The Turf Tavern, Bath Place (off Holywell Street)
You will not stumble upon the Turf Tavern by accident — you have to want to find it, squeezing down a narrow alley between medieval city walls to reach one of Oxford's oldest and most beloved pubs. That effort is exactly what makes it feel like a discovery every single time.
Finding It Is Half the Fun
The Turf Tavern sits on Bath Place, tucked between the remnants of Oxford's 13th-century city wall and the back of Hertford College, accessible via a narrow passage off Holywell Street or through Hell Passage off New College Lane. Both routes feel like stepping through a portal — the noise of the city drops away and you arrive in a low-ceilinged, timber-framed 13th-century pub with multiple outdoor courtyards strung with fairy lights.
The pub's location beside the ancient city wall is not coincidental — it grew up in the shadow of the fortifications, and parts of the wall still form the boundary of the beer garden today.
Ales, Pies and Famous Regulars
The Turf has a well-earned reputation for its rotating selection of real ales and its hearty pub food — the steak and ale pie with chips is a perennial favourite. The menu is modern British, portions are generous and the atmosphere is jovial whether you are sitting inside by the low beams or outside in the courtyard on a warm evening.
The pub's alumni list reads like a who's who of Oxford: Bill Clinton famously 'did not inhale' here during his Rhodes Scholar days, and it has been a favourite of students, dons and visiting writers for generations.
When to Go and What to Expect
The Turf is busy most evenings during term time and on summer weekends, but it rarely feels unpleasantly crowded because the outdoor spaces — three separate courtyards — absorb the numbers well. Arrive by 6pm on a Friday to secure a good spot.
It is a short walk from both Broad Street and the Bodleian Library, making it the ideal end-of-afternoon stop after a day of sightseeing. The outdoor heaters and blankets mean the courtyard is usable well into autumn.
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