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Keble College, Oxford – A Visitor’s Guide

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Planning a trip to Keble College, Oxford? Here’s what you need to know before you visit one of Oxford’s most esteemed colleges.

It’s official, Keble College will knock your socks off – and we’re not just saying that because we’ve got an alumni within our troops. Promise.

The Victorian-Gothic masterpiece is often left out of many Oxford tourist lists and we can’t for the life of us figure out why. The college even holds the record of being longest in Oxford, as well as the most stunning.

Ready to explore?

Why Visit Keble College, Oxford?

Because it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful and you’ll be left standing with your mouth open murmuring ‘wow’ for at least a good three minutes, maybe four.

Dramatics aside, we’ve even heard rumours that the Harry Potter crew wanted to film the first film in Keble College but the college refused because they didn’t want to take down the paintings.

Even though we can’t fully fact-check this rumour for you, you should without a doubt visit Keble to see it for yourself.

Take a Peek at Holman Hunt’s The Light of the World

Holman Hunt Light of the World Keble College

When visiting the college, make sure you take a peep a Holman Hunt’s The Light of the World painting . It’s Keble’s prized possession.

The process of The Light of the World started when Hunt was in his twenties, but wasn’t completed until years later. He wanted it to be perfect, and wanted to perfect the dawn, but felt he couldn’t do that until he travelled to Bethlehem where he finally saw the perfect sunrise.

Although we weren’t there for that sunrise, we know it must have been pretty perfect for him to create what he did.

The picture has two lights shown, the lantern is the light of conscience and the light around the head is the light of salvation. The door is there to represent the human soul, which is impossible to be opened from the outside. Wow. Wow. Wow.

The door doesn’t have a handle and has never been opened, Christ is standing and asking for permission to enter. The writing in the image is taken from Revelation 3:

‘Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and opens the door I will come to in to him and will sup with him and he with me.’

It’s a pretty breathtaking piece by anyone’s standards and one you’re going to want to take some time to admire. The detail, the energy, the feel of it.

All visitors to the Keble College chapel can easily see the masterpiece in the side chapel, just before the choir stalls.

See the Biggest Dining Hall in Oxford

Yes, you read that right! The biggest dining hall in Oxford. First opened in 1878, the gorgeous gothic Keble College dining hall offers meals for up to 300 people… we don’t think we even know 300 people so this is a hard one to get our heads around.

Think long wooden benches surrounded by magical portraits of iconic people from Kebel’s past. It’s practically the Great Dining Hall from Harry Potter.

Want to have a private dinner? Well, that’s possible, too. Even though private isn’t quite the word we’d choose for 300 people.

Enjoy the Sunken Quad

The college grounds are pretty epic too. Precise borders framing a traditional lawn quad (Keble actually has three quads, but we’re talking about the Liddon Quad, which is the main one) makes for a special spot of both living and relaxing.

Until recently, it was thought that the sunken Liddon Quad was a deliberate feature by William Butterfield, the ground’s architect.

Turns out that the land on which Keble was built was formerly a quarry and Butterfield had to heave plenty of earth into the college to raise the surrounding paths. He left the rest of the quad at its original level to save on costs – quite fortuitous really as the end result is pretty spectacular.

Keble College’s History

Keble College opened its doors in 1870 – so is one of the more recent Oxford colleges .

Founded by John Keble (an English-Anglican poet/priest), the college’s first purpose was to create an Oxford education available to “gentlemen wishing to live economically”.

Essentially, it was founded on the message that it wanted to create and attempt to broaden the social depth of the students as the college was mostly Anglican.

John Keble was also a leading member of the Oxford Movement whose aim was to stress the Catholic nature of the Church of England. As a consequence, during its early years, the college’s teaching predominantly focused on theology, and it was only until after the Second World War that it added science courses to its roster.

Keble College Architecture

Keble College wanted to be different, it was founded on difference, and it even physically looks different. From polychromatic brickwork by architect William Butterfield, it was there to mark a change and determine itself unlike any of its predecessors.

The college design was Butterfield’s masterpiece, the different colour bricks, stonework, and encaustic tiles are arranged in such a lively yet professional way.

As mentioned, the college was distinctive for breaking the rules and being different. Not only was that true in its appearance, but also breaking away from Oxbridge many traditions, one of them being the arrangement of rooms along corridors rather than having them swirl around a staircase.

Oxford’s Friendliest College or An Ugly Eyesore?

Right, back to the history. The college admits students through a full range of subjects for just about any career you could think of. It was only in 1979 that the college began to admit women, and in 1994 the college admitted its first female Warden.

Throughout the years, Keble has earned itself a reputation for many things. Some say it’s Oxford’s “friendliest” college (strongly agree), yet it’s also been accused of being the “the ugliest building in the world” (strongly disagree).

One story even claims that whilst a French visitor walked by, they screamed out how beautiful the railway station was.

