The Eagle and Child

The wonderful thing about the U.K. and Oxford specifically is that it is very rich in history. This wonderful pub is a great example of this history and the characters that paraded its streets and visited its establishments. If you are a C.S. Lewis fan or JRR Tolkien, this is a must visit in Oxford. The food was very good in the realm of pub fair. When in a pub…of course choose a beer - have a pint. Of note, Christmas Dinner options and I assume other holidays. Well worth considering. The ambience gets a 10 out of 10…I stretched and gave service a 4 but was probably a three. Maybe caught them at a bad time. Definitely recommend!

So great to see this place, but it is closed right now. Go across the street to Lamb and Flag to and get a pint at one of Lewis and Tolkien’s other spots with great memorabilia on the walls.

It was the most authentical pub I have ever been to and I was to a lot. For me it is a special place as I'm a huge fan of both Tolkien and Lewis. I enjoyed the food, cider and ale. The staff was nice and helpful. The place has its charm. But it is really tiny, I strongly recommend to make a reservation. You can't make a reservation on Saturday.

Small and cosy traditional pub, excellent food menu. I went there as part of my Tolkien tour in Oxford, it’s definetely a must if you are a big fan of the Professor.

“One Pub to Rule Them All!” Ah, The Eagle and the Child! Where else can you sip an ale and feel like Gandalf might just pop in for a pint? This is the legendary spot where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis had their “Inklings” meetings. I went in hoping to absorb some genius by osmosis… and came out just tipsy enough to feel like I had! Only complaint? No wizards on staff.

This pub is well known because The Inklings (Tolkien, CS Lewis, and GK Chesterton) used to meet here and workshop their writing weekly. It’s about 10 minutes walking from campus, easy. As a pub, it’s got plenty of tables, and we had no trouble being seated. This is a Nicholson’s pub, so if you like their usual fare, you’ll like the food here. They also have a special pie menu. The lentil and sweet potato pie was fantastic!

Intended to visit The Lamb and Flag across the road but their kitchen closed at an early 830pm. Which brought us serendipitously to this local gem. A proper historical pub full of atmosphere. Decent selection of cooked food and wide selection of beers. Bar staff were extremely friendly and patient too. We were just a tad amused when they wanted to check the identification cards of us 30 year old blokes. Tavern policy I suppose

Great, authentic English pub. The food and atmosphere is top notch. It’s no wonder why The Inklings (incl CS Lewis & JRR Tolkien) made this their meeting spot.

It's a historic Oxford pub known mainly for its previous patrons, JR Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carol. The pubs is well lined with photos of the authors and it's a nice place to pause and wonder what these illustrious minds would have been drinking in their time. There are better pubs with better bears like The Turf Tavern, but still, the atmosphere makes this a great spot to pause, gather your thoughts and drink some real ale.

Unfortunately not open. This has been a favorite place to visit when in Oxford. The "Toad in the Hole" was a favorite as well as the traditional fish and chips. Too bad it doesn't seem to have a future considering its colorful past.

I expected to encounter difficulty in finding a table on a Tuesday afternoon (traditionally when "The Inklings" would meet for their weekly congregations). Yet within minutes, my friend and I were escorted and seated at a table directly underneath several artifacts, photos and letters adorning the walls behind us, that once belonged to the literary giants (such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and others) that once frequented this charming tavern. Once again (as was a frequent occurrence during my tour of the UK), I partook of the Shepherd's Pie and a glass of tomato juice (confession: I'm not much of a beer or ale imbiber; apologies for my ignorance to those who are true connoisseurs of the hopped and malted brews, and for the offense of ordering such an abomination in a pub...haha!). In truth, coming here was more of a pilgrimage for a life-long Tolkien aficionado, than anything having to do with drinking or eating. And yet, in raising a glass in toast to my literary heroes, in the hallowed halls where they once gathered, I felt warm sense of kinship, and thankfulness, for such an amazing opportunity.

It is closed indefinitely due to some misbegotten idea of the owners to make it into a boutique hotel, resulting in a dispute with the operator. Very sad!! Why can't it just be a culturally important pub? Surely, that is enough.

