Old Bodleian Library, Old Schools Quad, Oxford. Free entry to Quad. Charges apply for Guided and unguided tours. See listing for opening times for different areas.

Details

Accessibility:

Parking is extremely limited near to the library but there are car parks within Oxford city centre. Detailed information on all of these car parks and their current Blue Badge concessions can be found here: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/directory/8/car_parks_in_oxford/category/53/categoryInfo/10

The main entrance through the Great Gate at the base of the Tower of the Five Orders offers level access to the library and Old Schools Quad. From the Quad the other ground level accesses to Proscholium, Clarendon Quad and Radcliffe Square are also level but their gates may be closed.

The Old Bodleian Library can be accessed by wheelchair to the ground floor areas. However, all guided tours include a large number of stairs – some steep. However, self-guided tours of Divinity School and the audio tours involve no stairs and some ramps.

Information specific to visitors and readers with specific disabilities is available here: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/bodley/using-this-library/disability

Additional accessibility information for the Bodleian Library buildings and tours is available here: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/visit/plan-your-visit/accessibility

The nearest accessible toilet is on the ground floor of Weston Library (SP 51523 06510) and the following public toilets have disability facilities: Market Street Public Toilets (SP513063); Gloucester Green Public Toilets (SP510063); Oxpens Public Toilets (SP507058). There are also other public toilets in the town centre, but they do not have disability facilities.

Oxford city has a Shopmobility service which is accessed from within the car park for the Westgate shopping centre (OX1 1TR). The car park itself has 50 disability parking spaces, which are located close to the lobby area. Scooters and wheelchairs can be hired free of charge from the Shopmobility office, which can be booked over the telephone on 01865 263600 (Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm). Further information can be requested via email: westgate.oxford@landsec.com.

Brief Description:

The Old Bodleian Library and Schools Quad was completed in the early 17^th century with the building of three wings and the impressive Tower of the Five Orders – which is the main entrance to the library and quad. This complex is directly linked to the Proscholium (the original building), Divinity School, Duke Humfrey’s Library and Convocation House. Tours are available for some of these areas.

Further Information:

Address:

Old Schools Quad, Bodleian Library, Catte Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3BB

Telephone:

Event information: 01865 287400 

Shop: 01865 277001

Email:

tours@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

customerservice@bodleianshop.co.uk

Website:

Bodleian Library: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Opening Hours:

Tours, Divinity School, Proscholium: Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00 / Sat 9:00-16:30 / Sun 11:00-17:00

Bodleian Libraries' Shop (Old Schools Quad): Mon-Fri 10:00-17:30 / Sat 10:00-17:00 / Sun 11:00-17:00

The Old Schools Quad is free to enter while some areas are only accessible during guided tours which are chargeable. Details of these tours can be found here: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/visit/tours

The buildings may be closed for ceremonial or other reasons. Please check the following link before planning your visit: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/visit/plan-your-visit/hours

Directions:

The entrance to Old School Quad / Tower of the Five Orders is in the centre of Oxford on the corner of Broad Street and Parks Road and can be tricky to get to by car. From the M40 J8a take the A40 west towards Oxford for 5 miles. At the roundabout continue straight to take the London Road/A420 for a further 2.5 miles. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit (past the pillared monument in the middle of the road) onto The Plain/A420 for around 400 metres/yards then turn right onto Longwall Street. Longwall Street turns slightly right and becomes St Cross Road. Turn left onto South Parks Road then, at the T-junction, turn left again onto Parks Road and continue onto Catte Street, past the entrance to Clarendon Square and the double doors of Great Gate will be on your right-hand side.

OS SP 51589 06420

Transport:

Oxford is a very old city and travelling by car can be a problem. However, there is an excellent pubic transport system, which you can find further details of here: http://www.oxfordcityguide.com/oxford-tourist-information/getting-around-oxford

There are six Park & Ride sites located around Oxford's ring road; Bicester, Oxford Parkway and Pear Tree to the North, Thornhill to the East, Redbridge to the South and Seacourt to the West. The parking and bus into town are charged separately and there are no concessions for Blue Badge drivers. Each Park & Ride also has EV charge points for electric car drivers. Further details of the locations and charges can be found here: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/directory/8/car_parks_in_oxford/category/56/categoryInfo/13

The main bus services in Oxford are run by the Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach Oxfordshire and Thames Travel. The services run throughout the city as well as the surrounding villages. Further details can be found on the following websites: https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/, https://www.stagecoachbus.com/about/oxfordshire and https://www.thames-travel.co.uk/.

Oxford’s main railway station is located on the west side of the city centre with bus stops and taxi ranks just outside. There are frequent services to/from London Paddington, London Marylebone and Birmingham New Street. Details of the station can be found here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/OXF/details.html. For ticket information you can telephone National Rail on 03457 484 950.

Amenities:

There are no amenities on site but there is a café in Weston Library – The Bodleian Cafe – 50 metres/yards to the north of Great Gate serving hot drinks and light food. There are also cafes, coffee shops, public houses, restaurants and shops to cater for any taste within Oxford town centre.