Christ Church College, Oxford University

If you want to hang out with Harry Potter, be amazed at Alice (from Wonderland), this famous Oxford University College is just for you! And you have to be aware that Christ Church College has its own time: when it's e.g. 5 p.m Oxford time, then it's 5.05 Christ Church time! Th bells of Great Tom  ring       at 9.05 p.m- 101 times and evening services start at 6.05 p.m!

The Cloister with an olive tree

Christ Church College is a unique joint foundation of College and Cathedral. Christ Church is one of the largest Oxford Colleges, with approximately 430 undergraduates and 215 postgraduates.

College is students' home while they are in Oxford. This is where they study, live and eat. 

Great Tom, Tom Quad   

A Statue of Mercury

Tom Quad is named after the six-tonn bell, Great Tom, which hangs Sir Christopher Wren's Tom Tower. Astatrue of Mercury, the  winged Roman god, stands in the fishpond at the centre of Tom Quad. 

The Staircase at Christ Church College may seem familiar to some visitors! Several locations at Christ Church were used for scenes in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Professor McGonagall welcomed Harry and his classmates to Hogwarts for the first time at the top of the staircase and the Hall inspired the appearance of Hogwart's Halla nad was recreated in in a studio for filming. 

 The Hall is at the centre of college life, the academic community congregates here to dine each day and on special occasions banquetes are held. The Hall has a specific 'hammerbeam' ceiling. Portraits of many famous members of Christ Church hang on the walls, including John Locke, six of the 13 Prime Ministers educated at the college, and Charles Dodgson.

                                                                Photos taken in the dining room (above)

Alice's Secret Grden

 Charles Dodgson- Lewis Carol- studied, taught and lived in Christ Church College. The then Dean's daughter, Alice Liddell, was immortalised in his Alice in Wonderland stories and so too very many of the places and people encountered at Christ Church, For example, the brass firedogs have long necks (right): Alice opens out a telescope after taking a bite from a cake marked 'eat me'. Above the High Table is a portrait of the college's founder, King Henry VIII, who famously executed two of hios wives. In Alice's adventures, the Red Queen continually shouts off with her head!

                                                                                              The shop is just across the street