Turf Tavern, Historic pub near New College in Oxford, England

The Turf Tavern is a Grade II listed pub near New College in Oxford, England, made up of several small connected rooms with narrow staircases and passages. Outside, three courtyards lead toward the medieval city walls, where tables sit under old trees.

The building began in 1381 as a malt house before receiving its current name in 1842. The renaming marked the shift from a craft workshop to a gathering place for the community.

The name comes from the old word for peat that once heated the building, and the low ceilings and narrow passages keep the feeling of a medieval gathering point. Students meet there to talk, and visitors can see how a traditional ale house works in the university town.

The entrance sits in a narrow lane beside the city wall, easy to miss unless you watch for the signs pointing the way. The rooms are small and fill quickly, so a visit outside the main evening hours works better.

Access runs through a cobbled passage called St Helens Passage, once known as Hell's Passage, that runs right along the old city wall. The narrow lane is so tight that you can touch the walls on both sides as you walk.

• Location: Oxford
• Address: 5 Bath Place, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3SU
• Phone: [phone]
• Website: http://turftavern-oxford.co.uk
• GPS coordinates: 51.75470,-1.25300
• Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29