Explore the real-world places that appear in The It Girl by Ruth Ware. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include University of Oxford - Pembroke College, The Bodleian Library, Christ Church College, The Eagle and Child Pub, Oxford Castle and 9 more.
St. Aldates Street — Where April Coutts studies and lives
Pembroke College is April Coutts' home at Oxford. She is a brilliant, charismatic student—the titular 'It Girl'—who captivates everyone around her with her magnetism and intelligence. The college serves as the backdrop for her friendships with Jacintha Cross, Katerina Voss, and Ryan Lowe, and it is here that the tensions and jealousies that will eventually lead to her death begin to simmer. April's rooms in college become a gathering place for her privileged circle.
Pembroke College was founded in 1624 and is one of Oxford's oldest colleges. The college has educated numerous notable figures including Samuel Johnson and Michael Heseltine. The building at St. Aldates represents nearly 400 years of continuous academic tradition.
Pembroke College remains one of Oxford's 38 undergraduate colleges and continues to accept students. The college is partially open to visitors during certain times, and the historic buildings remain in active use by the university community.
Visit: Pembroke College, Oxford (historic site)
Catte Street — Oxford's legendary research library
The Bodleian Library appears as a symbol of Oxford's intellectual life and the pursuit of knowledge that defines the university. Characters reference studying here and using its vast resources. It represents the scholarly ideals that clash with the more superficial social hierarchy represented by April Coutts and her circle.
The Bodleian Library was founded in 1602 and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It holds over 12 million books and manuscripts and is one of Britain's most important research libraries. Thomas Bodley's collection laid the foundation for what would become one of the world's greatest academic repositories.
The Bodleian Library remains Oxford's primary research library and is open to visitors. The historic reading rooms and exhibition spaces welcome tourists, and the library continues its mission of preserving and providing access to over 12 million items.
Visit: Bodleian Library (library)
St. Aldates Street — Another major Oxford college
Christ Church is referenced as part of Oxford's college system where the wealthy and privileged students study. Some of April's social circle and acquaintances are students here, emphasizing the interconnected nature of Oxford's elite academic community and the social hierarchies that exist within and between the colleges.
Christ Church was founded in 1546 by Henry VIII as a cathedral college. It is Oxford's largest college and has educated 13 British Prime Ministers, more than any other college. The cathedral within the college grounds dates back to the 12th century.
Christ Church remains one of Oxford's most prestigious colleges and is open to visitors. The cathedral, college grounds, and various historic buildings can be toured, and the college continues as a thriving academic institution.
Visit: Christ Church, Oxford (historic site)
St. Giles Street — Traditional Oxford pub
The Eagle and Child represents Oxford's traditional social spaces where students gather to socialize and discuss ideas. April and her circle would frequent pubs like this as part of their Oxford social life. These establishments provide refuge and informal meeting spaces for the students away from college formality.
The Eagle and Child has been a famous Oxford pub since the 17th century. It is historically significant as the meeting place of the Inklings—including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis—who gathered here to discuss literature and ideas. The pub represents centuries of Oxford student life and literary tradition.
The Eagle and Child remains an active, popular pub and is openly visitable to the public. It serves food and drink and attracts both tourists interested in literary history and Oxford students continuing a centuries-old tradition.
Visit: The Eagle and Child (restaurant)
Paradise Square — Historic Norman castle in the city center
Oxford Castle stands as a historic landmark in the city, representing Oxford's long history before it became famous for its university. The castle grounds and surroundings become part of the geographic and atmospheric setting of the city where April Coutts lives and dies, anchoring the story in Oxford's ancient past.
Oxford Castle was built in 1071 by Robert D'Oyly following the Norman Conquest. It served as a royal castle and was later used as a prison. The castle's mound and keep represent nearly a thousand years of Oxford's history and were central to the city's medieval development.
Oxford Castle & Unlocked is now a major tourist attraction offering exhibitions and guided tours. Visitors can climb the 900-year-old St. George's Tower and explore interactive exhibits about Oxford's history from the Norman period through today.
Visit: Oxford Castle & Unlocked (historic site)
Port Meadow — Natural refuge and outdoor Oxford
The Cherwell and its meadows represent Oxford's natural spaces and outdoor life. Characters in the novel would traverse these areas—walking, thinking, and conducting their social lives outside of college constraints. The river and meadows provide a counterpoint to the enclosed college world and the darker turn the plot takes.
Port Meadow has been a commons since at least 1285 and remains one of England's oldest pieces of common land. The Cherwell has been a defining feature of Oxford's landscape for centuries, used for punting and recreation since at least the medieval period.
Port Meadow and the Cherwell Path are publicly accessible and remain popular with Oxford residents and visitors for walking, punting, and observing wildlife. The meadow hosts grazing animals and provides one of Oxford's most picturesque natural areas.
Visit: Port Meadow & Cherwell Path (park)
Historic main thoroughfare of Oxford
The High Street is Oxford's main shopping and social corridor. April Coutts and her affluent circle would frequent shops, cafes, and restaurants here. It represents the material world and social performance that defines their existence—where they are seen and admired. The street becomes part of the setting where April performs her 'It Girl' persona.
The High Street has been Oxford's principal street since medieval times. It is lined with historic buildings spanning from the Middle Ages through the Victorian era, and it has served as the commercial and social heart of Oxford for over 800 years.
