King's Arms in Oxford

We popped in for dinner with friends. The staff were friendly. The food was delicious. Starters with pub bites were phenomenal. I ordered trout but I got salmon but highly recommend this dish, really delicious. Chicken and leek pie was okay. Sausage with mushed potato dish was great. Fish and chips was good. Dessert dishes were delicious.

Reasonable prices. Wxcelent wats. Great atmosphere. Great staff. Would recommend.

We spend few hours here next to fire playing chess, chatting and having fun. It was just a great place to hang out. Food is priced in higher side but it’s worth the ambiance and taste.

London prices for a pint of Guiness, over £6, but overall not bad but not great. Did not eat food though .

We had the hand raised British pork pie. We really enjoyed it, but not familiar with the way. Food is served in Oxford. I was surprised that it wasn’t hot. It reminded me of cold head cheese or something similar that my mom or sister would serve. It was very tasty and we enjoyed it and soaked it up as part of the experience. We also had and shared the fennel, orange and chestnut salad a complete vegetarian meal or side or starter, and it was tasty I haven’t got used to stepping away from my table to go and order my meal. I do like table service. Maybe I’m spoiled.

Very busy festive drinking evening.

Alright. On a rainy evening, pub with a great atmosphere and very cool decor to drink a good beer.

We had a really lovely Christmas dinner here. The manager looked after us really well. We brought the dog and had a great time. There were biscuits and bowls available for the dog too. There was plenty of atmosphere, and the roast was fantastic. Little bit warm but to be expected in a full pub.

Excellent. Sunday roast. Three old friends meeting up. Food delicious.

What's not to like? Historic Oxford pub, great atmosphere, excellent food and friendly staff. We ate at the King’s Arms for our staff Christmas lunch (7 people) and enjoyed exemplary Christmas fare and a good selection of beers and wines. Highly recommended!

The King's Arms: A Hip New Place to Meet Gruff Ex-cons? A man walking into a pub can, and should, expect three things. A selection of beers on draught is always a good draw. A warm, relaxed ambience never goes amiss. A selection of seasonal, well-priced meals is generally the finishing touch. The King's Arms, however, takes this up a significant notch (perhaps even two notches). Toilets that one needs wellies to navigate in order to avoid dyeing their shoes a gorgeous fluorescent yellow? A private function room that, once booked, requires guests to keep the door wide open to the rest of the pub? A bar that, upon approach, treats you to a glare from the bar staff, followed by a detailed lecture on the importance of bringing the proper identification papers? One can expect all this and more at the King's Arms, which takes an innovative, unfriendly approach to hospitality. Perhaps the days of a warm welcome are over. I, for one, rather enjoyed being berated by a man resembling an aardvark. Would certainly recommend.

Good food great atmosphere but a bit expensive. Don't like not having a tab

One of my favourite pubs in Oxford. Good beer, the food is ok, but most importantly it gives its customers a bit of physical space. Next time I'm in Oxford, I'll pop in.

We had booked one of the private rooms for a function, the hosts were well organised and made the evening a great success. Food and beer most agreeable. If you are hosting a private party, this would be a top venue.

Lovely old English pub, but the gents toilets are rank! Mould growing out of the ceiling, I am sorry its 2024 not 1968.

We had a really good Christmas meal here. The food was lovely, fireplace was lit, and the staff were great!

Best pint of Guinness in England

Service was amazing even though It was really busy our waitress Hannah S was surperb and quick to deal with any issues we had 10/10 would recommend

always a favourite of ours for a post work drink, lovely staff and food and nice atmosphere:)

Nice dog friendly pub, spacious establishment with plenty of tables able to accommodate groups of people. Toilets downstairs are a bit aromatic despite being very clean(partly aroma and partly damp as it's cellar level).

