Turf Tavern
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Tips for visiting Oxford in a day ⬇️ 📚 stay in Oxford for convenience, but for a cheaper price, stay a little outside of town and drive in. We parked at the Westgate Mall for convenient (but not exactly cheap) parking. 📚 book your library tour ahead of time to plan around your tour time, or you can chance it and book day of at the Oxford university bookstore 📚 Turf Tavern is the classic pub to visit, but there are tons of other great spots too. One we tried to get into, but it was too crowded for a group of 6, was Vaults & Garden. 📚 everything is fairly close in proximity so you won’t need to do a ton of walking, but of course wear good shoes for those lovely cobblestone streets! 📚 the Radcliffe Camera is a private student library that you can’t enter, but it’s a great photo spot and it’s really a beautiful building to walk around and admire. 📚 visit the Covered Market for little goods, trinkets, and local wares. If you have been to Oxford, what else should we add to this list? And be sure to follow @nikki.on.her.way for more travel tips and destination ideas 🗺️ Oxford | What To Do In Oxford | Oxford Itinerary | England Travel Destinations | Things To Do In Oxford | Oxfordshire #uktravel #oxford #oxfordtravel #visitengland #visitoxford
nikki.on.her.waynikki.on.her.way
1796
We generally enjoyed our lunch here, with the rich history of the establishment differentiating the experience from a typical pub or tavern experience. Food was fairly good, but inconsistent and not necessarily remarkable, and service was fine if not a bit inconvenient. When we entered on a late weekday afternoon, it was quite busy and you had to hunt for an open table which took about 15 mins. Once you're sat, it isn't immediately clear that there is actually no table service; you have to go back to the front of the restaurant at the bar, wait in line, and order your food and drinks from two separate people. The food gets delivered to your table later, like a fast casual restaurant. A bit bizarre and not a very efficient experience, and wholly unintuitive which is poor especially considering the place is frequented by first time visitors. We started with the Loaded Nachos (Home fried nachos topped with nacho cheese sauce & 1833 Barber’s Vintage Cheddar, guacamole, sour cream, pickled red onions and sliced red chilies) and they were disappointing. Nothing distinctive about any of the flavors, and oddly proportioned and thinly so for the vital ingredient for "loaded" nachos. We left most of it on the plate. As for the entrees, I enjoyed my house tavern burger overall (glazed linseed bun, aged beef burger, crispy confit pork belly, apple BBQ sauce, drenched in burger cheese sauce and pickled red onion. Served with house seasoned fries and East Coast IPA BBQ relish) though it did not live up to the promise of the extravagant ingredients and could have been juicier. My niece enjoyed the Vintage Cheddar Mac & Cheese (With 1833 Barber’s Vintage Cheddar) and said it was one of the better she's had. My daughter found the size of the fish from the fish and chips a bit intimidating but enjoyed what she tried. BTW, they list a kid menu on the web site but remarked they haven't had a kids menu available for a while. The fries were great. The Bloody Mary was utterly disappointing, just watery and flavorless. For comparison, the one at Dishoom in Kensington is superb. If you go here for the ambience, you'll enjoy the experience I trust, but your mileage will vary with the food and customer-unfriendly service system.
Saminda WijegunawardenaSaminda Wijegunawardena
00
If you are looking for a cozy spot in Oxford to enjoy a delicious meal and a pint of beer, the Turf Tavern is your perfect destination. We recently visited this hidden pub and was blown away by their delicious steak pie. To begin with, the atmosphere at the Turf Tavern is simply delightful. The pub is tucked away in a historic alley and has a warm and welcoming vibe. The low ceilings and wooden beams add to the charm and make for a cozy dining experience. Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the steak and ale pie. It was absolutely divine. The pastry was perfectly crispy and the filling was rich and flavorful. The filling was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth with every bite. The gravy was rich and savory which tied all the flavors together perfectly. It was the perfect comfort food. To top it all off, the service at the Turf Tavern was excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. They made us feel right at home and provided us with a wonderful experience. Overall, I highly recommend the Turf Tavern for their delicious food and cozy atmosphere. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a traditional British meal with friends and family. Don't miss out on this hidden gem of Oxford!
