UCLA Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near UCLA (University of California Los Angeles)
Why Walk UCLA Campus
UCLA's campus occupies 419 acres in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, climbing from the flatlands of Sunset Boulevard up into the Santa Monica foothills. The original four buildings — Royce Hall, Powell Library, Haines Hall, and Kinsey Hall — were completed in 1929 in a unified Romanesque Revival style with red brick, decorative terracotta, and arched colonnades. Architect George W. Kelham drew direct inspiration from Northern Italian churches, most famously modeling Royce Hall after the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, complete with twin campanile towers. The campus is organized around dramatic elevation changes: Janss Steps, the famous 87-step staircase built in 1929, connects the upper academic buildings to the lower campus and Bruin Plaza. Walking from north to south, you descend through distinct architectural zones — the historic core at the top, mid-century modernist science buildings in the middle, and the athletics and recreation complex at the southern edge. The Murphy Sculpture Garden, one of the largest outdoor sculpture collections on the West Coast, provides a meditative interlude with works by Rodin, Matisse, Calder, and Hepworth scattered across a five-acre hillside. The campus's west-facing orientation means golden-hour light pours through the arcades in the late afternoon, making the brick facades glow against a backdrop of palm trees and Pacific Ocean glimpses.
About UCLA
Founded
1919
Type
Public research university, part of the University of California system
Setting
Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, on a 419-acre campus about 5 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, between Bel-Air and Westwood Village
Enrollment
About 46,000 students total (roughly 33,000 undergraduate, 13,000 graduate)
Mascot
Joe and Josephine Bruin (the Bruins; a bear)
Free UCLA Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free UCLA campus tour with audio narration. Explore Royce Hall, Janss Steps, Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, plus hidden spots like Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden and Inverted Fountain, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at UCLA
- •Royce Hall — Completed in 1929 and designed by architect George W. Kelham, this Lombard Romanesque building is UCLA's most iconic structure, modeled directly after the sixth-century Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan. Its twin bell towers, arched loggia, and terra-cotta ornamental details make it one of the finest examples of Italian Romanesque architecture in California. The 1,800-seat performance hall inside hosts major concerts, lectures, and cultural events, and has featured artists from Ella Fitzgerald to the Dalai Lama.
- •Janss Steps — This grand 87-step concrete staircase, built in 1929 and named for the Janss brothers who sold the Westwood land to UCLA, connects the upper Dickson Plaza to the lower campus. The steps are a UCLA rite of passage: freshmen traditionally walk up on their first day and seniors walk down at graduation. The wide landing at the top offers a sweeping view of the Westwood skyline, Century City towers, and on clear days the Pacific Ocean.
- •Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden — Established in 1967 and spanning five landscaped acres on UCLA's north campus, this outdoor museum contains over 70 sculptures by major twentieth-century artists including Auguste Rodin, Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Barbara Hepworth, Jacques Lipchitz, and Isamu Noguchi. The works are set among jacaranda trees, winding paths, and rolling lawns, creating an open-air gallery that UCLA students use as study space, picnic grounds, and a shortcut between classes.
- •Powell Library — Completed in 1929 as the campus's original library, designed by George W. Kelham in Romanesque Revival style with arched windows, coffered ceilings, and hand-painted murals depicting the history of knowledge. The main reading room features ornate chandeliers and Byzantine-inspired ceiling details. Now serving as the undergraduate library, its lower levels were renovated to include a 24-hour study space, but the upper reading rooms retain their original 1920s grandeur.
Signature Architecture
- •Royce Hall — Opened 1929, designed by David Allison in Romanesque Revival style modeled on the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan; one of the four original campus buildings, with twin towers and an 1,800-seat performance hall.
- •Powell Library — Opened 1929, another of the four original buildings, Romanesque Revival with an octagonal rotunda; serves as the main undergraduate library.
- •Pauley Pavilion — Opened 1965, the basketball and gymnastics arena where John Wooden's teams won 10 NCAA titles; seats about 13,800.
- •Janss Steps — Built 1928, an 87-step brick staircase that was the original main entrance to campus from Westwood.
Hidden Corners of UCLA
- •Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden — Tucked into a steep seven-and-a-half-acre canyon on the southeast edge of campus, this subtropical garden contains over 5,000 species from around the world, including rare Hawaiian, Australian, and South African plants. Founded in 1929 as an outdoor laboratory, its sheltered canyon creates a microclimate several degrees warmer than surrounding areas, allowing tropical species to thrive. Free admission makes it one of LA's best-kept botanical secrets.
- •Inverted Fountain — Located near the Court of Sciences, this distinctive 1969 sculpture-fountain by Francis de Erdely flows inward and downward rather than spraying upward, creating a sunken vortex of water that spirals into the ground. Students have long debated whether the inward flow represents the intake of knowledge or the draining of tuition money. Its circular design and the sound of rushing water make it a surprisingly meditative spot amid the busy engineering buildings.
Notable Alumni
- •Jackie Robinson (lettered in four sports before breaking MLB's color barrier)
- •Francis Ford Coppola (film director, MFA)
- •Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (NBA Hall of Famer, played under John Wooden)
- •Jim Morrison (lead singer of The Doors, film school)
- •Ralph Bunche (diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize laureate)
- •Carol Burnett (comedian and actress)
- •Troy Aikman (NFL quarterback)
Campus Traditions
- •Guarding the Bruin Bear: during Beat 'SC week, students protect the bronze Bruin Bear statue (dedicated 1984) from rival USC pranks
- •Posing with the Bruin Bear statue in Bruin Plaza, a classic photo spot for visitors and students
- •The Undie Run, a late-night spirited run through campus before finals week
- •Beat 'SC week of pranks and spirit events ahead of the annual rivalry game against USC
- •Spring Sing, an annual student music competition held since 1945, staged at venues including Pauley Pavilion
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Diddy Riese in Westwood Village (ice cream cookie sandwiches, long lines, famously low prices)
- •In-N-Out Burger on Gayley Avenue in Westwood
- •Bruin Plate and De Neve dining halls on the Hill (residential dining, day passes available)
- •Westwood Village restaurants along Broxton and Weyburn Avenues (ramen, Persian food, pizza)
- •Sawtelle Japantown (Little Osaka) a short drive away, known for ramen, sushi, and izakayas
Did you know? UCLA athletes have won more Olympic medals than most countries; Bruins have collectively earned over 250 Olympic medals, and at recent Games UCLA's medal count would have ranked it among the top nations if it competed as its own country.
Visiting UCLA
UCLA offers free official campus tours run by the Office of Undergraduate Admission; reserve online in advance through admission.ucla.edu, as walk-up spots are limited. Tours are walking tours lasting about 1.5-2 hours and depart from the visitor center. The campus is open to self-guided walking anytime. Paid public parking is available in campus structures (notably Lot 4 and Lot 8); buy a permit at the gate kiosks or pay stations, expect roughly $15-17 per day, and metered parking exists in Westwood Village.
Walking Tip
The campus is hilly — Janss Steps are a workout. Start at Royce Hall and work downhill. The Sculpture Garden is worth a detour. Street parking is scarce; use campus parking structures.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round sunshine. The academic year (late September through mid-June) has the most campus activity. Summer sessions keep the campus alive.
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