Oxford’s Historic Pubs: A Walking Tour

Oxford’s historical streets are full of interesting and unusual pubs, some of which have been providing refreshment for over 700 years. On this walking tour, you’ll visit a few of the oldest and quirkiest pubs the city has to offer.

Starting at the Head of the River pub near Folly Bridge, you’ll wind through cobbled lanes and hidden passages to discover ten of my favourite pubs, each with a story to tell. As a local Oxonian, I’ve been enjoying the fascinating history of these pubs for as long as I can remember. I’ll lead you through the ancient streets where students and townspeople have all enjoyed an ’Education in Intoxication’.

You’ll see where a Tuesday afternoon pub brawl took 600 years to be finally reconciled, and learn which pub had a camel. I’ll also show you a few historical landmarks like Hertford Bridge, Carfax Tower, and Radcliffe Square. By the end of the tour, in front of the Grapes on George Street, you’ll have learnt the differences between an alehouse, a tavern, and an inn.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

• Find out what the most common pub name in the UK is
• Discover the Bear Inn’s collection of over 4,500 snipped neckties and its claim to being Oxford’s oldest pub, dating back to 1242
• Stand where the deadliest town-versus-gown battle in Oxford history erupted, resulting in a 470-year penance by the city
• Hear about the Crown’s connection to Shakespeare, and how the Bard befriended the landlord and became godfather to his son
• Wind through the labyrinthine passages leading to the Turf Tavern, once notorious for cockfighting and now famous for celebrity drinking exploits
• Learn about the King’s Arms’ reputation for having ”the highest IQ per square foot in the world” due to its close proximity to Oxford’s colleges
• Visit the White Horse, Oxford’s smallest pub and a frequent fictional haunt of Inspector Morse

Join me for this 90-minute stroll through Oxford’s pub history – and if you happen to see me in any of the pubs, you’re more than welcome to buy me a pint!