Magdalen College, Oxford

Summary

• 16th century buildings
• 17th century buildings
• 18th century buildings
• 19th century buildings
• 20th century buildings
• No car parking
• No smoking

Facilities

• Free broadband access
• Gardens
• Squash court
• Tennis court
• Woodland walks

Drinking and dining

• Tea room
• English breakfast (included)
• Lunch available (at additional cost)
• Bar

Nearby recreations

• Recommended walks
• Pub (walking distance)
• Museums (walking distance)
• Theatre (walking distance)

The river Cherwell runs through Magdalen's grounds which include over 100 acres of parkland - a beautiful and tranquil area in the heart of the city. Along with the magnificent cloisters, deer park and quads with formal lawns and borders, the claim to be the most beautiful college in Oxford is not without foundation.

The standard study bedrooms 'Inside Walls' are spacious student rooms with views over the quads and grounds arranged by staircases where the shared bathroom facilities can be found. In the 'Grove Quad' all rooms have an en-suite bath (shower) room and many overlook the Deer Park (the Grove). Towels and a toiletries pack are provided in all rooms along with tea & coffee making-facilities and a mini-fridge.

In the Waynflete Building is on the other side of Magdalen Bridge, a 2-3 minute walk from the College, and from where room keys can be collected. With stunning views of the College main site and the Dreaming Spires of Oxford, we offer the same high standard of facilities in this 1960s building. Rates for this building do not include breakfast but there are a wide number of places to obtain food and drink within 2-3 minutes' walk and details will be provided on a sheet on check-in.

Whichever Magdalen accommodation you choose to book, you can be sure of a warm welcome at the Porters' Lodge, from one of our student staff or the porters themselves. One of them will show you to you room and answer any queries you may have.

History to the present day

Magdalen College was founded in 1458 by William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, and Lord Chancellor, on the site of the Hospital of St. John, just outside Oxford’s East Gate.

Several additions were made after Waynflete’s death in 1486: in 1492, the foundation stone was laid for a grand new bell tower, 144 feet high. Ready for use by 1505, Magdalen Tower has become one of Oxford’s iconic images. The College then completed the High Street range, to link the Tower with existing buildings, and in 1508/9 erected the large allegorical gargoyles in the Cloister later known as the ‘hieroglyphics’.

In the early 1730s, Edward Holdsworth designed a grand new quadrangle in the Palladian style to replace most of the medieval buildings. Only the north range of this quadrangle, the New Building, was ever completed. This occupies part of the Grove, which had been planted as a formal garden in the 17th century.

Dining and drinking

English Breakfast is served in the medieval Hall. Choose from a full selection of cooked items as well as cereals, fresh fruit and continental pastries on display in our Buttery - then take your tray into the panelled Hall to enjoy your breakfast with other guests, students and visitors with the portraits of famous alumni looking down. Please note, our Waynflete Building accommodation is sold on a 'room only' basis which does not include breakfast, for these rooms details of where breakfast may be obtained within 2-3 minutes' walk will be provided on a sheet on check-in.

The Old Kitchen Snack Bar, with riverside terrace, is open for light lunches and afternoon teas. Most evenings the Old Kitchen Bar will be open serving drinks. A wireless internet service hot spot is available in the Old Kitchen.

Other facilities

Guests are welcome to use the Ethernet connection in each study bedroom but will require a cable and password from the Porters' Lodge.

Telephones may be used with an Oxford University phone card which may be purchased from the Porters' Lodge in either £5 or £2 denominations.

Launderettes are available and a pre-paid card may be obtained from the Porters' Lodge. There are ironing facilities in the launderettes.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Magdalen College, High Street, Oxford OX1 4AU

Check In: From 2pm Check Out: By 10am (the Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day)

Directions:

Coaches stop in the High Street, opposite Queen's Lane, four minutes' walk from our Porters' Lodge, which is close to the foot of the Great Tower very near Magdalen Bridge. The Coach Station (Gloucester Green) is about fifteen minutes' walk from the College but London and Airport coaches stop at High Street/Queen's Lane on their way to the central coach station.

The Rail Station is twenty minutes' walk away from Magdalen. Buses run from the rail station and stop at Queen's Lane in the High Street.

Those travelling by car are advised to use Thornhill Park and Ride on the A40 east of Oxford. Park & Ride Buses into the centre stop opposite Queen’s Lane in the High Street. We regret that we are unable to provide parking at the College.

