01/07/2022
Radcliffe Camera
Radcliffe Camera operates as a reading room for Oxford University students and is inaccessible to the public, but it is still well worth stopping by for its architecture. One of the most famous and photographed landmarks in the city, it exhibits some spellbinding Palladian style features, such as grand Corinthian columns and a balustraded parapet lining the circular library.
Built between 1737 and 1749, the building was designed by James Gibbs, one of Britain’s most influential architects, and sports one of the largest domes in the country. Its interior is just as arresting, with elegant arches, a finely decorated cupola and bookcases full of rare editions.