Central-E · Founded 1962
St Catherine's College
Oxford's great modernist college — a cohesive Jacobsen-designed environment of clean lines, water and planting that stands in deliberate contrast to the city's medieval quads.
The college
A closer
look.
Manor Road, on the River Cherwell, central-east Oxford
Founded 1962. Established as a college in 1962 (opening on its new site in 1964) under founding Master Alan Bullock, growing out of the earlier St Catherine's Society for non-collegiate students.
A Grade I-listed masterpiece of modernism designed as a total work of art by the Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, who created the buildings, interiors, furniture and landscaping on an island site by the River Cherwell.
On the same walk
Closest to
this one.
On a visit
Don’t miss.
- 01Arne Jacobsen's Grade I-listed modernist buildings
- 02Jacobsen-designed interiors and furniture
- 03Water gardens and riverside setting on the Cherwell
- 04Bronze sculpture by Barbara Hepworth
- 05Long formal quadrangle
Connected to
Notable
names.
- Designed by Arne Jacobsen — his only building complex in Britain
- Peter Mandelson
- Jeanette Winterson
Before you go
Visiting St Catherine's College
Closed to Tours. Published visitor access: Not currently able to offer tours during final phases of restoration work; Porters’ Lodge staffed 24 hours for enquiries. Admission: Free. College events, services and exams can still close areas at short notice.
Opening hours, admission and access change often — check the official site before you travel.
- Founded
- 1962
- Area
- Manor Road, on the River Cherwell, central-east Oxford
- Type
- College
Keep exploring