Radcliffe Square, Historic square in central Oxford, United Kingdom
Radcliffe Square is a plaza in central Oxford with cobbled pathways and a central grassy area surrounded by railings. The circular Radcliffe Camera, an 18th-century library building, anchors the space and is surrounded by college buildings and the University Church.
The square developed as a university center in the 17th century, and the Radcliffe Camera was constructed from 1737 to 1748. Funding came from John Radcliffe, a royal physician and former student who left his fortune for the building.
The square serves as a meeting point where students and visitors pause between the surrounding colleges to take in the architecture. The mix of building styles around it shows how the university has grown and changed over centuries.
The square is freely accessible and best explored on foot, with clear pathways between buildings. It is a quiet place to study the architecture, especially in early morning or late afternoon when fewer visitors are around.
The Radcliffe Camera is one of Europe's few circular library buildings and stands out immediately for its unusual shape. The tunnel beneath the square connecting it to the Bodleian Library is part of an extensive underground network storing hundreds of thousands of books.
Location: Oxford
GPS coordinates: 51.75340,-1.25399
Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44
Bodleian Library
102 m
Radcliffe Camera
6 m
Sheldonian Theatre
123 m
Bridge of Sighs
122 m
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
69 m
Divinity School
84 m
History of Science Museum
129 m
Convocation House
110 m
Statue of the Earl of Pembroke in the Bodleian Courtyard
80 m
All Souls College, East And West Ranges Of The North Quadrangle
88 m
All Souls College, Wardens Lodging
130 m
Hertford College, Chapel, South Range
82 m
Brasenose College, Kitchen Wing, Second Quadrangle
69 m
All Souls College, Front (or South) Quadrangle, Including The Chapel And The South East Range On The High Street
55 m
Brasenose College, Chapel, Second Quadrangle
63 m
K6 Telephone Kiosk Adjacent To Bodleian Library
106 m
Oxford city walls
129 m
The Rhodes Building (north Range), Oriel College
113 m
Lincoln College, East Range And Chapel, Chapel Quadrangle
126 m
Hertford College, East Range
105 m
Brasenose College, North Range, The Old Quadrangle
58 m
Hertford College, Railings
87 m
Street Surface
24 m
102 And 103, High Street
126 m
2, Magpie Lane
129 m
Wall And Gates Of The Church Of St Mary The Virgin
87 m
Hertford College, West Range
85 m
Brasenose College, East Range, The Old Quadrangle
39 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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