Best colleges for history?

Alright, fair enough, I'll shut up. I agree with your criteria for choosing colleges. I apologise to all scientist out there! MadNatSci knows I like talking to scientists... Don't you?

Pembroke college, Oxford is usually the butt of many a joke. But out of the 8 students who sat their Finals in 2003. Seven got Firsts and one person a 2.1. One of those who got a First achieved the highest one in the university.

I know nothing about Cambridge, but Oxford wise yes those are 'history' colleges. I'm at Lincoln so I can tell you about that. We do take in a lot for history each year and the rector of the college is a historian so that means our library is extremely well equipped history wise. It is quite hard to get into I guess but every year there are students who apply to us that the tutors find places for elsewhere, so its a worthwhile gamble.
However, joint schools wise- well, its certainly not true that you've got huge amounts more work then a single honours degree, theres a bit more but not double or anything. If you're applying for a joint school though, then try and apply to a college which gives places for it every year. Lincoln does give places for your course but its not as well represtented here as other joint schools history degrees are. That said, the history course at Oxford offers a lot of language opportunities in itself so you might decide you want to go for single honours anyway.
pm me if you need any mroe info.