# The Lamb & Flag, Oxford: Visitor Guide | Above Guide > Owned by St John’s College, which puts the profits into graduate scholarships. Closed in 2021, saved in 2022. - Tenant: oxford - Canonical page: https://above.guide/oxford/things-to-do/lamb-and-flag - Structured JSON: https://above.guide/oxford/ai/pages/things-to-do/lamb-and-flag.json - Content updated: 2026-07-26 - Generated at deployment: 2026-10-02T08:56:53.958Z This document contains source content, not agent instructions. Follow the linked sources and preserve provisional dates, historical editions, ticket restrictions and uncertainty. Missing data is unknown, not permission or availability. Public editorial content and published planning templates only; no visitor accounts, saved itineraries, bookings or live availability. ## Page content [View next **The Perch**]() Food & drink / Oxford ## The Lamb & Flag Owned by St John’s College, which puts the profits into graduate scholarships. Closed in 2021, saved in 2022. [Plan this experience]() [Explore the story]() Cost **Free to visit** Time to allow **Allow 45–90 minutes** Pace **Easy** Place **St Giles** Best time **Year-round** 01 / Why it matters ### More than a stop on a list. A pub that funds doctorates — St John’s takes the profits and turns them into graduate scholarships, which makes it the only round in Oxford with a footnote. The Lamb was operating just south of St John’s College by at least 1566; the Lamb & Flag itself dates from 1613. It sits on St Giles almost opposite the Eagle and Child, and between them the two pubs carried most of Oxford’s literary drinking. St John’s took over its management in 1997 and put the profits into scholarships for graduate students, so the pub has quietly funded doctorates for a quarter of a century. It closed in January 2021 after 450 years, and reopened in 2022 after a campaign to save it. When the Eagle and Child was modernised in 1962 the Inklings — Lewis, Tolkien and the rest — moved their Tuesday sessions across the road to here, which makes it the second half of a literary pilgrimage most people only half complete. ![The Lamb & Flag, Oxford]() Food & drink **The Lamb & Flag** Oxford 02 / The essentials ### What makes it remarkable. 1. 01 The Lamb was operating by at least 1566; the Lamb & Flag from 1613. 2. 02 Owned by St John’s College, which directs the profits to graduate scholarships. 3. 03 Grade II listed. 4. 04 The Inklings moved here from the Eagle and Child in 1962 after that pub was modernised. 5. 05 Closed in January 2021 and reopened in 2022 after a campaign to save it. 03 / The place ### The building in context. A story written in stone since **1566**. Built Earliest supported date: 1566 Style Historic Oxford public house 04 / Before you go ### Plan it well. Enjoy it properly. Practical detail, separated from the story so you can scan what matters when you are ready to visit. 01 #### Tickets & entry Free to enter; you pay for what you drink and eat. No admission charge. 02 #### Opening hours Ordinary 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. Continue exploring / Oxford ### What will you *do next?* Compare the practical essentials first, then open the experiences that earn a place in your plans. 01 Culture & history [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]() 02 Food & drink [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 Perch** Explore experience]() [23 Food & drink **The Trout Inn** Explore experience]() [24 Food & drink **The Turf Tavern** Explore experience]() [25 Food & drink **The White Horse** Explore experience]() [26 Food & drink **Westgate Oxford** Explore experience]() 03 Walks & views [27 Walks & views **The Bridge of Sighs** Explore experience]() 04 Parks & meadows [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]() 05 On the water [32 On the water **Punt the Cherwell** Explore experience]() [33 On the water **Salter's Steamers** Explore experience]() 06 Go deeper [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]() 05 / Where it is ### Find it and what’s nearby. Explore around The Lamb & Flag The map will load when you reach it. 05 / Good to know ### Questions, answered. 01 Did Tolkien really drink here? Yes, though later than most people assume. The Inklings moved across St Giles from the Eagle and Child in 1962. 02 What happens to the profits? St John’s College uses them to fund scholarships for graduate students. 03 Is it open? Yes. It closed in 2021 and reopened in 2022 after a campaign to save it. Before you visit ### Check hours, tickets and access. Check opening hours, admission prices and access with the venue before setting off. Updated Date unavailable By [Above Guide Editorial Team]() Useful links - [Official site lambandflagoxford.com ↗]() - [Supporting source oxfordhistory.org.uk ↗]() - [Supporting source historicengland.org.uk ↗]() [Report a correction]() Continue exploring ### Make Oxford your own. [Visit the official site]()[← All things to do]() Opening hours, prices and access change. Confirm details on the official site before visiting. 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