Nice pub! After our walking tour, our guide gave us 45 minutes to wander on our own. Stephen and I didn't want to shop and was told to check out a pub called The Eagle and Child, which was built in 1640, and lays claim to a number of interesting literary connections. J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and fellow writers met here and dubbed themselves 'The Inklings', which they nicknamed the pub 'The Bird and Baby'. We found a cozy nook in the front of the pub, ordered the Dark Vader for Stephen and an Orange Juice with lemonade for me. It was a great little place to just chill out for a bit, before boarding our tour bus to Windsor.

We stopped in here for a pint after walking around Oxford. We got two half pints of cider and sat in the back for a while. There were many locals enjoying an afternoon pint this day. We talked to two gentlemen that were about to be on holiday. This venue has a lot of charm and inspired a few authors in its many years of existence!

Really cool place for the historical significance. It's was the watering hole for Tolkien and C S Lewis, along with other writers. They have art and quotes scattered around the cozy bar to remind you of the significance. There was quite a line for drinks when we got there, but that could have been bad timing as it died down after we got our drinks. Only missing star is due to the bartender seeming to not really know anything about their drink options (like the type of gin they carried). They also didn't have in stock some of the post cards we wanted, but it is a popular attraction. Good place to stop by for a drink.

Good food, but slow service. I ended up getting the lentil cottage pie. It was filling and delicious. However, we waited quite a bit because a large group had ordered their food just before we arrived. I'd recommend it, but not if you are in a hj

Closed. No indication of when it will open again. License under review. Sad. Such a piece of history. Sold off I guess. Nothing online about it. So, unless you want a photo of outside, don't go

Really nice place with a lot of character. This pub is famous because JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis used to go here. Be aware that it's very crowded and touristy -- but don't let that turn you away. The food is great and the prices are fair. The burger I ordered was absolutely massive. Great spot to go with friends.

As I had a couple of tutors in St. John's, I found myself eating at The Eagle and Child and The Lamb and Flag with alarming regularity when I was a student. It was never anything fancy, but I admit I had a soft place in my heart for the place because of its connections to the Inklings. But that said, it also served a wonderful Ploughman's Lunch (the best probably after the now defunct Westgate), decent hard ciders and ales, and possessed a charming space. Alas, more recent visits to the "Bird and Baby" have shown it to be a trifle less well-kempt than it was in days of old. That said, it still continues to produce decent food and I find myself still very much at home when I pass through its doors.

Ok so the one downside is its crowded and touristy - but that goes for literally everything in Oxford city center. This place has actually very cheap drinks (£3 for a pint of local ale!) and average tourist prices for food. It's really not that pricey. Given its location and history, and also its chilled out atmosphere and cheap broad selection, I really enjoyed it.

Sure, I many not have been to Oxford since 2011, but I so going to have a write a review of this one pub where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis would regularly meet with other friends and discuss literature over a glass of English Ale. In fact they even have photos in the room where they used to sit, though the pub has been expanded since that time and now goes much further back. It's a quaint pub, not one of the best, but certainly has it's charm, especially due to its lterary merits. Definitely a place to visit, especially if you, like me, are a fan of Tolkien and Lewis.

Came recommended by my best friend and was told that the food is good, the pub has an interesting history. Apparently, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis once hung here and mulled over their writings! We ordered Shepherds Pie which was very very good! Easily the best Shepherds pie I have eaten. I mean that! The other mains that my friends had were also very well received by them. A very happy lunch indeed!!

We were checking out Oxford, and this pub was close to where we parked. Really, that was it's redeeming feature. The staff was friendly enough and the interior was quaint. Given the location, I expected nothing less. I got the fish pie. It comes with some sort of green stuff that tasted horrendous. Fortunately, I had ordered some chips as well. They were greasy. The fish pie itself was nothing special - easily forgettable. One of my dining companions ordered a hot chocolate. It was like warm, and was not drunk - yes, that bad. Overall, I'll be searching for somewhere else next time

This place was awesome but I hear it is closed since the pandemic. Food was awesome and atmosphere and service were exceptional

Popped in with two friends en route to the Cotswolds. The history of this place is pretty cool - from Tolkien and C.S. Lewis to Doctor Who actors. Get there early - they open at 11:30 generally - and grab one of the snugs in the front. Order at the bar and don't forget your table number. Give them your card if you want to start a tab. I suggest just having a beer or drink here and then moving on. We had Sunday roast and the chicken was dry on both roasts. Eat elsewhere. It's owned by a chain, after all. Service is aloof but ok once you break past the "we're not just typical tourists barrier." I did hear a staff member say "that one is for the Americans up front," which is always embarrassing as a traveler (even if you are an American, ha!).