More photos of Magdalen College, Oxford

Aerial view of Magdalen	The Grove Buildings	The Waynflete Building from Magdalen Bridge	Longwall Quad
St John's Quad	The Cloister	The Great Tower from Magdalen Bridge	The New Building (1733)
Waynflete Building room	Grove en-suite bathroom	Grove room with en-suite bathroom	Magdalen from the Waynflete Building

Customer feedback

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

Barbara Carty, August 2010: We had a very warm welcome from the porter on arrival and although we arrived over the lunch period between 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm when there was a shortage of staff, every effort was made to try to locate someone to show us to our accommodation. However, a cup of tea on the terrace of the Magdalen cafe made a very pleasant and welcome diversion during our short wait. The porters were very helpful and it was lovely to hear that they could oversee our bags on the day of departure, if required, in order for us to have as full a stay in Oxford as possible. The room was basic but spotlessly clean and the beds were very comfortable. It was a lovely surprise to find towels and toiletries, which we had not expected, but which next time will make our bags much lighter! We were also very pleased to find tea and coffee making facilities. As we were staying at Magdalen breakfast was not included, which we knew when booking. On arrival the showers and two toilets on our floor (the room was not en suite) were spotless but unfortunately by the evening the toilets were virtually unusable and we had to use the ones on the floor below. It was great to find a small guide book (really useful) and pamphlets and information about the area and local cafes and restaurants. All in all (apart from the problem with the toilets) we were pleased with the accommodation (and the warm welcome) and would definitely consider college rooms again, although we would definitely go en suite next time, if that is possible. The showers were absolutely fine, with lots of hot water. On the whole, a positive experience and one which we would recommend to friends and family.

werner van antwerpen, August 2010: Thanks me and my whole family enjoyed the Oxford experience!

Kit Farrow, August 2010: An excellent visit, the only criticism being that one of the beds was not very comfortable. Much enjoyed being part of the college.

Michelle Walters, August 2010: Very comfortable and quiet room, great location, very friendly helpful staff, had best sleep ever there!!! The oxford handbook was a great bonus too!

Debora Heard, August 2010: I had a very nice stay, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. My only comment is that I wasn't informed that the accommodations were co-ed and didn't find out until two young men walked in to use the bathroom in their underwear while I was at the sink brushing my teeth. I think they were just as surprised as I was and, from that point on, we all made a conscious effort to close the doors to bathroom to alert others that there was someone in the bathroom or the shower. I would definitely stay here again and would highly recommend it to others.

Rebecca Wong, August 2010: Very happy with the overall experience, especially since I got to explore the college grounds for free and outside tour hours. :)

Henri Hansen, August 2010: I would've put "excellent" on service, I am not sure if it was a service issue, but I couldn't get proper reception for wifi in the room. It worked elsewhere. The people I dealt with and the room cleaning and all that, were excellent.

Jakob Knab, August 2010: It would have been perfect, if there had been no noise from High Street...

bouhouch hana, July 2010: all people re very nice!!!

Sonya Swafford, July 2010: Great place to sleep and share a very clean shower with excellent water pressure and hot water. The beds were clean and comfortable with very soft sheets and comforters and the check in staff were helpful and friendly. Also, small amenities in the room such as a coffee pot and cookies, tea, coffee, etc., were neat. Great location and seemed very safe. Excellent value for the money.

M. den Brok - van der Laan, July 2010: We've enjoyed our stay tremendously. Thank you so much. The porter was most helpfull and kind.

Charlotte Christensen, July 2010: All the staff was marvelous

Audrey Truschke, July 2010: Rooms are clean and well-maintained. The shared bathrooms are what you would expect of dorm bathrooms, a bit grimmy around the edges, but generally clean. Overall, I had a very pleasant stay.

Sarah Jones, July 2010: It was lovely! I stayed in the separate block and found all the staff lovely and helpful. Thanks so much!

Nuno Ryberg, July 2010: very nice people serving, gorgeous surroundings, the only neg remarque is the water flow in the shower on the 5 floor. I understand that the pressure is low, but just a little more water, please. thanks for a nice stay

Andrew Price, July 2010: Yes very good, would like to stay again and if you have more rooms in other colleges at £35 a night then please arrange. Cheapness of room a big selling point for me

Meagan B Timney, July 2010: I loved my stay in Oxford, thanks!

Sarah Kift, July 2010: Great staff, and a safe and comfortable environment. Will book again and recommend to friends.

Mahreen Nabi, July 2010: the room was comfortable, clean and the service was superb, someone came and made the bed every day and the oxford guide book left on the desk was a treasure! The check in staff/porter was very helpful and a young boy even helped me with my bags to my room! --Washroom was clean during the week but terribly messy and smelly on the weekend - Friday night, a lot of partying visiting students and A LOT of noise! but again, during the week it was wonderfully quiet and serene

Marcus Sangster, July 2010: Basic accommodation at a basic price. Good large room with plenty of storage space, a desk for working and internet access.