Balliol College, Oxford

Summary

• 17th century buildings
• Breakfast included
• No car parking
• No smoking

Facilities

• Free broadband access
• Gardens

Drinking and dining

• English breakfast (included)
• Bar

Nearby recreations

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

As one of the oldest colleges of Oxford University founded in 1263, we are situated in the heart of Oxford, in Broad Street, ideally located for visiting the University, its Colleges, Museums, Theatres, or just for shopping.

Standard Bedrooms are available on the main College site, in buildings ranging in age from the 1720  to 1968, having been built by Henry Keene (1759) Basevi (1826) Warren (1915) Salvin (1853)  and Beard (1968).

The ensuite rooms at Jowett Walk, a 5 minute walk from the main College site, were built between 1996 and 2005 on the Master's Field (Sports ground). The architect was Sir Richard MacCormac.

All the rooms that we have to offer are used during term by students. They are not equipped to a five star standard but are provided with bed linen, towels, a welcome hospitality pack, and tea and coffee making facilities.

The accommodation offers the opportunity to experience a stay in one of Oxford's oldest colleges in rooms that are  full of history built around the Garden Quad, or sports field. These rooms have been occupied by famous Old Members including Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan, Herbert Asquith, and Edward Heath. Poet Matthew Arnold, writer Graham Greene.

Your Scout (Housekeeping) will service your room on a daily basis, The accommodation is centrally heated and most radiators can be controlled individually using the thermostat control.

Internet access is available in college bedrooms. Guests should bring their own Ethernet cables to access this.

A guide to the College is available from the Porters' Lodge.

History to the present day

Balliol College is one of the oldest Colleges in Oxford. About 1260, or perhaps a few years before, John de Balliol, the powerful Lord of Barnard Castle, was involved in a territorial dispute with Walter Kirkham, Bishop of Durham. Balliol, impatient, insulted the Bishop, who imposed a penance on him.

According to the Chroniclers, he had to submit to a public whipping at Durham Cathedral door, and he was also required to carry out a substantial act of charity. This he did by renting a house just outside the Oxford town wall, and maintain in it some poor scholars to whom he paid a dole of a few pence a week.

The House stood roughly where the present Master's Lodgings are, looking across Horsemonger Street, now Broad Street, and the ditch or moat to the city wall. The date of this is traditionally reckoned as 1263.

When John Balliol died in 1269, his widow Dervorguilla took on the role of Patroness with enthusiasm and generosity. She continued to give financial support, put the arrangements on a permanent basis by the formulation of statutes (1282) and gave the Scholars a house "New Balliol Hall" sited near where the present Chapel is. In 1284 there were sixteen Scholars or Fellows.

It was during the 19th Century that Balliol rose to prominence by vigorously promoting university reform and above all by pursuing academic excellence in a liberal environment at the instigation of John Parsons who was Master from 1798 - 1819. Successive Masters continued this pursuit of excellence including the charismatic Benjamin Jowett, after whom our newest accommodation is named.

Dining and drinking

Full English Breakfast is available in the Hall, on the Broad Street site, between 8am and 9am daily.  The College Hall was built in 1877 by Waterhouse. This magnificent building with its organ loft and Willis Organ, 1885, is used daily by the students and seats up to 220 for feasts and banquets.

Guests are welcome to use our informal College Buttery Bar, which is situated to the right of the steps to the Hall.  The Buttery Bar offers a wide range of beers, spirits, and wines as well as soft drinks.  Normal Hours of opening are:  Monday to Saturday 12noon to 2pm; Monday to Friday 6pm to 8pm. 

Arrival information and how to find us

All guests are asked to treat college staff and property with respect, and conduct themselves in a manner befitting an historic academic institution, bearing in mind students and tutors may be working and living on site. If, having read the information below, you are unsure about arrival or travel recommendations, see the visitor information section of our website.

More photos of Balliol College, Oxford

Front Quad	Main Entrance	The Oriel Window of the Master's Lodgings	The Great Hall
Old Common Room Library above	Fellows Garden	Entrance to the Fellows Garden	Chapel Passage
The Jowett Walk Building	The Buttery Bar

Customer feedback

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

Mrsmiltat-camus isabelle, January 2011: I 'll highly recommand staying in Baillol

Elisabeth Clarke, November 2010: Very pleasant stay, loved Oxford and I hope I will be back.

Jamelah N Zidan, October 2010: I was so so so pleased and happy with the room and the porter was so helpful and everything was perfect. I was coming to the UK to stay for a year, was stressed and cold, and my lovely room was more than I expected. Thank you!!