Okay, this place isn't perfect, but the experience was wonderful. First the positives. The food was amazing! We had a couple of their pies (one was duck and the other beef) and the flavor was exceptional. I had a roasted chicken with a creme sauce which was really good. Note, we had just been to Paris and this topped all the places we ate there. The service was very friendly and helpful (even while they were very busy). Now, the negatives (nothing really bad). It's a fairly narrow and small historic place so you need to fit in some smaller tables. We did sit in the same area as CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien! It did take a pretty long time to get our food as they were crowded. Their style is you go up to the bar and place your order (they bring it out to you) and pay. I thought that was a downside at first, but it ended up being great. The bartender took the time to pour me some samples to make sure I got a pint I'd like. And it's really nice that you can simply leave once you're done vs. waiting for the check. I would definitely recommend going to this place if you're in Oxford.

This is where I fell in love with shepherd's pie! Seriously, all the food we had was delicious and unique. It was the highlight of my Oxford visit. I must say I loved eating where so many of my favorite authors had passed through these very same doors. There is a wide range of seating choices, from cozy and private to open and social. The owners did a good job balancing the history and tradition with newer additions, like the skylit area in the back.

Cute pub to have a pint at while seeing where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien used to frequent

I cannot claim to be one of the top fans of fantasy and adventure, but I absolutely love anything related to Narnia. To learn CS Lewis frequented this bar, well we had to make a stop. It's got your typical low ceilings. A very traditional pub. Lots of little nook and cranny corners to sit with a friend or two. We did not eat any food but there was the wonderful smell of typical pub food in the air. Grab your drink and walk toward the back. There is a lot more seating than you expect.

As a Tolkien fan, this was a must stop. The place is a classic English pub and quite homey. The food was great and I had the best steak pie I have had yet in England. Not to mention that it was a beautiful day in Oxford. Cheer!

Great pub to sit and talk with your mates for hours about alternate worlds and distant lands. And the food is good, too. Cozy atmosphere: 5 stars Food and drink: 5 stars Oxford tradition: 5 stars

Ok I came from California, to come to Oxford to go to CS Lewis Meeting place with J.R. Token, I love the pub but, a few things went wrong. One my wife wanted mac & Cheese ran out. Wanted fish and chips ran out. I had to get banger and mash and the sausage was burn, but I did love the atmosphere, of This pub and the history, 500 year old Pub. I hope You have a better food experience than me.

If you're visiting Oxford, of course you have to visit the Eagle and Child (or Bird and Baby as it was affectionately known when frequented by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The bonus was that the food was really tasty. The chicken and ham hock pie was perfect with a flaky crust and succulent interior. It was served with mash and a wonderful array of freshly steamed veggies including peas, beans, cabbage and carrots. A side of smashed peas were also delicious but the star of the evening was the cheesy cauliflower, the best I've ever had and it left me wanting more. The staff was very nice, the service was good and the food fabulous.

Good: Beer, Cider, the story of this pup in relationship to the writers, the old furnishings were interesting Not good: meals were expensive, the music was loud, the tables and the restroom were dirty :-( , it smelt bad

I do hate to write a negative review of such a historical pub, with such connections to my personal philosophical and literary development. But I also feel it a bit of my duty. Eagle and Child is, if you don't know, the home of the Inklings, an informal organization that included such persons as C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. And this pub relies on traffic generated by this association, not necessarily on its own merits. The service is slow, though not rude and could be attributed to tourists not understanding pub ordering etiquette, the glasses are a mishmash (who serves a cask porter in a tall Amstel lager glass?) and of questionable cleanliness, and the chain pub food is just as likely to be sold out as available, which leads me to believe much of it is microwaved. My sausage sandwich came out on stale granary bread, and the sausage was weirdly chewy. The mushy peas I ordered on the side were just a pile if undercooked frozen garden peas. The chips were okay, at least. My wife had the soup, which was apparently good. The pub itself is just dingy, much more so than it's contemporaries and not in any sort of endearing way. Rather, it's marred, scratched, and dirty. The ceilings are separating and traced with mildew and water stains. Even the beer chalkboard isn't kept up to date. I'm a bit saddened that I came in, I think I would have rather kept the idea of the place more pristine in my mind.

