Bodleian Libraries

About

Different ticket options allow you to visit the interior of some of the buildings, such as the University’s oldest teaching and examination room, The Divinity School (built 1427-88). Here you will discover more of the University’s fascinating history. Our guided tours go behind the scenes in the Library, including its oldest research library, the Duke Humfrey’s Library, which has been in constant use for over 400 years.

You can also visit the Weston Library which was completely renovated and reopened in 2015. This award winning building features the Café and shop, but also displays and exhibitions, which are free of charge and display some of the finest examples from the library collections.

We are open all year round, except at Christmas, New Year and Easter, when we close on certain days. Please check our web site for opening dates at these times.

Please note that certain areas of the library may close at short notice due to university, library or other hosted events.

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Bodleian Library Reviews (from Trip Advisor)

Average rating 4.5/5 from 1,000 plus reviews

• We, and one hundred guests, attended the wedding of our youngest son. The venue is spectacular and will leave everybody with lovely memories. It has great warmth and charm and is steeped in history. Just excellent.
  Clive, 2017 - 5 stars
• Unless you are prepared to book onto one of the guided tours you will see very little. The free entry gets you into the central quadrangle and a further £1 will get you into the Divinity School but no further
  David, 2017 - 2 stars
• Coming to visit Oxford was like a Harry Potter fan dream. If you want to see the Duke's lubrary then a guided tour is a must. Wish we were allowed to take photos inside the Library. Divinity hall was nice.
  Jessica, 2017 - 4 stars
• What an amazing place when you see it all the films you had forgotten about come back to you as some scenes use this place to do their filming. Well worth a vist
  Lloyd, 2017 - 5 stars
• We took a 30 minute tour of the library and felt that it was well worth it. A building full of incredible history!
  Trinjam, 2071 - 5 stars
• The actual library is only accessible if you take the extended Bodleian Library tour. But for a few pounds you can get into the Divinity School which was the inspiration for the Harry Potter Infirmary! There are many different types of tours available, but sadly on the most expensive with set times is the one that actually gets you to the full library. 
  Martin, 2017 - 4 stars
• I could have sat in the hall of divinity for hours staring at the ceiling. I loved that they limited the number of people in there so there was still a sense of peace about the place even though there people about. 
  Chrissie, 2017 - 5 stars
• We paid to go round the Bodleian when we had friends over and the weather was so wet, but we were really glad we did! It takes you into the beating heart of the university - its historic library and reading rooms. You see the chained books in Duke Humphreys, as featured in Harry Potter (of course!), as well as the remarkable ceiling in the Divinity School, a court room where students were once put on trial and a room where parliament sat during the English Civil War. With scholars hard at work around you you have to tread quietly at times, but this is a great way to sense what Oxford is all about today and how the university first began.
  Martin, 2017 - 5 stars
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