Embedded Files
Before the trip - Have you RECHARGED?
Before the trip - Have you RECHARGED?
R — Register – Have the group register and emergency contacts ready
E — Equipment – Wear your yellow shirt/hoodie so students can spot you
C — Check water – Make sure students are hydrated; teach them tap water is safe!
H — Have your tickets – Don't board a coach or enter a venue empty-handed
A — Assess the risk – Review the risk assessment for the day's route
R — Rain-ready – Remind students to bring a raincoat or umbrella
G — Go fully charged – Full phone battery + power bank before you leave
E — Every photo counts – Capture key moments and share to the PhotoCircle app
Overview
Overview
Get off the bus before ‘The Plain’. Walk across the bridge. Magdalen College (pronounced ‘Mawdlin’ is on your right. Admire the bell tower and its wonderful setting next to the river.
Every year at 6 o’clock in the morning on 1st May (May Day), the choir of the college sing from here. Afterwards there are parties with lots of champagne and dancing.
Does anyone know what the boats are called? (Punts and the activity is called punting.)
Enter from the High Street by the Gatehouse. The college was founded in 1458 and there are about 400 students these days.
The quadrangle is called ‘St John’s’ because in olden times before the college there was a hospital called ‘The hospital of John the Baptist’. It was closed down by royal permission in 1485.
Notice the magnificent doorway of the chapel decorated with battlements and statues. You do not enter the chapel this way. Go under the smaller tower (Muniment Tower) and turn right.
In the chapel, notice the 17th century glass windows and a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’.
Leave the chapel and turn right into the Cloister. Doors and steep steps lead to student rooms.
Notice the grotesques. Can you identify what they are? (hippo, greyhound, jester, wrestlers/dancers)
Enter the Hall.
Who do you think sits at the ‘high table’ at the far end? (Dons – university professors)
Can you see the bust of Oscar Wilde? (facing the fireplace from a window ledge near the centre of the room)
Who was he? (Irish writer – author of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.)
Rough Timetable
Rough Timetable
Magdalen College Visit - Tour Guide Itinerary
00:00 - Depart Ruskin College and walk to the nearest bus stop.
00:10 - Take public transport to central Oxford (approx. 15 mins by bus).
00:25 - Arrive near Magdalen College and walk to the entrance.
00:30 - Begin visit to Magdalen College. Meet at entrance and introduction by guides.
00:35 - Stop 1: The Great Tower - History and student traditions.
00:50 - Stop 2: The Cloisters - Medieval architecture and famous alumni.
01:05 - Stop 3: The Chapel - Role of religion and music at Magdalen.
01:20 - Stop 4: Addison's Walk - Literature connections and riverside reflections.
01:35 - Stop 5: The Deer Park - History, wildlife, and seasonal traditions.
01:50 - Reflection Break - Free time in the grounds (guided questions for students).
02:10 - Final stop: Old Grammar Hall - Student life in past centuries.
02:25 - Wrap-up: Group reflection, questions, and optional photo opportunity.
Speaking Notes for Activity Leaders
Speaking Notes for Activity Leaders
1. Entrance to Magdalen
1. Entrance to Magdalen
Welcome to Magdalen College. Magdalen College was founded in 1458 by a wealthy bishop called William of Waynflete, making the college over 560 years old.
However, this was not the first thing to be built on this site. Before the college was established, there was a monastery here called St John's Hospital, which was founded in the 11th century. In medieval times, religion and education were closely connected, and when the college was founded, subjects such as science, philosophy, and theology became important areas of study.
If you take a look around, you can still see parts of the original city walls that once surrounded Oxford. This is because the college wanted a large green space for its grounds, something that was difficult to find within the crowded medieval city. As a result, Magdalen College was one of the first major buildings to be constructed outside the city walls.
Today, Magdalen is famous for its choir, which sings from the top of the Great Tower every morning on the 1st of May to celebrate the arrival of spring. The college is also well known for Addison's Walk, its beautiful grounds, and its deer park, all of which make it one of Oxford's most distinctive and picturesque colleges.
2. The Chapel
2. The Chapel
Welcome to Magdalen College Chapel. This chapel has been at the heart of the college since its foundation in 1458 and remains an important place of worship and reflection today.
The chapel is known for its beautiful architecture, impressive stained-glass windows, and long musical tradition. It is home to the famous Magdalen College Choir, which is regarded as one of the finest collegiate choirs in the country. Throughout the year, the choir performs regular services and special concerts, attracting visitors from around the world.
The chapel has played an important role in college life for more than five centuries, serving generations of students, fellows, and staff. Today, it remains one of the most historic and admired buildings within Magdalen College and is an important part of Oxford's religious and cultural heritage.
3. The Cloisters
3. The Cloisters
Welcome to the Magdalen College Cloisters. These cloisters form part of the historic college buildings and have been an important feature of Magdalen life for centuries.
Cloisters like these were traditionally designed as covered walkways, allowing students and fellows to move around the college while being sheltered from the weather. They also provided a quiet, reflective space for study and conversation, surrounded by some of the oldest parts of the college.
Similar cloisters can be found in other Oxford colleges, including New College, which were famously used as filming locations in the Harry Potter films. Their medieval architecture made them a perfect backdrop for Hogwarts scenes, bringing the historic atmosphere of Oxford to the screen.
Today, the Magdalen cloisters remain one of the most peaceful and atmospheric parts of the college, connecting its long history with the present day.
4. The Dining room
4. The Dining room
Welcome to the Magdalen College Dining Hall. This is where members of the college gather each day to share meals in a setting that has a long and rich tradition.
The dining hall has been an important part of college life for centuries, bringing students, fellows, and staff together in a communal space. The room is designed in a traditional style, with long wooden tables, portraits of past scholars, and a high ceiling that reflects the college’s historic character.
Formal dining, known as “Formal Hall,” still takes place here, continuing customs that date back hundreds of years. These traditions help maintain a strong sense of community and connection to the college’s history.
Today, the dining hall remains both a working part of college life and a reminder of Magdalen’s long academic heritage.
5. Student bar
5. Student bar
Welcome to the Magdalen College Student Bar. This is a popular social space where students come together to relax, meet friends, and unwind after lectures and college commitments.
Unlike the more formal parts of the college, the bar has a relaxed and informal atmosphere, making it an important part of student life. It is a place where people from different subjects and year groups can mix and spend time together outside of academic work.
If you look around the walls, you can see oars displayed as trophies. These represent the college’s strong tradition in rowing and its many successes in inter-college rowing competitions.
Today, the student bar continues to be a central part of college life, combining social tradition with the sporting history of Magdalen.
6. The Addison walk, Deer park & new build
6. The Addison walk, Deer park & new build
Alright guys, as I was mentioning earlier, over that way is the start of Addison’s Walk. It takes about 45 minutes to go all the way around, and at the end there is a large art sculpture to see.
The walk is named after Joseph Addison, a famous writer and former fellow of the college.
As you continue along the path, you may notice the college’s deer park. There are four different types of deer—white, black, brown, and others—and there are hundreds of them, so keep your eyes out.
Now over here is one of the newer parts of the college. It has quite a funny name: it is simply called the “New Buildings.” These were built in the 19th century to provide more teaching rooms as the university continued to expand.
Give them free time to explore quietly
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