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The alley was once called Hell Passage, which tells you what the area was for.\n\nThe pub grew up just outside the line of the old city wall, deliberately beyond the jurisdiction of the colleges — which is precisely why undergraduates drank here, and still do. A section of the medieval wall forms one edge of the courtyards.\n\nIts sign advertises 1381. The pub itself opened around the end of the eighteenth century, under the name The Spotted Cow; the older date belongs to the ground rather than the business. 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It is genuinely hidden — follow the alley rather than looking for a frontage." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it really from 1381?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The pub opened around 1790 as The Spotted Cow. The older date refers to the site, not to the business." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is there room inside?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Very little. It is mostly three small courtyards, so it works best in decent weather." } } ] } ] } ], "editorialMarkdown": "[View next **The White Horse**]()\n\nFood & drink / Oxford\n\n## The Turf Tavern\n\nHidden down an alley once called Hell Passage, built hard against the old city wall to escape college jurisdiction.\n\n[Plan this experience]()\n\n[Explore the story]()\n\nCost **Free to visit**\n\nTime to allow **Allow 45–90 minutes**\n\nPace **Easy**\n\nPlace **St Helens Passage**\n\nBest time **Year-round**\n\n01 / Why it matters\n\n### More than a stop on a list.\n\nThe hardest pub in Oxford to find and the most rewarding to stumble on — low beams, three courtyards and a stretch of the medieval city wall.\n\nYou reach the Turf down St Helens Passage, an alley off New College Lane so narrow that people walk under the Bridge of Sighs without noticing it. The alley was once called Hell Passage, which tells you what the area was for. The pub grew up just outside the line of the old city wall, deliberately beyond the jurisdiction of the colleges — which is precisely why undergraduates drank here, and still do. A section of the medieval wall forms one edge of the courtyards. Its sign advertises 1381. The pub itself opened around the end of the eighteenth century, under the name The Spotted Cow; the older date belongs to the ground rather than the business. It is low-beamed, largely outdoors across three small courtyards, and reliably full.\n\n![The Turf Tavern, Oxford]()\n\nFood & drink **The Turf Tavern** Oxford\n\n02 / The essentials\n\n### What makes it remarkable.\n\n1. 01\n\n Opened around the end of the eighteenth century, originally named The Spotted Cow.\n2. 02\n\n Reached down St Helens Passage, formerly called Hell Passage, off New College Lane.\n3. 03\n\n Built just outside the old city wall to sit beyond the jurisdiction of the colleges.\n4. 04\n\n A stretch of the medieval city wall forms one boundary of the courtyards.\n5. 05\n\n Advertises 1381, a date belonging to the site rather than to the pub.\n\n03 / The place\n\n### The building in context.\n\nA story written in stone since **1790**.\n\nBuilt\n\nEarliest supported date: 1790\n\nStyle\n\nHistoric Oxford public house\n\n04 / Before you go\n\n### Plan it well.\nEnjoy it properly.\n\nPractical detail, separated from the story so you can scan what matters when you are ready to visit.\n\n01\n\n#### Tickets & entry\n\nFree to enter; you pay for what you drink and eat. No admission charge.\n\n02\n\n#### Opening hours\n\nOrdinary pub hours, which change with the season, the day and the licensee — check the pub’s own page before making a special journey. Most Oxford pubs serve food at lunchtime and in the evening rather than all day.\n\nContinue exploring / Oxford\n\n### What will you\n*do next?*\n\nCompare the practical essentials first, then open the experiences that earn a place in your plans.\n\n01 Culture & history\n\n [01 Culture & history **Bate Collection of Musical Instruments** Explore experience]() [02 Culture & history **Bodleian Library guided tour** Explore experience]() [03 Culture & history **Christ Church** Explore experience]() [04 Culture & history **Christ Church Cathedral** Explore experience]() [05 Culture & history **History of Science Museum** Explore experience]() [06 Culture & history **Oxford Castle** Explore experience]() [07 Culture & history **Oxford University Museum of Natural History** Explore experience]() [08 Culture & history **Pitt Rivers Museum** Explore experience]() [09 Culture & history **Sheldonian Theatre** Explore experience]() [10 Culture & history **Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities** Explore experience]() [11 Culture & history **The Ashmolean Museum** Explore experience]() [12 Culture & history **The Radcliffe Camera** Explore experience]() [13 Culture & history **The Weston Library** Explore experience]() [14 Culture & history **University Church of St Mary the Virgin** Explore experience]()\n\n02 Food & drink\n\n [15 Food & drink **Head of the River** Explore experience]() [16 Food & drink **Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons** Explore experience]() [17 Food & drink **Oxford Covered Market** Explore experience]() [18 Food & drink **The Bear Inn** Explore experience]() [19 Food & drink **The Chequers** Explore experience]() [20 Food & drink **The Eagle and Child** Explore experience]() [21 Food & drink **The King’s Arms** Explore experience]() [22 Food & drink **The Lamb & Flag** Explore experience]() [23 Food & drink **The Perch** Explore experience]() [24 Food & drink **The Trout Inn** Explore experience]() [25 Food & drink **The White Horse** Explore experience]() [26 Food & drink **Westgate Oxford** Explore experience]()\n\n03 Walks & views\n\n [27 Walks & views **The Bridge of Sighs** Explore experience]()\n\n04 Parks & meadows\n\n [28 Parks & meadows **Christ Church Meadow** Explore experience]() [29 Parks & meadows **Oxford Botanic Garden** Explore experience]() [30 Parks & meadows **Port Meadow** Explore experience]() [31 Parks & meadows **University Parks** Explore experience]()\n\n05 On the water\n\n [32 On the water **Punt the Cherwell** Explore experience]() [33 On the water **Salter's Steamers** Explore experience]()\n\n06 Go deeper\n\n[43 Colleges All the colleges **Every Oxford college** Open the college guide]()[Food & drink / a story **The nine oldest pubs** Walk the timeline]()[Plan / Itinerary builder **Build your Oxford day** Start planning]()\n\n05 / Where it is\n\n### Find it\nand what’s nearby.\n\nExplore around The Turf Tavern\n\n The map will load when you reach it.\n\n05 / Good to know\n\n### Questions,\nanswered.\n\n01 How do I find it?\n\nDown St Helens Passage off New College Lane, beside the Bridge of Sighs, or from Holywell Street. It is genuinely hidden — follow the alley rather than looking for a frontage.\n\n02 Is it really from 1381?\n\nThe pub opened around 1790 as The Spotted Cow. The older date refers to the site, not to the business.\n\n03 Is there room inside?\n\nVery little. It is mostly three small courtyards, so it works best in decent weather.\n\nBefore you visit\n\n### Check hours, tickets and access.\n\nCheck opening hours, admission prices and access with the venue before setting off.\n\nUpdated\n\nDate unavailable\n\nBy\n\n[Above Guide Editorial Team]()\n\nUseful links\n\n- [Official site greeneking.co.uk ↗]()\n- [Supporting source oxfordhistory.org.uk ↗]()\n- [Supporting source historicengland.org.uk ↗]()\n\n[Report a correction]()\n\nContinue exploring\n\n### Make Oxford\nyour own.\n\n[Visit the official site]()[← All things to do]()\n\nOpening hours, prices and access change. Confirm details on the official site before visiting.\n\nFiled under Pub / Historic / Food & drink / Since 1790" }