A shield with a red chevron in the center and three red fleurs-de-lis in a gold background, framed in black.

All Souls College, Oxford

Founded in 1438 by Henry VI and Archbishop Henry Chichele, All Souls is in a sense Oxford’s most exclusive colleges, unique in having no undergraduate students and a centuries-old tradition of electing Fellows through what was once known as “the world’s hardest exam.”

Architecturally, it is a masterpiece. The medieval Front Quad leads to the great Hawksmoor Quadrangle, designed in the early 18th century by Nicholas Hawksmoor, one of England’s most celebrated baroque architects. His dramatic twin towers are among the most recognisable silhouettes in Oxford. The Codrington Library, begun in 1716, is another Hawksmoor creation and amongst the most majestic of the University.

Notable Fellows have included Christopher Wren, T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), historian A. L. Rowse, philosopher Isaiah Berlin, and many leading judges, diplomats, and scholars. The College has long been associated with high scholarship and public service.

Visitors are drawn to All Souls for its serenity, its architectural beauty, and its unusual status within the University. We recommend incorporating a visit to All Souls into an afternoon of any of our Oxford Overview or Introductory Tours, or the bespoke day tour. The college’s tranquil atmosphere and golden limestone is at its most striking in the afternoon.

If you would like to visit All Souls independently it welcomes small groups most afternoons. Always check online before making your travel plans.

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  • "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

  • "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