Built by C.R. Cockerell in a very free neo-Grecian style, (1845), the Ashmolean developed from the collections of John Tradescant, the gardener at Hatfield House, and his son. Today, the Ashmolean is a university archaeological museum, but also has rich and varied collections in all domains worthy of a national museum.

An extravagant rococo building by Hugh Lightfoot. The finest eccentricities of this house are the staircase (fine panels of ebony, ivory, boxwood and mahogany) and the wooden gothic style of the Chinese room. More conventional but just as fine are the oil paintings by Mytens and Van Dyck.

St Mary the Virgin Church is built in Perpendicular Gothic (late 15 C) and has a 13 C Decorated Gothic tower. From the tower, admire the view of the city's dreaming spires, domes, quads, and the surrounding hills. It has a charming and unusual Baroque porch by Nicholas Stone (1637). St Mary's is the University Church, and adjoins the first rooms used by the university, Congregation House, with the first library just above.

Founded in 1326, it was entirely rebuilt between 1642 and 1649 in Jacobean style. A second quad was added in the 18 C. The library is by James Wyatt.