Jesus College, Oxford

Summary

• 17th century buildings
• 18th century buildings
• 19th century buildings
• 20th century buildings
• Breakfast included
• No car parking
• No smoking

Facilities

• Free broadband access

Drinking and dining

• English breakfast (included)

Nearby recreations

• Recommended walks
• Pub (walking distance)
• Pub (a short drive)
• Museums (walking distance)
• Gardens
• Recommended restaurants (walking distance)
• Recommended restaurants (a short drive)
• Theatre (walking distance)

Jesus College is situated in central Oxford adjacent to the main shopping street and within sight of Carfax Tower. Jesus offers an oasis of tranquillity amongst the busy central area.

The College is pleased to be able to offer accommodation in student bedrooms during the vacation periods, including a mixture of traditional standard, singles and twins with shared bathroom facilities, and more modern, single ensuite rooms. All accommodation offered is located on the main College site or Ship Street, and has central heating.

Your Scout (Housekeeping) will service your room on a daily basis for you. Smoking is not permitted within the room, but there are two designated smoking points on the site, one of which is sheltered.

We look forward to welcoming you and your guests to the College.

History to the present day

Founded in 1571, Jesus College is the only College in either Oxford or Cambridge to have been founded during the reign of Elizabeth I. The Queen granted the new College a charter and the premises of White Hall, an academic Hall that already had a 300-year history. Until the 1870s students at Jesus were overwhelmingly Welsh. Although there is still a strong Welsh connection, today the College draws its students from all over the world, particularly within the Graduate community. In 1974, the College became one of the first five men’s colleges to admit women. Famous alumni include T.E. Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’), former prime minister of Jamaica Norman Manley, and Harold Wilson, our own Prime Minister during the 60s/70s and whose Order of the Garter banner can be seen in the chapel.

Known as the friendliest college in Oxford and offering a range of particularly good facilities for its students, Jesus now has some 330 undergraduates and 170 postgraduates. Academically the College achieves one of the most consistently strong performances in the University.

Dining and drinking

A Full English breakfast is included in the price of your accommodation booking, taken in the Elizabethan Dining Hall and can be taken between 8.15 and 9.00am daily. The breakfast menu consists of fruit juice, cereal, toast, a full English breakfast with tea or coffee.

The Hall, located between the Front and Second Quads, is the venue for meals on the central site. On the north wall hangs a full-length portrait of the College's Founder, Queen Elizabeth I, attributed to Nicholas Hillard or his school. Other portraits to be found here include contemporary likenesses of Charles I and Charles II, as well as other benefactors, former Principals, and alumni including T.E Lawrence ('Lawrence Of Arabia') and former Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Grounds and gardens

Guests are welcome to relax in the College grounds and view the chapel and the portraits in the Dining Hall.

Other facilities

All bedrooms have tea and coffee making facilities, telephone and internet access via an ethernet cable (an ethernet cable will be available in your room) A hair dryer is available from the Lodge. Laundry and ironing facilities are available in the College, and a swipe card for the washing machines and dryers can be obtained from the Lodge.

The Porters' Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Jesus College, Turl Street, Oxford. OX1 3DW.

Check In: From 2.00pm Check out: By 10am

All guests are requested to report to the Porters' Lodge on arrival, where they can check in and collect their keys before being directed to their rooms. Guests arriving after 8.00pm can access the College by ringing the doorbell and the duty Porter will let them in. The Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day. It may be possible for luggage to be stored at the College should you arrive before your accommodation is ready. If you have mobility difficulties and require assistance with your luggage please advise on arrival.

Gloucester Green Coach & Bus Station is in easy walking distance, and Oxford Railway Station is only a 20-minute walk. There are also taxis and local buses available at both locations. Whilst parking near the College is restricted, the City Council operates a very convenient Park and Ride scheme, details of which can be found here.

More photos of Jesus College, Oxford

Front Quad in summer	The Fellow's Garden in summer	Staircase XVII- Home of the single Ensuite Rooms	The College crest above the main gate
2nd Quad	College Crest in stone	Gargoyle on a drainpipe	One of the many gargoyles in college
Part of a single Ensuite room	The Principal's Lodgings	Staircase XIX home of the Semi-Ensuite rooms	Front Quad- The Principal's Lodgings
2nd Quad- Rowing results chalked on the wall	Wisteria in 2nd Quad	A formal meal in Hall	The Chapel
3rd Quad	The Main Gate	One of our friendly Lodge staff	A bed in one of the single ensuite rooms

Customer feedback

We guarantee that all our feedback is genuine and can only be submitted by people who have booked through our websites.

