The best pubs Oxford

Located next door to John's College, the pub's profits are used in part to help students finance their studies. So you can drink your beers with a clear conscience, knowing that you're contributing to the education of local students. It has all the makings of a good local, where conversation and socializing take precedence over music and entertainment. The decor is traditional, within ^17th-century walls, and the beers change regularly, always from the south-west of England. The atmosphere is warm and inviting.

This is one of Oxford's oldest pubs. After all, it's been a public house since the ^16th century! Local legend has it that Shakespeare was a regular visitor to the university town. The establishment has changed name and been reconfigured several times over the centuries, but has a palpable soul. It's extremely pleasant to walk through the arch and narrow alleyway to this former farmhouse and sit at one of its outdoor tables or barrels.