Jemima Scott, September 2010: I really enjoyed my stay in Oxford - a lovely setting for a short break. The location couldn't be better and staying at Balliol College was a great way to experience Oxford. The accommodation was basis but clean and comfortable with plenty of hot water in the ensuite. I would suggest maybe access to an internet connection and/or place to watch some TV just to keep up with the news etc. would be much appreciated by visiting guests. That's the only things I missed really. And I would like to say the English lady in charge at breakfast was really friendly and helpful to guests - she should get a pat on the back!

Mrs J J Ross, September 2010: I am recommending Balliol for such lettings to all my friends!

Violetta Linder, September 2010: I was very very happy with the accomodation, clean, quiet, friendly staff, thank you! I will recommend it and come again.

K Bradshaw, September 2010: lovely stay, interesting, perfect location.

ROSIE JENKINS, September 2010: This was my second visit to Balliol and once again had a simply fantastic time. I can only reiterate what I said last year which was that it was so amazing to be staying in the most stunning surroundings and getting just a little taste of the rarified atmosphere. Again I wondered how many of the students truly realised how incredibly lucky they are to be part of this magical world. Inspector Morse and John Thaw are very sadly long gone but much missed. Lewis happily continues and just for a little while this weekend I felt like an extra in one of the episodes. Truly a great experience. Also thank you for listening to the numerous comments made - this year I had tea and coffee making facilities in my room, which were much appreciated and much utilised. Overall wonderful......shall be back again......need I say more.........

Marco Olmedo , August 2010: The room was a bit spartan but clean and adequate for my needs.

Jann Fisher, August 2010: Very enjoyable stay. If ever I have the chance, I will stay at Balliol again. Thank you.

Alasdair Anderson, August 2010: Very enjoyable break. I came to Oxford to see the new Ashmolean museum and meet with friends. Staying in Balliol College in the heart of Oxford was a real treat and added to the enjoyment of my weekend. The room was basic but sufficient (now includes kettle and tea/coffee) but the surroundings were beautiful and breakfast in the Hall was really special. Recommended for anyone with a sense of history looking for a convenient location in the heart of Oxford.

Juliette Culver, August 2010: Very good value for money for staying so centrally in Oxford. Room was a basic student room but was expecting that and had a better shower than most student rooms! The porter was very friendly and helpful in answering questions. Choice of cooked breakfast was slightly limited (e.g. no sausages, scrambled egg or baked beans, no marmelade) but totally adequate.

Linda Goldsmith, August 2010: Loved the experience of staying in the lovely old College in the heart of Oxford. Only downside was that delivery vans parked and worked from about 6.00 am under the guest wing staircase. Delivery men had very loud voices and very personal discussions about girlfriends etc. Might be worth warning them that they can be easily overheard . Otherwise a brilliant experience and have already recommended it to friends. The internet booking arrangements and subsequent directions were very clear and easy to follow.

Edeltraud Paflik, August 2010: nice reception, ideal location in Oxford, shabby furniture, not perfectly clean great breakfast (best sausages ever, but no marmalade)

Rosemary Elliott, August 2010: I thoroughly enjoyed my stay - it was the best way to truly experience Oxford. My room was clean and tidy.

Arlene Morsellino, August 2010: MY STAY WAS MOST ENJOYABLE. I WOULD CERTAINLY RETURN THERE AGAIN. iT IS A GREAT LOCATION AND IT IS VERY CLEAN. STAFF WAS FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.

Georgina Wilde, July 2010: Generally fine, though the room was a little noisy early in the morning, being close to a gate through which deliveries come in every day

Guy Griffin, July 2010: a relaxing stay at Balliol. College staff friendly, hospitable and helpful. The University Rooms concept is excellent.

Mrs Jean Simkiss, July 2010: A very enjoyable stay at your college,having not to have visited Oxford before, the location was excellent being central for visiting other colleges. My sister and I both in our seventys would recommend this stay.

Jakob Knab, July 2010: And thank you to the porter!

Fred Landergren, July 2010: A great experience!

Jiang Zhiqiang, July 2010: The room is not good because it has not TV.

Derek Caswell, July 2010: In view of present economic climate I believe the room,service and facilities demand a high fee. Service from all staff ( maintenance, reception and catering far better than some 5 star hotels I have stayed in. Well done.

James J. Savino, July 2010: Hi: Overall, room was clean, quite good and a good value. A fan or something for a bit of ventilation would have been helpful. best jim

Mrs B M Le Pavoux, July 2010: Staying in college is a wonderful experience and the fact that the rooms are student rooms must be remembered. All requests made on booking form were met. This was a second time using colleges and will certainly do so again. The collge staff were friendly and helpful.