I had a great experience. And some beers. It was fun. My friends and I sat in the front room and we saw "the" table and visited the loo (which I will not spoil). But, really.... it's a pub. So, it completely delivers on its pub-ness by being a pub rather than reframing itself into a Walt-Disneyfied version of what Mary Poppins might have visited with two penguins, Eowyn, and Mr. Tumnus. While I feel for reviewers who wanted a "pristine" view of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis hanging out and thinking Deep Thoughts, perhaps we are missing the point. If the inklings hung out in a slightly grotty pub, maybe they liked it for some reason other than our 21st century standards of granary bread and freedom from murine invasions.

We came here for the novelty of being the meeting grounds for C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. They offer various beers on tap as well as bottled beers. The board also advertises their featured beer. The pork scratchlings that I got tasted like they had been on a shelf for a very loooong time. As for the service, it was pretty lackluster. Seating is pretty limited with a few tables in the front and back.

The obvious reason to visit this pub is clearly the history, which you probably know all about but I'll say it again anyway because no review for this place would be complete without name dropping JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. Who hung out here. With their literary club. There's a plaque and everything. So now that we got that out of the way, let's get down to the serious business. The pub can get crowded as it's quite a tourist draw. But that doesn't seem to stop it from delivering good service and food. Unfortunately their Sunday roasts were all sold out, but the regular menu has tasty options galore. Food arrived quickly and was good, the pub feels cozy and offers plenty of seating as well as books and games for patrons to use. Decor is typical British pub style. Overall it was an enjoyable visit and I'd definitely return.

Pros: + It's the Eagle and Child! Tolkien! Lewis! Need I say more??? + It's every bit the English pub you think it is, complete with a drink and food menu. You can drop in for whatever occasion you have in mind. We came for dinner and it was great. + Bartenders and staff are friendly and welcoming. + Food was as good as pub grub gets; I had the puff pastry with a side of veggies, mash and gravy. My friends had the steak and bangers and mash. Our beers were even better. I had a fantastic ginger beer called Crabbie's, will never forget it. I've been on the lookout for this stateside, though I haven't seen it. + The place feels old, cozy, grimy and memorable. It's the simple things, isn't it? + Plenty of seating available in whichever nook you stumble into. Cons: - Touristy for obvious reasons. Who doesn't want to have a pint at the local haunt of Tolkien and Lewis? Not a bad thing, just inevitable.

I've been here twice now and had similar experiences both times - I've battled for seating and been treated poorly by unfriendly staff, only to be told that the kitchen was so backed up that they'd be closing for a couple of hours to "catch up." Seriously? I've yet to actually try the apparently good food, having been prevented by what can only be personnel issues in wait staff, kitchen, and ultimately management. I'd highly suggest popping in here to see the Rabbit Room where Tolkien and Lewis spent time pondering their formidable literary creations, and then making your way to the nearby Turf Tavern for a great meal in a far more hospitable environment. Eagle and Child - my family and I came all the way from California today, only to find that you were more interested in trading on your heritage and notoriety than providing customer service and a meal. Disappointed is an understatement.

