Exterior of the pub

©Amy Pay/Lonely Planet

Eagle & Child

Oxford


Affectionately nicknamed the ‘Bird & Baby’, and a favourite haunt of JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis and their fellow Inklings, this quirky, rambling pub dates from 1650. Its narrow wood-panelled rooms still look great, and they’re still serving decent real ales, but it’s lost its way recently, and owners St John’s College have announced an imminent, ominous-sounding makeover.


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