldest college of University of Oxford. The college was founded in 1314 by two brothers from Devon, Bishop Walter Stapledon and Sir Richard Stapledon, as an institution to educate clergy, and has been located on Turl Street since 1315.

The Fellows' Garden at Exeter College offers a unique and rarely seen view of the Radcliffe Camera. From this vantage point, the Radcliffe Camera is visible above the garden's south wall, framed by trees and greenery. A must see.

J.R.R Tolkien enrolled at Exeter College on 17 October 1911, aged 19, as an exhibitioner in Classics. He changed course to English Language and Literature graduating in 1915 with First Class Honours. He participated in the College’s 600th anniversary celebrations in 1914, and was a prominent member of the college’s debating society, the Stapeldon Society, and Essay Club.

For further reading: 'Tolkien at Exeter College: How an Oxford undergraduate created Middle-earth' written by John Garth.

In June 1852, English textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris enrolled at Exeter College to study Classics.

From 1965, Phillip Pullman attended Exeter College, studying English. The college is the basis for the fictional 'Jordan College' in Pullman's novel trilogy His Dark Materials. The 2007 film version of the first novel, The Golden Compass (originally Northern Lights), used the college for location filming.

Members of the public are welcome to visit between 2:00-5:00pm outside of term time....

So I'm going to be biased having dropped my son off here to start his degree studies today. Exeter is one of the oldest Oxford colleges and it's Front Quad demonstrates this beautifully. The two newer accommodation blocks complement the old well. The college incorporates beautiful greenery into its surroundings outside with a wonderful, privileged view across to the Radcliffe Camera from a raised corner of the Fellows' Garden, which also abuts hugely historic wings of the Bodleian Library. Architecture of college Library, Chapel and Dining Hall also wonderful, if not the largest in Oxford. In short, well worth a visit and, if you're fortunate enough to get the chance to study there for three years then well done,...

I'm an alumnus of the college and have visited frequently since leaving 15 years ago. I have never seen the college look so unloved before. The iconic Virginia creeper has been allowed to die; a third of the quad is still brown and dead from a temporary dining area they took down many months ago. The pride and prestige, the veneration of centuries of learning that I used to find so thrilling is indiscernible. Young students have been robbed of too much as it since the pandemic, please don't rob them...