Customer rating:
Average: 3.7 (91 ratings)
View comments
View of Chapel Quad from Hall roof

Pembroke College, Oxford

A friendly Oxford college with attractive architecture and gardens.

Summary

  • 17th century buildings
  • 18th century buildings
  • 19th century buildings
  • No car parking
  • No smoking
  • Historic Property

Facilities

  • Shared gardens

Nearby recreations

  • Pub (walking distance)
  • Museums (walking distance)
  • Gardens
  • Recommended restaurants (walking distance)
  • Theatre (walking distance)

Located in the centre of Oxford, Pembroke College provides a tranquil setting surrounded by attractive architecture and gardens. Within easy reach of restaurants and pubs, cinemas and theatres, the college is a short walk from the Ashmolean Museum and Bodleian Library and Christ Church Meadows is just across the road.

The college is now able to offer visitors ensuite accommodation in its student bedrooms during vacations. Rooms are grouped together in traditional staircases and are provided with a welcome toiletries pack and tea and coffee making facilities. 

Unfortunately stag or hen parties cannot be accommodated. All rooms are non smoking and internet access is not available.

History to the present day

Founded in 1624, Pembroke College was granted its charter by King James I of England and VI of Scotland and took its name from the Chancellor of the University at that time, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke. The Chapel, now known as the Damon Wells Chapel, was built in 1732 in a classical style and the Hall, which dates back to 1848 has a small cupola and a roof built to the medieval hammer beam design.  The college was a predominantly male domain until 1979 when female undergraduates were admitted.

Famous alumni include Samuel Johnson who came to Pembroke in 1728, leaving just a year later when he ran out of money. He never did finish his degree but Oxford University awarded him with an honorary one much later in life. 

Perhaps the most well-known Pembroke Fellow of the last century is J.R.R. Tolkien who was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor in Anglo-Saxon from 1926-1945. Sir Roger Bannister, a noted neurologist but perhaps better known for running the first sub-four minute mile at Iffley Road track on 6 May 1954, was Master of the college from 1985-1993.

Food and Drinks

Breakfast is served in the Hall which holds portraits of the founders, other benefactors and former Masters of the college. The stained glass windows represent the arms of Visitors, benefactors, Masters, Fellows and most recently (1955) the regiments and other branches of the Services in which Pembrokians served in the Second World War.

Grounds and gardens

Pembroke College is based around three main quadrangles: Old Quad (dating from 1600s), Chapel Quad (containing the Chapel and Hall, completed in 1848) and North Quad (opened in 1962). Guests are welcome to visit the Chapel when not in use.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Pembroke College, Pembroke Square, Oxford, OX1 1DW, United Kingdom

Check in: From 2.00pm Check out: By 10.00am

All guests are requested to report to the Porters' Lodge on arrival (located at the main entrance to the college) where you will be given a key and directed to your room(s). Guests arriving at the weekend or after 7.00pm can access the college by ringing the doorbell and the duty porter will let them in. The Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day.

Gloucester Green Coach and Bus Station is only a 10 minute walk and Oxford Railway Station is approximately 20 minutes walk away. There are also taxis and local buses available at both locations. Whilst there is no parking at the college, the Westgate Car Park is only a 5 minute walk.

More photos of Pembroke College, Oxford

View through to Chapel Quad The College Crest Old Quad Chapel Quad gardens

Customer feedback

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

, April 2013: the new accommodation block was lovely, quiet and rest full. i would stay again. Breakfast in the beautiful hall, was enjoyable. 4/5

, April 2013: Very pleasant stay, staff were welcoming and very helpful. 5/5

, March 2013: Lovely modern building. Room warm and comfortable. Really friendly porters who looked after me very well. A very enjoyable experience. 5/5

, March 2013: Very pleasant stay. Staff very courteous and friendly, especially the cleaning lady. I would certainly come again. Very good value for a stay in the centre of Oxford. 5/5

, March 2013: For rooms in Oxford City Centre at reasonable cost you could not do better. The location was well placed for everything we wanted to see and do. 4/5

