The Eagle and Child

Pub · Oxford

2

@atlasobscura

"During the 1930s, a small, unofficial club was formed in the intellectual hub of Oxford University. Every week, a group gathered to drink a few beers and discuss the latest adventures in worlds inhabited by lions, wizards, and hobbits, which were slowly materializing from the fertile imaginations of its most famous members: J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The group, called the Inklings, consisted of professors, thinkers, and writers who lived around the university town. Warren Lewis, C.S Lewis’s older brother and also a writer and an Inkling, wrote that, “Properly speaking, it was neither a club nor a literary society, though it partook of the nature of both. There were no rules, officers, agendas, or formal elections.” Beginning in the 1930s, formal meetings were organized every Thursday evening at Lewis’s university rooms and more casual lunches were held at different local pubs, most frequently The Eagle and Child. Most Mondays or Tuesdays, the group gathered in the backroom of the pub they referred to as the “The Bird and the Baby,” to discuss their own writing and other matters of the day. At this time, Lewis was crafting his Space trilogy, comprising Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength, and Tolkien was writing the Lord of the Rings series. The pub now sports pictures and prints related to these hugely popular books and a plaque records the role it played in their creation." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

15 of the Nerdiest Restaurants and Bars on the Planet
manray3/CC BY-SA 2.0

49 St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LU, United Kingdom Get directions

nicholsonspubs.co.uk

2 Postcards

See full details

More Places For You

Old Parsonage Hotel, by The Oxford Collection

Hotel · Oxford

Nestled in a charming ivy-covered 17th-century parsonage near the University of Oxford, this stylish hotel offers comfort, exquisite dining, and an artsy vibe.

1 Postcard

Vanbrugh House Hotel

Hotel · Oxford

Nestled in a chic 18th-century townhouse, this boutique Oxford hotel boasts stylish rooms, a cozy brasserie, and a prime yet peaceful location.

1 Postcard

Old Bank Hotel, by The Oxford Collection

Hotel · Oxford

This chic hotel in a Georgian gem offers stylish rooms with Oxford views, a trendy brasserie, and exceptional service right in the city's heart.

1 Postcard

The Punter

Pub · Oxford

Compact riverside pub with a laid-back vibe, serving a menu of vegan & vegetarian dishes.

1 Postcard

Edamamé

Japanese restaurant · Oxford

Small, bustling Japanese kitchen serving home-style traditional dishes, with a weekly sushi night.

0 Postcards

Spiced Roots Restaurant

Caribbean restaurant · Oxford

Experience vibrant Caribbean cuisine with generous portions and delightful cocktails in a cozy atmosphere, perfect for your next outing.

0 Postcards

YHA Oxford

Hostel · Oxford

This modern, laid-back hostel near the train station features cozy dorms, a chill courtyard, and a café/bar that serves a hearty breakfast.

0 Postcards

Christ Church

College · Oxford

Majestic university college known for its grand main quad, riverside meadows & Cathedral Choir.

0 Postcards

The Galaxie

Bed & breakfast · Oxford

Nestled in charming Summertown, this quirky Victorian B&B boasts colorful modern rooms, an airy conservatory for breakfast, and a serene garden, all just a quick bus ride from Oxford's city center.

0 Postcards

Branca Bar, Restaurant and Deli

Gastropub · Oxford

Vibrant Italian eatery with exposed bricks and a terrace serving small plates and stone-baked pizza.

1 Postcard