Pubs

The following may be deemed to be of special interest. All the others are merely peculiar. Most pubs serve some sort of food for lunch. Certainly all the ones below do if you want to sneak off. Don't expect any service in a pub. You have to go the the bar if you want a drink or any food. However they have a unique charm all of their own.

• The Bear: off the High next to Christ Church and Oriel colleges, the owner collects ties and displays them on the walls. A new tie will win you a drink in exchange. Make sure there are no Oriel hearties around! Very cramped with low ceiling - therefore not for tall people, although drinkers normally spill out into the street in the summer.

• The Kings Arms (or `K.A.'), at the bottom end of Parks Road, quite near the OUCL (only the bar in Halifax House is closer). This is the student pub and provides an interesting mix of Town and Gown - Gown in the front, with a no smoking room available (hooray!), and Town in the back room. Owned by Wadham College next door and therefore a `free house' - no free drinks I'm afraid, but not owned by a brewery, and thus able to serve a good selection of ales. Try Wadworth's 6X. The pub stays open all afternoon now that licensed opening hours have been relaxed. It can be rowdy later in the evening. You sometimes have to pay the bagpiper to go away!

• Eagle and Child, sometimes know as the ` Bird and Baby', or worse. Half way up St. Giles on the left. This pub used to be frequented by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis et al. (the `Inklings'). It has quite recently been refurbished in the style of Tolkien's day with lots of small rooms. (He stopped using the pub when they got rid of the little rooms since he and his cronies used to like to take over one of them.) There is a small courtyard at the back for sitting outside. Rather cramped: try the Lamb and Flag (or `Ram and Rag') opposite if there isn't enough room.

• Royal Oak: on Woodstock Road opposite the Radcliffe Infirmary and quite close to the OUCL. Sometimes frequented by doctors on call since their bleepers can just reach the premises!

• Turf Tavern: hidden away in an alleyway between Holywell Street and Queen's Lane next to one of the best surviving bits of town wall. Rather touristy, but good choice of beer (try Hook Norton) and seats outside for warm summer evenings. Lunch-time food is available.

• The Turl Bar, in Turl Street. Jazz on Mondays, but safe the rest of the week. Many tiny little bars in a maze of a building.

• Vicky Arms (or Victoria Arms in full): way up the River Cherwell. The ultimate resting place of many punters (in both senses of the word). Serves Wadworth's 6X, so it is well worth the punt there; getting back can be more difficult! The food is not bad if you want to go for lunch.

• The Trout, Wolvercote: you really need a car for this one since it is a couple of miles north of central Oxford. (There is a large car park, but you should still arrive early on warm sunny days.) It is in a very pretty location by the river. Pimms and salmon sandwiches outside are recommended on a hot summer's day. Afterwards (or before) you can take a leisurely stroll down the river past the lock, Godstow Priory and Port Meadow, with a view of Oxford in the distance.