I loved this place when I visited Oxford last summer! I didn't even know it was Lewis and Tolkien's favorite place to hang out until we read the sign upon leaving. The Eagle and Child is not a tourist trap. Tourist traps charge you up the wazoo and the food usually sucks. I was only in London for a total of 5 days and grew to hate the pub food scene by day 2. Regardless, it's deeply rooted in the culture so I took it in, every deep fried, gravy doused, pint of it! Now this was my last day in the U.K. and I thought the food here was good for pub food and the booze here was absolutely memorable! Here's my travel journal entry for The Eagle and Child: " 7/29 Sitting in the Eagle and Child - our last pub in the U.K. Just bought my first drink. I thought it was a beer but it's actually a mixed drink. Haha. It's called Pimm's and it's the BOMB! Geeze Maneeze! It's fruity-licious heaven! It's garnished with fruits, mint, and a cucumber. The perfect summer drink and as the bartender informs me, a very popular drink here in the U.K. I ordered a beef and vintage ale pie (see picture top right). Here's how it reads on the menu 'Beef and Vintage Ale Pie - chunks of succulent beef (I don't know about you, but when I read succulent in front of anything it makes it sound like the tastiest thing on Earth haha), braised in Fuller's Vintage Ale with a rich sweet gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and carrots". Get in my belly!!! [I kid you not 30 minutes to an hour later] I went up to the bar and politely complained. Turns out our order got lost at some point. Hrmph. The manager was so nice about it though! I love how this place handles their customers. Just get them drunk! A round of Pimm's and a pint of pale ale on the house (see picture top left)! All was forgiven! The food came out shortly thereafter and the beef pie was delicious! A very homey and filling meal. The braised beef was indeed succulent! Chris ordered the bangers and mash. Solid dish of sausage and potatoes.(see picture bottom left)" Yea, some people might find an hour wait inexcusable but I often say in food service, it's not so much about the mistakes people make, but how they respond to them. Once they realized we had been sitting there the food came quickly and one can never complain about free booze. :) Also let's be mindful that this is a review for pub food, a cuisine (I dare say) as a whole probably deserves nothing more than 3 stars. So when compared to other pub grub I found this place to actually produce some flavor in their dishes and have great drinks. Cheers!

Cute traditional pub! Fine beers and grub. Wish they had more information about the history of literary professionals who frequented the joint. Still had an old charm to it. Worth a pop in.

This pub is iconic, so you should go for that alone. JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis met here for lunch, shared stories, etc. They sell postcards of drawings from a local artist of their most famous patrons, which we bought as souvenirs. It's worth taking some pictures and buying a beer, but it's not worth more than that. In fact, while we were there, there were mice running around the front room. It was really dirty and there were crumbs all over the floor. No one seemed to notice or care that there were vermin running around. I was so grossed out.

I went for the Inkling ambiance and stayed for the fish and chips. They were out of almost every pie in early evening.

Old school pub with a full food menu, great dessert, and interesting Scotch and beer selection. This is an old institution of Oxford famous for its ties with J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. They nicknamed it "the bird and baby." Inside, this has a lot of character and historic charm. The cramped front room continues into the larger than expected rear sitting area. Taking a look at the draft list, thankfully they serve more modern, local craft beers like Siren. Staff weren't super friendly and not very helpful, though, with the beer selection. I went with the Siren on draft (Undercurrent) and it didn't taste fresh (soapy, rough, dark orange flavors). The other draft and cask selections were not too impressive. I went for the Nicholson's Pale Ale afterward and it was average. Wife got the sticky toffee pudding and reported that it was very good. Overall, this is more about location and charm. Otherwise, I thought it was solidly average for beer.

I probably shouldn't admit it, but this pub is the main reason I wanted to go to Oxford. I wanted to sit where C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and the rest of the Inklings had had a beer and--in my mind--discussed great works of literature. The truth may have been more pedestrian. After all, women were admitted to Oxford in their lifetime, and these two old friends disagreed bitterly on the subject. But I digress. The service here is friendly. As soon as we walked in, the bartender greeted us and asked what he could get us. My partner had a beer and I had a Diet Coke. When I saw his PINT of beer, I wished I had ordered one. I also wanted to try the food here, so we sat exactly where the Inklings had sat and I ordered roast beef. It was decent--nothing other worldly but a good taste--and I did have a learning experience. I leaned what Yorkshire pudding was! It definitely is NOT Jello pudding! (See the picture of my plate and look at the left side of the plate. That's It!) Now, if anyone asks, I wanted to go to Oxford to see its 38 colleges and bask in its historic buildings of learning and flawless courtyards. Ok?