Regardless of any different views of the college, what we can say for sure is that Keble is striking and has made a real name for itself in history.

Notable Alumni of Keble College

The Alumni of Keble College are pretty hefty, there are a lot of them and there are some amazing ones. Interestingly, a lot of creatives, actors, writers and change makers.

Leslie Banks

Leslie Banks, English stage and screen actor was one of them (and we really love him). He’s now remembered for playing menacing characters in the 1930s and 1940s, but was also incredibly versatile and acted in more traditional plays.

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Another creative and favourite of the Keble College Alumni is Frank Cottrell Boyce, a screenwriter and novelist who also dabbled in acting – he’s best known for his children’s fiction, especially the sequels to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car. He even got married in Keble College!

Next up we’ve got Ben Brown, who we’re sure you’ve seen on your screens time and time again bringing you those big updates – he’s a news presenter for BBC news.

Currently, Ben is a presenter on BBC News at One, BBC Weekend News, BBC News Channel and BBC World News.

One of the most famous Keble College Alumni was in fact, the Pakistan Prime Minister. Imran Khan has truly lived an interesting life. Pakistani politician, former cricketer who served as the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan until April 2022.

He’s also the chairman (and founder) of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insad (PTI) – one of the biggest political parties in the country, as well as being ranked the world’s most influential muslims. And it all began at Keble College!

How to Visit Keble College

Surely you’ve got enough reasons to visit one of Oxford’s best colleges now?

The public can visit Keble college free of charge everyday from 2pm to 5pm. It’s important to contact the porters before your visit, as the college sometimes has private events and could be closed.

Also note that visitors can’t bring any animals into the college (bar assistance animals).

Keble College Accommodation

If you’re keen to relive your uni years, you can even stay at Keble College . The real deal of all Oxford experiences would be staying at one of the Oxford Colleges.

They offer a variety of different bedrooms, each very unique. Breakfast is included in your room rate AND served in the epic dining hall…. Imagine having your eggs in the best dining room in Oxford!

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Keble College

About keble college.

Founded in 1870, Keble College is one of the most distinguished colleges at the University of Oxford. It has a rich history and an impressive list of alumni who have made significant contributions to various fields. This college, set in the heart of Oxford, boasts a spectacular campus, with a breathtaking dining hall and plenty of green space to explore.

Keble College has been home to an impressive array of alumni. Among its notable graduates are Anne-Marie Imafidon, founder of the Stemettes, Imran Khan, the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan, and an impressive array of World Champion rowers including Storm Uru and Jason Flickinger.

Keble College enjoys a prime location in the heart of Oxford, offering students easy access to the city’s cultural and academic treasures. Students can explore the Ashmolean Museum, soak up the sun in University Parks, and indulge in the vibrant markets that Oxford has to offer.

College Website | Virtual Tour

Accommodation details

Keble is one of the colleges in which our Oxford Summer School is hosted. Students will be accommodated in single rooms which are standard undergraduate bedrooms. Bathrooms are shared between a few students. Male and female students will be separated by corridor and/or staircases.

Founded in: 1870
Bathroom type: En-suite & shared (single gender)
Bedroom type: Single
Student ages: 16-18

Safety and security on campus

In the college students are overseen by the Programme Director, who implements the day-to-day running of the programme. The Director is assisted by a team of Counsellors who very often are current members of the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge.

The Counsellors ensure that students are looked after pastorally, culturally and socially during their programme. Students are able to talk informally and frankly to the Counsellors in order to raise concerns or to discuss university applications.

Each campus has a few members of residential staff who live in the college throughout the programme and are able to assist students at any time of the day or night.

Oxford Royale and Keble College

It is important to note that Oxford Royale Summer Schools is not a part of, or otherwise affiliated to, Keble College or the University of Oxford. Find out more about Oxford Royale and the University of Oxford .

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Visiting Oxford > Oxford University > Oxford Colleges

Keble College

Keble College is one of the University of Oxford’s constituent colleges. It is located on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and University Parks, and is bordered to the north and south by Keble Road and Museum Road, respectively. The college’s initial focus was on theology. There is now a wide range of subjects available at the college, reflecting the diversity of degrees available throughout the university. In the period following World War II, the trend was toward scientific courses (the proximity to the university science area east of the University Museum contributed to this).

What's the History of Keble College?

The college was founded in 1870 in memory of John Keble , who was a leading member of the Oxford Movement which emphasized the Catholic nature of the Church of England. The best-known of Keble’s Victorian founders was Edward Pusey , an English Anglican cleric.

Architect William Butterfield designed the new college in Victorian Gothic style, and the foundations were laid on St Mark’s Day (25 April) in 1868. The college is built of red, blue, and white bricks; the main structure is of red brick, with white and blue patterned banding. The college first opened in 1870 and took in thirty students.

