Day Seven: Turf Tavern- Harry Potter and The Day Trip to Oxford

Today we’re going on a little adventure, journeying outside our little bubble of London and through the British countryside. Hidden in the cramped streets of historic Oxford, between New College and Hertford College, a sign is nailed to the inside of a cramped ally, inviting you in to visit Turf Tavern.

Following the passage to its end, you step out on a peaceful outside patio. Walk through the small dim room of the pub itself and you find yourself in a charming seating area/beer garden. While Turf Tavern is known for its beer, it also has a robust menu of delicious English dishes including fish and chips, steak and ale pie, and sandwiches.

Ratings:

Food: 6.75/10

Price: $$

Accessibility: 5/10

Service: 7/10

Food:

My group got a variety of different dishes, but I settled on the Chicken Kiev. The chicken patties were greasy, but I enjoyed the intense garlic flavor. While I didn’t try the fish and chips they looked good, if not typical. I’d say the food was well made and filling but overpriced. Honestly, that’s how you can describe a lot of Oxford and its surrounding establishments.

Accessibility:

The city of Oxford itself is not the most accessible location in the world. Few places have ramps, even fewer have elevators. The cobblestones make navigating in any sort of wheelchair a nightmare. I’d have to say, compared to the rest of the town, the Turf Tavern is relatively neutral when it comes to accessibility. While there aren’t curving spiral stairs, there are a lot of little steps up and down/ uneven floors through the pub's general layout.

Service:

I didn’t talk much to the server, you order through a QR code on the table, but their food didn’t take too long and it boasts “dog-friendly pub and free Wi-Fi!”

Fun Fact:

Apparently, the Turf Tavern is where future Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke set a Guinness World in Record in 1954 for consuming a yard glass of ale in 11 seconds. Some other well-known figures have dined there including Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Blair, CS Lewis, Stephen Hawking, and Margaret Thatcher.