, March 2013: The porters were very welcoming and helpful. I am particularly impressed by the breakfast served as the staff were very attentive and able to deal with my dietary requirements (gluten free) without any fuss. I really enjoyed my stay, thank you. 5/5

, March 2013: Excellent! Lovely college, wonderful location, clean and well-appointed rooms, helpful Porters, the works. I loved my stay. 5/5

, October 2012: Staying in the College was a great experience and while the facilities in the room were understandably basic they were certainly adequate. I would certainly stay at Permbroke again 4/5

, October 2012: It was a great pleasure to return to my college, and all the arrangements were exemplary. 5/5

, September 2012: a really good way to stay in oxford. 4/5

, August 2012: Having had a daughter study at Oxford, I was aware that my room would be basic. The staff I met were friendly, pleasant and helpful. The surroundings were just beautiful - the quads, gardens, architecture, the whole ambience of the place was a tonic. The only sour note was being challenged at breakfast as to whether I had paid for it or not. 4/5

, August 2012: Overall experience excellent. I had thought the booking included continental breakfast. When I arrived on Saturday and checked with the porter he did not think that breakfast was available. I checked my confirmation and there was no mention of breakfast, so probably my mistake. No real problems as there were plenty of restaurants in the area to get breakfast but I would have preferred to get breakfast in the college. As you are asking for comments on breakfast I would be interested to know what the situation is. 4/5

, June 2012: Very easy and simple process. Generally good all around. No complaints. 4/5

, April 2012: Excellent! 5/5

, April 2012: Central location in historic college - beautiful buildings. Spacious student room, v. clean, a bit shabby, but more than adequate.Excellent storage & work space. Shower rudimentary in large bathroom. Good value for central Oxford. V. helpful staff. Would recommend. 4/5

, March 2012: The porter service is the visitor's first point of contact at the college, therefore, an important one. The Pembroke porters give an excellent impression of the college; they are knowledgeable, helpful and welcoming. The environment is beautiful, the rooms basic but clean and ample. Two minor issues: visitors might be supplied with a few extra towels and tea bags! Thank you for a lovely stay at Oxford. 4/5

, March 2012: The Porters were extremely helpful and friendly 5/5

, January 2012: Expected a better range for breakfast. Lovely grounds, and good spacious, ensuite room. Very comfortable. 4/5

, September 2011: I know Pembroke College well. I have connections with the College and have often stayed there, but always in term time. This is the first time I have used this website to book a room in College during the Long Vacation and I was very impressed by the efficiency of the booking system. I would recommend visitors to Oxford who want a bit of the "Oxford Experience" to stay at Pembroke. Having a room overlooking the beautiful and tranquil Chapel Quad and hearing the chiming of Great Tom across the road at Christchurch immerses you in the history of the place. Breakfast in the majestic College Hall is a wonderful experience for visitors, under the great hammerbeam roof and surrounded by portraits of past College masters. The buffet breakfast is continental, but ample, with plenty of choice. The rooms are typical student rooms, but all come with ensuite facilities, and are clean and comfortable, but do not have televisions - it's an Oxford college, after all, not a hotel. All in all, it's incredibly good value, and if you want a beautiful, peaceful and historic place to stay in the centre of Oxford, I recommend Pembroke College. 5/5

, September 2011: A fantastic place to stay right in the centre of Oxford. The staff were chatty, friendly and helpful, the college itself beautiful, so tranquil considering it is in the heart of the city. The room was modern with ensuite toilet and shower. There were tea and coffee making but no TV or Wifi facility. Breakfast was in the Great Hall which was very atmospheric. This is a great scheme and I would use it again next time I stay in Oxford. 4/5

, August 2011: My mother and I thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay at Pembroke College. The college is beautiful and we had very comfortable rooms. Everyone was incredibly helpful and friendly and we will definitely recommend it to friends. 5/5

, August 2011: Up lots of stairs! (About 50!). Beautiful college. Wonderful Hall to breakfast in. Also a wedding going on which was a little noisy. Overall, would stay again as it was such a central location. 4/5