Jonathan MillardJonathan Millard
10
Fair prices for drinks. We came here because it was touted as a not-to-be-missed when in Oxford. Food was okay, the mash potato in the Bangers and Mash was incredibly thick. Prices were again, okay but on the higher end for pub-food. The wait for the bar was a little bit excruciating. Especially when it was nearing the time for the kitchen to close. Some most drinks were also not available to order on the app, hence we had to order at the bar. (E.g., Hazy Lager, Butterbeer, some other ales) I was in line for about 10 minutes before I was 2nd in line where staff asked me very politely if I minded if some customers behind me were served first to ensure their food orders were put in before the kitchen closed (as i was only ordering drinks). It's hard to decline when three parties behind you in the queue are waiting for you to answer, without sounding like an (censored). Luckily, another staff member took my drink order. While I'm sure staff were doing their best for all customers, this left me rather annoyed having patiently waited in line for drinks since there was only 1 till. Not worth the hype in our experience unfortunately. Better food and drinks available in other areas in Oxford, I suppose unfortunately if you become popular, the top-notch service and food as advertised falters. Pea soup was the highlight, very yummy. Butterbeer was almost room temperature and extremely underwhelming.
Micle LombreMicle Lombre
10
We made reservations on line as it apparently gets very busy so that worked well. Most of the seating appears to be outside or partial patio set ups. We were lucky to be set at a table inside where it was warm. We were there on a Sunday so the roast dinner was a feature and two of our party had the sirloin roast with Yorkshire pudding and veggies but the walnut Wellington that went by looked amazing! I had fish and chips which were good. The fish was lightly battered and as I am gluten sensitive, it was easy to take most of that off and enjoy the fish which was nice and hot. Due to the size of the place, by the time the meal gets to you, not much else is hot. It was served with both grilled lemon and tartar sauce, peas, chips and pea shoots. It was tasty. The other order was for a chicken burger. Three of us had cider but I regret not asking for a dry option. Without a server, you are limited. The ordering app didn’t seem to work for us despite trying so we lined up at the bar to place the order for our table and carried our own drinks back. The food came quite quickly and accurately. Interesting spot to try for sure but I was glad our neice who is a student at Oxford knew the way or it would be a bit tricky to find.
Laurie MitchellLaurie Mitchell
00
Visiting the Turf Tavern was an extraordinary highlight of my time in England. Tucked away in the alleyways, just outside the old city walls of Oxford, this pub is not just a place to enjoy a drink; it’s a journey through history. Dating back to 1381, the Turf Tavern has served as a cultural cornerstone, frequented by students and numerous famous personalities like Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Blair, and even future Prime Ministers and Presidents. As I stepped through the narrow St Helen’s Passage, the ambiance of the pub immediately transported me back in time. The low ceilings and cozy nooks created an intimate atmosphere, perfect for savoring their famed mulled wine or a pint of Old Rosie. It was surreal to be in a place that has been a part of history far beyond what one can imagine, a place that has hosted legendary figures and been part of tales from setting cats alight during the plague to the former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke setting a Guinness World Record for beer drinking. The Turf Tavern is more than a pub; it’s a living tapestry of Oxford’s history. For anyone wanting to feel like they’re a part of this historical fabric, a visit to this hidden gem is an absolute must.
Daniel NeuhausDaniel Neuhaus
00
Nearby Attractions Of Turf Tavern
Westgate Oxford
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The Covered Market
Ashmolean Museum
Oxford Castle & Prison
University of Oxford
Oxford Botanic Garden
Gloucester Green Market
Christ Church Meadow
Pitt Rivers Museum
Westgate Oxford
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Ashmolean Museum
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Nearby Restaurants Of Turf Tavern
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Dirty Bones Oxford
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
4 Bath Pl, Oxford OX1 3SU, United Kingdom
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+44 1865 243235
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greeneking.co.uk
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4.5
(2.7K reviews)
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Traditional pub dating back to 1831 with a beer garden, serving classic bar meals & real ales.
attractions: Westgate Oxford, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Covered Market, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Castle & Prison, University of Oxford, Oxford Botanic Garden, Gloucester Green Market, Christ Church Meadow, Pitt Rivers Museum, restaurants: Turtle Bay Oxford, Dirty Bones Oxford, Banana Tree Oxford, Slug & Lettuce - Oxford, The Four Candles - JD Wetherspoon, Browns Oxford, O'neill's Oxford, Red Lion Oxford, Victors Oxford, Wig & Pen
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