Teresa Benson-Colpi, July 2010: i have now stayed in four oxford colleges. Of these I found Jesus to be by far and away the best. The staff were professional and motivated whereas at the others there is still the air of "we are university workers" - "not here to try and effect a service for paying guests to hotel type standards". The rooms we had at jesus were also superior to the other colleges where I have stayed, as was the level of general cleanliness.

Kathleen Davidson, July 2010: I very much enjoyed the whole experience of staying at Jesus College, and hope to be back in the not-too-distant future. Many thanks, Kathleen Davidson Calgary Alberta Canada

James G Kowalski, July 2010: Very pleasant stay.

James Wrightson, June 2010: staff were extremely helpful\friendly and the college was beautiful

Mrs Cynthia McKenna, April 2010: we were thrilled with the room. the location was central and overall our stay exceeded our expectations. we will certainly try and stay here again.

mrs r a bullough, April 2010: My friend and I really enjoyed our recent stay at Jesus College. Our rooms were excellent - warm, quiet and clean. We felt really secure staying in the college and I wouldn't hesitate to stay on my own. The breakfasts are excellent with plenty of choice and my only niggle is that the dining hall was very draughty whilst we were there, and we had to keep our coats on for breakfast. The college is in a very central location in the middle of Oxford, which is great for sightseeing. It was a great privilege to be able to stay in such a historic venue.

Helen Bird, April 2010: A very enjoyable stay. Helpful porters, lovely room. The only slight problem was a whirring noise (extractor fan) near the window, which is where the bed was. Otherwise, perfect!

Heloise Cote, April 2010: Excellent!!! better than ***** hotel!

Kathleen Van Buren, April 2010: My experience was great. The room was clean and well stocked, with ample space too. The porters were very friendly and efficient, and the night porter even offered a chapel and hall viewing. My one suggestion would be that breakfast start earlier; I had a meeting at 8:30 am, which meant that I missed breakfast entirely (the rating system above leaves no option to "NA"). All accommodation in Oxford seems to be expensive, and this seemed by far the best option overall. I am very pleased, and would stay there again.

Monica Araya, March 2010: I loved staying at Jesus College. The two gentlemen at the reception and the kitchen team were very kind. My room was simple and very clean - exactly what I needed - and the location of the college was superb. I would be very happy to stay there again. Monica Araya

SEAMUS O'HAGAN, March 2010: Really for the money, the whole experience is great and I'd definitely do it again. The proximity to all the sights and amenities is very good.

Sally Spendiff, March 2010: All the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Paul Watkinson, March 2010: Excellent! If you want the Oxford experience, this is it. Student rooms with Gargoyles in the eaves and wood pannelled dining room where you get to sit at the head table. I have been studying for a part time Msc at Oxford University and have tried a few of the colleges through this site which are all excellent, however this college which I think is one of the oldest is stunning.

Mr Adam J Nall, March 2010: The staff of Jesus College were polite, friendly and wholeheartedly dedicated to making my stay an enjoyable one. The room was clean and well ordered, with a lovely view onto the street below (rooms are also offered overlooking the inner quads). The breakfast service in hall was conducted with efficiency and courtesy. The choice of food available was appetising (which made up for slightly scant portioning). Access to bar and computer facilities were also appreciated (though, alas, not used), as was the support and assistance from the Porters' Lodge. Pricing was reasonable and the cheapest of the colleges in which I have stayed (it's still not cheap, but good relative to quality and service). Overall a thoroughly enjoyable stay only let down by the fact I couldn't stay longer.

Dr Helen Brooks, March 2010: A fantastic service - was made to feel very welcome and a lovely room, clean (although a little cold but I'm sure that's just a feature of Oxford colleges!). I have recommended the website to colleagues on research trips and would certainly use it again. Fantastic value for money and an excellent service. Porters were very helpful with welcoming manners. Thank you.

Jeffrey Knowles, March 2010: My wife and I enjoyed our stay here very much. The staff, especially the porters were very friendly, welcoming and helpful. The rooms were very clean and tidy. Breakfast in the Great Hall was a real treat. And the location was fantastic. Will definitely be staying again. Jeffrey & Ljiljana Knowles

Ellen Stewart, March 2010: A friend and I stayed here for a few nights and loved our rooms. Standards of service were excellent. There was a problem with our plumbing, but it was quickly resolved, and this is fair enough in an old building. I've spent time in Oxford before, but staying in a college transformed the city for me - peering through closed gates at the colleges is a far less pleasing experience than coming and going as a resident, albeit temporarily!

Michael Punch, February 2010: The frontline staff that I met with were very good - friendly and helpful. I appreciated the availability of internet access in the room. Many thanks.