The Turf Tavern
A well-hidden pub, tucked down a medieval alleyway behind the Bodleian.
Skip the Bath Place entrance — come in via St Helen's Passage off New College Lane for the full medieval alley experience. The guest ales are always worth trying.
Finding the Turf Tavern is half the fun. Tucked at the end of a narrow alleyway off Holywell Street, this 13th-century pub sits wedged between the old city wall and New College. First-time visitors will walk past the entrance at least once.
The building itself is a low-ceilinged, crooked warren of small rooms that open onto surprisingly spacious beer gardens. In summer, the courtyard fills with students, tourists, and locals sharing long tables under the remnants of the medieval wall.
What to drink
The Turf keeps an excellent rotating selection of real ales — typically six or seven on at any time. The Greene King IPA is the house standard, but the guest ales are the reason to come. They also stock a solid range of ciders.
The famous claims
Stephen Hawking was a regular as an undergraduate. Inspector Morse drank here in multiple episodes. Various other notable Oxford figures have passed through over the centuries. The pub leans into this history without being obnoxious about it — a few photos on the wall, nothing more.
Practical notes
The low doorways are a genuine hazard for anyone over 6 feet. The food is standard pub fare — decent but not the reason to visit. In winter, the small interior fills fast; in summer, the gardens are the main draw. No car access — you're walking down a cobbled alley either way, which is part of the charm.
The Turf gets busy at weekends and during term time. Weekday lunchtimes are the sweet spot for a quiet pint.
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk
