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Library · Oxford, Inglaterra
Bodleian Library
The main library of the University of Oxford, opened in 1602, with the medieval Divinity School, the Duke Humfrey's Library and the Schools’ quad. Interior visits are guided and on timed entry.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Bodleian Library
The Biblioteca Bodleiana is the research library of the University of Oxford and one of the oldest in Europe. It was reopened in 1602 by Thomas Bodley, a diplomat who rebuilt the medieval library of the Duke Humfrey, which had been dismantled in the 16th century. By law it receives a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom and has more than 13 million items across the buildings of the complex.
The heart is the Old Schools Quadrangle, the 1620 courtyard with doors that still bear the names of the disciplines painted in Latin, such as Schola Musicae and Schola Astronomiae et Rhetoricae, and the Tower of the Five Orders, with columns in the five classical styles. The courtyard and the entrance hall can be viewed freely.
On guided tours you enter the Divinity School, from 1488, a Gothic exam hall with an elaborately vaulted stone ceiling, used as Hogwarts' infirmary in the Harry Potter films; and, on the longer tours, the Duke Humfrey's Library, the medieval reading room with wooden stacks, and the adjacent Radcliffe Camera. Opposite, across Broad Street, is the Weston Library, the library building with exhibitions open to the public.
Beside them are the Sheldonian Theatre, by Christopher Wren, where graduation ceremonies are held, and the Ponte dos Suspiros do Hertford College, which links two college buildings over New College Lane.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 minutes for the short visit to the Divinity School and 1 to 1h30 for the longer guided tours. The courtyard can be seen in 15 minutes.
Best time
In the morning, on a weekday. Guided tours have limited places and often sell out in summer; buy tickets in advance on the website. During exam and graduation periods some areas may be closed.
How to get there
It lies between Broad Street and Catte Street, in central Oxford, a 15-minute walk from the train station. The Radcliffe Camera and the Ponte dos Suspiros are 2 minutes away.
Tip
Even without a guided tour, go into the Schools' courtyard and the Weston Library across the street, which hosts manuscript exhibitions and has a café. Exit via Catte Street to see the Ponte dos Suspiros and the Radcliffe Camera.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bodleian Library
Can you go inside the Bodleian Library?
The courtyard and entrance hall can be seen freely. Interiors such as the Divinity School and Duke Humfrey's Library are only accessible on a paid guided tour.
Where is Hogwarts' infirmary?
The Divinity School, inside the Bodleian, was used as the infirmary in the Harry Potter films.
What is Oxford's Bridge of Sighs?
A covered walkway of Hertford College over New College Lane, 2 minutes from the Bodleian. It can be seen from the street.
Is the Weston Library open to the public?
Yes, the ground floor, with exhibitions, a shop and a cafe, is usually open to the public free of charge. Check ahead.