The High Street remains Oxford's main shopping district with numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes. Historic buildings house contemporary businesses, and the street remains a vibrant center of Oxford life while maintaining its architectural heritage.
Visit: The High Street, Oxford (landmark)
Radcliffe Square — Iconic circular library building
The Radcliffe Camera is one of Oxford's most recognizable buildings and symbolizes the university's intellectual heritage. It appears in the atmospheric setting of the city and represents the scholarly traditions that April's generation takes for granted while pursuing more hedonistic pleasures.
The Radcliffe Camera was built between 1737 and 1749 and is Britain's first public library. Its distinctive circular neoclassical design makes it one of the world's most recognizable library buildings. It was designed to be a reading room for Oxford's Bodleian Library.
The Radcliffe Camera remains in use as a reading room for the Bodleian Library. Visitors can view the building's exterior and enter the ground floor, though the upper reading rooms are reserved for library members. It is one of Oxford's most photographed landmarks.
Visit: Radcliffe Camera (historic site)
Broad Street — Historic university theater
The Sheldonian Theatre represents Oxford's cultural and academic life. University ceremonies and events would be held here. The building itself symbolizes the venerable traditions of Oxford that contrast with the modern, social-media-aware behavior of April Coutts and her generation.
The Sheldonian Theatre was completed in 1669 and was designed by Christopher Wren. It was built to serve as the university's ceremonial center and hosts degree ceremonies, lectures, and performances. The distinctive architecture with its emperor-head roof decorations makes it one of Oxford's most distinctive buildings.
The Sheldonian Theatre remains in active use for university ceremonies and public performances. Visitors can tour the building when not in use for events, and the theater hosts concerts and lectures throughout the year.
Visit: Sheldonian Theatre (theater)
Broad Street — Historic Oxford college
Trinity College represents Oxford's interconnected college system where the novel's characters study and interact. Some of April's circle attend Trinity, reinforcing the social networks and jealousies that permeate the novel. The college embodies the tradition and privilege that defines their world.
Trinity College was founded in 1555 during the reign of Mary I. The college has educated numerous notable figures including Cardinal Newman and Sir William Blackstone. Trinity is known for its classical architecture and beautiful quads.
Trinity College remains one of Oxford's most beautiful and prestigious colleges. It is partially open to visitors, and the college gardens and some historic buildings can be toured when college activities allow.
Visit: Trinity College, Oxford (historic site)
Outside Oxford — Where April Coutts dies
April Coutts' body is discovered in a wooded area outside Oxford in circumstances that appear to be a suicide. However, the novel explores whether her death was truly self-inflicted or something more sinister. This location becomes the pivot point of the narrative as DCI Jacintha Cross and the investigation reveal that someone from April's circle may have murdered her, turning the story into a murder mystery.
The wooded areas surrounding Oxford have been part of the landscape for centuries. In the novel, this rural setting provides a dramatic contrast to the urban university environment and serves as the place where Oxford's dark secrets are finally exposed.
The wooded areas surrounding Oxford remain accessible to the public for walking and recreation. The specific location in the novel is fictional, but the Oxfordshire countryside retains its beauty and walking paths.
Park End Street — Gateway to and from Oxford
Oxford Train Station represents the connection between the university city and the wider world. Characters arrive and depart through this station, and it functions as a symbolic gateway—students arriving for their transformative Oxford experience and leaving with their secrets intact. The station could be used for escapes or arrivals related to the novel's unfolding mystery.
Oxford Railway Station was opened in 1852 and remains one of Britain's important provincial railway stations. The original Victorian station building demonstrates the architectural heritage of the railway age and has been continually updated while maintaining its historic character.
Oxford Train Station is a fully operational modern railway station with services to London and throughout Britain. The station is a major transportation hub and remains an important gateway to the city.
Visit: Oxford Train Station (landmark)
Market Street — Historic covered market with cafes and restaurants
The Covered Market represents Oxford's traditional commercial and social spaces where students gather. April's circle would frequent the market's cafes and restaurants as part of their daily social rituals. The market embodies the casual luxury and social performance that defines their existence—being seen, being admired, being envied.
The Covered Market has existed in Oxford since 1785 and has been a continuous hub of commerce and social life. The Victorian arcade structure with its iron and glass roof represents 19th-century commercial design and has remained largely unchanged for over a century.
The Covered Market remains a vibrant marketplace with independent butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, and numerous cafes and restaurants. It is one of Oxford's most beloved public spaces and attracts both residents and tourists.
Visit: Oxford Covered Market (landmark)
Broad Street — Oxford's famous independent bookshop
Blackwell's represents Oxford's intellectual and cultural life beyond the formal university structures. Characters would browse here, and the bookshop embodies the literary culture that frames Oxford's self-image as a center of learning and culture. The shop provides contrast to the social performance and superficiality that defines April's world.
Blackwell's Bookshop was founded in 1879 and has grown into one of Britain's most famous independent bookshops. The shop is renowned for its enormous inventory and its famous basement 'Norrington Room' which holds over 3 miles of shelving.
Blackwell's remains an iconic Oxford institution and one of the world's great independent bookshops. The shop is fully open to the public and attracts book lovers from around the world. It continues to be a cultural landmark and gathering place in Oxford.
Visit: Blackwell's Bookshop (landmark)
More by Ruth Ware: All Ruth Ware books
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