Corpus Christi visits can be included in your OHT tour

Coat of arms divided into three sections: the left features a gold bird on a blue background, the middle displays a crown above crossed sword and key on red shield, and the right shows black with three white cats and three red symbols.

Founded in 1517 by Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester and close advisor to Henry VII, Corpus Christi is one of Oxford’s most distinguished colleges, steeped in the humanist scholarly traditions.

The Stuart king JamesI chose Corpus Christi as the residence of the translators of his new ‘English’ Bible. The college library preserves a collection of manuscripts connected to this work and the college takes pride in making these materials accessible to scholars and serious amateurs with a genuine interest in the field.

The Main Quad is one of Oxford’s earliest Renaissance courtyards and is crowned by what is, for me, one of the city’s most glorious sundial, a column crowned by the heraldic emblem of Corpus, a pelican feeding its young. The Pelican Sundial of is one of the wonders of Oxford. Its intricate faces, mathematical puzzles and layers of symbolism make it a compelling epitome of the inventive spirit of the 16th century.

From the Garden Quad one can gaze south over Christ Church Meadow. This is also the venue for one of Oxford’s more eccentric traditions: the annual inter-collegiate Tortoise Race, where colleges race their (real) tortoises to raise funds for charitable causes.

We recommend incorporating a visit to Corpus Christi into an afternoon of any duration of our Oxford Overview or Introductory Tour, or into your own bespoke day tour.

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  • "Fascinating, thoughtfully constructed tour of Oxford University encompassing a thousand years of history. I've lived in Oxford for thirty years, yet in this tour learned new and intriguing nuggets about the city, discovered hidden gems in ancient stone buildings that I've been strolling past all these years."

    Maria, Oxford, UK

  • "Sophie offered us a tailor-made tour that perfectly met our expectations."

    Steve, Munich, Germany

  • "Wonderful tour about Oxford, very knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed every minute of it."

    Maria, USA

  • "Sophie is a congenial host with vast knowledge of the colleges and general Oxford area. Good communication and instruction for meet up. Would highly recommend her tour!"

    Andrew, New York, USA

  • "Fascinating tour by a wonderful guide!"

    Michael, USA

  • "Sophie is so knowledgeable! Oxford is a city of history, and she knows it so well. Her recommendation for our dinner after the tour was perfect! She also took care of me beforehand in suggesting other things to do before her tour. She’s the best. A pro’s pro!"

    Kori, USA

  • "My history tour with Sophie was informative and entertaining. The horror was made funny and the ridiculous serious. I was surprised by how much I didn't know and went away with new insights into, not only the university's history and traditions, but the history of England generally. I also got some good ideas for the rest of my stay in Oxford. Thank you!"

    James, UK

  • "This tour was a lovely introduction to Oxford University. As a recent transplant from the US, it was a great way to get my bearings of the area, visit a college, and learn about some fascinating local history. Whether we were gazing at gargoyles or admiring beautiful stained glass, Sophie was a true delight – very knowledgeable, thoughtful, and well-articulated. I highly recommend this experience!"

    Megan, USA

  • "Sophie is a superb, experienced and enriching guide. We are a retired US professional couple. We've hired individual local guides throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and Sophie tops our list! She spent hours with us in advance, curating our day in Oxford, then filled our tour with history, architecture, art, education, culture…and fun. The day was perfectly paced and suited to our needs. It was a graduation day, so like the happy students, we too tossed our hats in celebration. Brava Sophie!"

    K & A Krupsky, Chicago, USA

  • "The tour was well thought out and Sophie was an engaging guide with a mine of interesting information, much of it new to me even as someone who's lived in Oxford for the past 30 years. Definitely recommended."

    J Willams, Oxford

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