Merton College

Merton Street 01865276310
Open: Monday to Friday 2pm - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm. Entry fee of £2 per person.
Official Website

One of the original three colleges of Oxford, Merton College founded in 1264. On the far right of the college lies Mob Quad, the oldest college quad, dating back to the 14th century. At the back of the college stands part of the old city wall. The Old Library, which is off Mob Quad, is the oldest medieval library in use - some books are still chained up (an ancient method of preventing theft).

If visiting Oxford in the summer, be sure to check out a Shakespeare play in the gardens, or attend a candlelit concert in the evenings.

Notable Facts:

• Don't wear high heels or spiked running shoes if planning to tour the library. In order to preserve the ancient floor, anyone with unsuitable footwear will be forced to remove them and wear slippers!

Famous Attendees:
JRR Tolkien - author
TS Eliot - poet and Nobel Laureate for literature
Kris Kristofferson - actor and musician
Sir Thomas Bodley- diplomat, scholar, and librarian