Continue on past The King’s Arms along Holywell Street… notice a little side street called Bath Place. If you wish to take a short detour, stroll down this lane to the renowned and ancient pub, The Turf Tavern. It is one of the few places where you can order the old English drink, Mead.

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The Turf, dating back to the 13th century, hides behind high college walls and can be reached only by its twisting alleys. Today students still toast exam results here beneath its low beams.

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Notice the Holywell Music Room across the street. Built in the 1740’s, it is the oldest surviving building in Europe designed exclusively for concerts.

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The Music Room opened in 1748 and still hosts chamber performances today. In Lewis’s time, its concerts drew students and dons alike. The building’s graceful proportions and soft acoustics reflect Oxford’s long love of beauty wedded to discipline — qualities Lewis prized both in art and in faith.

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