Unlike many of the colleges of Oxford University, Merton College is free to visitors. As one of the three colleges that were founded in the 13th Century, Merton College is of considerable historical interest. The 14th Century library is the oldest surviving working library in Britain and houses over 70,000 volumes. The college is situated in extensive gardens and grounds and many of its buildings such as the Hall, Chapel, Lodge and Mob Quadrangle, date back hundreds of years.