You will pass Brasenose College on your right and, as you advance along the High Street, you will reach the Mitre Hotel (also on your right). This was another favourite spot for C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and friends.

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The Mitre Hotel, first established in the 17th century, was one of several pubs and inns where C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and their literary circle — The Inklings — met to talk, argue, and read aloud their work.

During wartime Oxford, when their usual haunt (The Eagle and Child) suffered beer shortages, they often retreated here or to the King’s Arms for warmth and conversation.

In the Mitre’s wood-panelled rooms, manuscripts like The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Screwtape Letters were discussed and refined — though not always politely.

Lewis was known for his hearty laughter and sharp wit, Tolkien for his careful listening and detailed notes. Together, they formed the heart of a friendship that shaped 20th-century literature.

The Mitre’s enduring charm lies in its atmosphere: brass lamps, oak beams, and the faint sense that brilliant company has only just left the table.

If you pause here, you might almost hear the echo of Lewis’s laughter or Tolkien’s pipe tapping against a mug.

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