The "Ugliest Building in the World"

The social historian G. M. Trevelyan expressed of the college’s building: “ The monstrosities of architecture erected by order of the dons of Oxford and Cambridge colleges in the days of William Butterfield and Alfred Waterhouse give daily pain to posterity .” Sir Kenneth Clark agreed, and called Keble College was “ the ugliest building in the world. ” That’s not all. Undergraduates at St John’s College started the Destroy Keble Society , which aimed to dismantle the college brick by brick.

The Buildings of Keble College

Keble College contains five quads: Liddon (the largest), Pusey (named after one of the founders), Hayward (named after Charles Hayward), De Breyne (named after Andre de Breyne) and Newman (named after John Henry Newman).

The Original Buildings

The main building is the distinctive main brick complex designed by Butterfield. This designed remained incomplete due to lack of funds and the Chapel and Hall were built later than the accommodation blocks. The Chapel and Hall were both also designed by Butterfield.

Modern Buildings

A section west of the chapel dates back to the 1950s and was added with funds from Antonin Besse. The ABK buildings, which are later additions too, included the college’s memorable, futuristic “ goldfish bowl ” bar, which opened in 1977. US-born architect Rick Mather also added the ARCO building and the Sloane-Robinson building.

The H B Allen Centre

The 1.7-acre (6,900 m 2 ) site of the former Acland Hospital was acquired in 2004 and houses an estimated 100 graduate students.

What is it Like to Study at Keble College, Oxford?

Keble College publishes a termly magazine called The Brick with news of student life. The Breezeblock is another publication containing college gossip and a satirical take on college life.

Upon graduation, each student is given a red brick along with their degree certificates. The Keble Ball is planned by the student committee to coincide with the day-long graduation ceremony in Trinity term week 2.

Keble fields a number of sports teams including successful rugby ones that won the intercollegiate league for five seasons in a row. The Colege also competes annually in Torpids and Summer Eights regattas.

Where is Keble College?

Balliol College is located in Parks Road (OX1 3PG), Oxford. Tel 01865 272727.

Can you Visit Keble College?

Yes, Keble College is open to the public.

Open : Daily 14.00-17.00.
Charge : Free.
Groups : Guided tours and groups of 8 or more must pre book through the Porters Lodge.

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Keble College

Keble College is one of the University of Oxford’s 38 constituent colleges. It is one of Oxford’s larger colleges and it has more rooms than any other college at the university.

Established in 1870, Keble is one of Oxford’s newer colleges and it is noted for the distinctive brick buildings designed by William Butterfield. When it was first completed the building was universally derided by critics as it was a very bold design for the time and while it still has its detractors, the college’s buildings fit in with their surroundings.

Former Keble students include former shadow chancellor of the exchequer, Ed Balls; former Governor of Hong Kong, David Wilson and Pakistani prime minister and former cricket captain, Imran Khan.

Keble College Chapel in Liddon Quad at Keble College at the University of Oxford (Photo: David Iliff [CC BY-SA 2.5])

What to see at Keble College

Although it doesn’t have the rich history of Oxford’s older colleges, Keble College is still worth a visit if only to see the chapel and dining hall.

You enter through the main gate next to the Porter’s Lodge, which forms part of Liddon Quad. Liddon Quad is probably the most iconic area of Keble College as you’re surrounded by the distinctive patterned brick buildings that Keble is known for.

The chapel at the northern end of Liddon Quad is the most striking building here. The chapel’s interior is a majestic space that is quite unique when compared with other college chapels at Oxford. The chapel also features Holman Hunt’s painting, The Light of the World . Hunt also painted two other copies of this painting, a smaller copy hangs in the Manchester City Art Gallery and a larger copy is on display at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Keble’s dining hall is the longest at Oxford and can seat 300 diners. It is a magnificent space that has recently been restored to its original glory.

The interior of the dining hall at Keble College at the University of Oxford (Photo: David Iliff [CC BY-SA 3.0])

While the aforementioned buildings bear William Butterfield’s distinctive Gothic Revival style the newer Hayward and De Breyne buildings added in the 1960s, the ARCO building added in 1995, the Newman Quad and the 2002 Sloane Robinson Building complement the college’s older buildings.

Visiting Keble College

Keble College is located north of the city centre close to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum . It is around a 10-minute walk into the centre of Oxford.

The public can visit free of charge between 2pm and 5pm daily. Although, like other colleges at Oxford, Keble College is occasionally closed to the public for university events.

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An important first step in any college search is to do a college tour. With over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States alone, doing an individual in-person tour would be impossible (albeit a great way to rack up some frequent flier miles), expensive and highly time consuming. Virtual tours are a great option to gain insight into a school while wearing your favorite slippers. Check out some of our staff favorites and a great starting point for any student jumping into their college journey.

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Now that you have seen our staff favorites, you can also continue the binge-watching on YouVisit i f you find yourself ready to make some of your virtual visits a reality, check out our helpful guides on scheduling your college visits and of course our advice on what to ask on a tour .

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