Cool space, good food, good prices, good service. Had lunch here with a friend, we both got burgers. They had a few vegan options for me which was amazing. Nothing was out of this world but also have nothing to complain about. Would definitely come back for drinks!

Nice pub with history, nice painting on the walls! Cozy and warm environment. Meeting place for Tolkien and Lewis.

So much fun to be somewhere seeped in history! Nice IPA and cozy atmosphere. Service isn't quick but there is so much to look at and think about, who cares?!

This place has great historical value and is a must-visit for tourists, Christians, and avid readers. I found the place very warm and classic. I think the food is about the same, very warm and comforting options. Overall, it's your average pub experience with the exciting twist of being a historical landmark.

We had high hopes for the Eagle and Child given Bianca and Alex visited the premises and provided 4 solid stars. So...what were the good and bad points? Good: 1. Cozy pub that truly feels like you travelled in time 2. A good selection of local beer and whiskey Bad: The food. Oh man, the food. I don't know when was the last time the Eagle and Child changed their frying oil for their fish&chips but we were in some serious pain for the rest of the night, and morning of the following day. Also the chicken and leek pie was a joke, the crust was sitting about 3 inches above the actual filling, a filling that included 1/4 of a chicken breast that is chopped and mixed in a tube of heavy cream. The filling was so heavy and so little, I still feel nauseous when I think about it. Come here for drinks only and with a full belly.

I'm a huge Tolkien fan so when we went on an Oxford trip I pretty much begged for us to have breakfast there. I think my partner and I were lucky for the time we went, as we went in and it was pretty much dead, which is fine for us :) While we were eating it filled up a bit with tourists, but not too many that it was uncomfortable. In fact, a small group that was on an Inklings tour came in so we got to hear a little trivia about the group :) There's lots of little bits and bobs with information and pictures about the group, so any enthusiast will be happy. Breakfast is served until 12pm, but when we went in at 11:30 there wasn't a breakfast menu out. However, we asked up at the bar and they said they were still serving so if you're going for brekkie don't worry about that :) Both vegetarian and normal English breakfasts were £5.50 each so quite reasonable and that comes with a hot drink. It filled us up very well and my partner made a comment that it was a very very good English breakfast :) I very much enjoyed my veggie one too, one of the best veggie sausages I've had. My advice is to go here early on weekdays to miss the touristy rush if you're not into that. On a whole it's a great pub :)

So... this is an interesting place. It is just as much alcohol rich as it is a historically rich. The word in the Oxford Streets is that this place was a favorite hanging out place of C.S. Lewis himself. In fact, when you walk in, especially through the first entry way you definitely smell the century old yeasty beer residue that's left from the cheers that C.S. Lewis used to spill all over when he would get a lil more than tipsy, if you get my drift...Awh yes, one might possibly even claim that it is here that the inception of Narnia was born. But hey, if you find that last part hard to believe - believe me when I say this- they have the best Fish and Chips and Beer of course (yes, calling all those American Tourists lol).

Another solid pub in Oxford though not as cozy as the Lamb and Flag (it was a bit more buzzy and had a chain feel) it still was a great place to enjoy a pint.

The Eagle and Child is famous for being associated with Tolkien and C. S. Lewis; it's a really warm and cozy pub that wasn't as touristy as I thought considering its reputation. It's definitely an iconic spot in Oxford and I had a great glass of pimms here!

We stopped in at this delightful little pub for lunch on our visit to Oxford. The service, food and atmosphere were all exemplary and we had a tremendous lunch. 2 adults and 2 kiddos shared the lamb pie and the Coronation chicken pie. The veggies on the side and the gravy were delicious and fresh, the pies were magnificent. Bar staff were beyond friendly, so fun and lovely with the kiddos. We had a healthy serving and topped it off with a Sticky toffee pudding with custard and a Lemon tart. Both were absolutely heavenly. I'd heartily recommend this pub on a visit to Oxford as very convenient to the school and a wonderful venue for cosy eating. Yummy!!

Great pub with a lot of history. Not the strongest drinks but friendly bartenders and patrons. We sat in the rabbit room, so being in the midst of that history was neat.