Balliol College, Broad Street (tel 01865 277777), is the third of the 13th century Oxford Colleges, founded as a penance by John de Balliol (he had been rude to the Bishop of Durham). Most of the present buildings are Victorian, although the Library, on the North side of the First Quad, dates back to 1430. A passage on the West side of this quadrangle leads to the Garden, its lawns shaded by chestnuts. Balliol is associated with many famous politicians, including Baron (Roy Harris) Jenkins of Hillhead, former Labour peer and Chancellor of the University. The college is normally open to visitors from 14:00 - 17:00 daily.

Balliol's deadly rival is the neighbouring Trinity College (tel 01865 279900), founded in 1555 on the site of Durham College which was closed at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. The college has two fine sets of iron gates, fronting onto Broad Street and Parks Road; the latter gateway, although almost permanently locked, affords a fine view of the buildings and gardens, where open-air theatre often takes place in summer. Again, the college is normally open to visitors from 14:00 - 17:00.