Hertford College

A shield featuring a white reindeer with yellow antlers and a red background, with a yellow cross at the top

"Sicut cervus anhelat ad fontes aquarum"

As the hart panteth after the water brooks

Hertford is a reminder that the “age” of an Oxford college can be fluid. A hall stood on the site of Hartford long before several of Oxford’s most traditional colleges were even founded, yet Hertford only gained the endowment to become a full constitutional college in 1874. This blend of deep medieval roots and modern collegiate status gives it a particularly intriguing place in Oxford’s landscape.

Today, Hertford is perhaps best known for its famous Bridge of Sighs, a nickname coined by students, which has become one of the most photographed sights in the city. Its alumni include notable figures such as Evelyn Waugh, John Donne, Fay Weldon, and William Tyndale.

The college has recently been closed for major building works, but it plans to announce its reopening to visitors in due course. Conveniently located beside the Bodleian Library, Hertford features on most of our Oxford History Tours, where it offers a perfect moment to explore how the stories of colleges evolve over time.

  • "Fascinating tour by a wonderful guide!"

    Michael, USA

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

    Maria, USA

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

    Steve, Munich, Germany

  • "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

  • "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

  • "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 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

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