The Best Pub Lunches Near Oxford

Oxford has a lot going for it, but a relaxed pub lunch is not among the city's greatest strengths. The pubs inside the ring road are either tourist traps charging London prices for average food, or genuinely good but heaving with students. The better option is to drive 20 to 30 minutes out of the city, where the Oxfordshire countryside is home to some of the finest pub dining in England. Here are the ones worth knowing about.

The Old Crown Coaching Inn, Faringdon

We are biased, obviously, but The Ballroom at The Old Crown holds 2 AA Rosettes and was named 2024 Ox in a Box Restaurant of the Year. (we were top 3 in 2025 and are nominated again in 2026) The lunch menu changes every six to eight weeks to reflect what is in season locally, and the kitchen works with trusted Oxfordshire suppliers. It is not pub grub: this is proper seasonal British cooking in a 16th-century setting. If you want something more relaxed, The Pub at The Crown does simpler fare in a room with exposed beams and an open fire. Faringdon is 25 minutes from Oxford on the A420.

The Trout at Tadpole Bridge

Sitting right on the Thames between Faringdon and Bampton, The Trout is one of those pubs that looks almost too perfect to be real. The beer garden runs down to the riverbank, and in summer you can eat outside watching narrow boats navigate the lock. The food is hearty modern British, done well rather than overcomplicating things. About 20 minutes from Faringdon, 35 from Oxford.

The Double Red Duke, Clanfield

A relative newcomer from the Country Creatures group, The Double Red Duke occupies a handsome Elizabethan manor house and does polished country pub food with a strong emphasis on provenance. The Sunday roast is one of the best in the county. 15 minutes from Faringdon, 30 from Oxford.

The Nut Tree Inn, Murcott

A Michelin-starred pub north of Oxford that manages to remain genuinely unpretentious. The building is a thatched 15th-century cottage, the menu is short and seasonal, and the cooking is exceptional. Not cheap, but memorable. About 45 minutes from Faringdon, 20 from Oxford.

The White Hart, Fyfield

One of the oldest free houses in England, set in a 15th-century chantry house. The building alone is worth the visit: vaulted ceilings, stone walls, and a sense of history that most pubs try to manufacture but this one comes by honestly. The menu is modern British with an emphasis on local meat and seasonal vegetables. 20 minutes from Faringdon, 20 from Oxford.

A Practical Suggestion

If you are visiting Oxford for the day and want a good pub lunch before or after, the simplest route is to take the A420 west toward Faringdon. You will pass within striking distance of three of the pubs on this list inside 25 minutes, without touching a motorway. Book ahead for weekends, especially for The Nut Tree and The Double Red Duke. For The Old Crown, you can reserve via OpenTable or call us directly on 01367 242744.