The King's Arms in Oxford, located at 40 Holywell Street, is one of the city’s most historic and beloved pubs. Founded in 1607, it has long been a gathering place for students, locals, and visitors alike, creating an atmosphere that combines Oxford’s scholarly charm with a warm, lively pub environment. It’s situated conveniently near the heart of the university and some of its iconic colleges, including the Bodleian Library, making it a favorite spot for university students, professors, and tourists. Inside, the pub boasts classic decor, including dark wood paneling, low-beamed ceilings, and snug corners that evoke a sense of timeless English tradition. Known for its selection of cask ales, the King's Arms offers a variety of beers from local and regional breweries, along with an excellent menu of traditional pub fare. The outdoor seating area is especially popular during the warmer months, allowing patrons to enjoy views of Oxford's charming architecture while socializing. The King's Arms is also steeped in history; it has been a hub for academic discussion and debate over centuries, frequented by scholars and even notable figures associated with Oxford. Today, it still retains that academic spirit while offering a cozy, welcoming atmosphere for everyone who visits.

Lovely place! Went in for a drink and loved the atmosphere. Their mulled cider was delicious- would recommend! Great service, smiling faces. There is a certain warmth in this place overall that I really enjoyed.

The place to be even after 41 years. The beer is delicious anyway

Love the pork pies and scotch eggs. Excellent chicken skillet pie. Cozy atmosphere.

So pretty yet so busy. This is more a restaurant than a pub. Great atmosphere tho but be prepared to wait.

Might be the best pub food in Oxford, it’s definitely up there!

Excellent Sunday lunch for a big family party of 12. Food was very good and reasonably priced (for the centre of Oxford). Very friendly staff and excellent atmosphere with a great mix of Town and Gown.

Delicious food. Lively atmosphere. Friendly service.

Incredible experience!! Beautiful place and excellent food.

The ideal place to share a moment with friends. The Kings arm is comfortable and welcoming. They have a good selection of beers and the food is comforting. A special mention to Pav who gave me a souvenir of the pub. Many thanks for that!

Fantastic staff, above and beyond service, food was really tasty - can't wait to come back again!

Location wise, it's right in the heart of Oxford campus, so you get a mixture of students & locals & tourists in there which is lovely. Now, I've been to this pub on and off for several years and have always had somewhat good experiences, but today I was utterly disgusted to the point where I felt sick. The male bathroom is quite literally filled with mould all over the place, especially the ceiling and to call it disgusting would be an understatement - it was a hell hole. I'd say it was the most disgusting pub I've been to in my whole life, not exaggerating here. How this pub operates with such hygiene standards is beyond shocking to say the least.

Great atmosphere, good selection of beers, other drinks and food, quick service and super-helpful staff.

“Had the pleasure of enjoying a Sunday roast here, and it was exceptional! The beef roast was served incredibly quickly and the portion size was more than generous. The meat was tender and full of flavor, paired perfectly with all the traditional sides. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the staff were attentive and friendly, making the whole experience even better. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a hearty roast and great service!”

Very cosy place, good beer and atmosphere.

Realmente disfruté de la vibra y gran selección de bebidas! Pub céntrico con bonito interior en Oxford. Disfrutaré de volver pronto!

Fantástico lugar y un verdadero centro de estudiantes! Entorno encantador, siempre un lugar favorito para visitar. Haz una visita si estás en Oxford

Nice pub with character. Unsuitable for people who struggle with stairs, but that’s due to being an old building.

Best pub in Oxford, always have a great time in here, would really recommend a visit ! They get unbelievably busy on weekends so please cut slack for them during these times !

Good scotch eggs, but starters were average and mains were really poor. The house burger was burnt and looked thrown together and the fries were no better than MacDonald’s and had to be sent back as they are actually cold. Very disappointing as the pub is lovely.

Had a lovely private party in the wadham room. Lovely room, great vibe, good service, from the the Kings arms crew- Matt, luke, Pav. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to have an intimate do xx

It's their #youngs193 moment and I got a free badgeeee!! I luv it as I got a golden ticket which acc I should get a free drink but they are friendly to let me get what I want. Thank you :)

We’ve been recommended to discover this Oxford emblematic place (there must be reasons - maybe not the right time for us). We were completely ignored by the staff, first, after trying to calling out to a first waiter when we were standing to ask for dinner, same with second one. We decided to sit at a free table but no one still payed attention at all. We left feeling like undesirable ghosts and wondering about the sense of customer service at King Arms…

This place is amazing , I guess 450 year old pub which hasn’t changed, a classic English pub .. Its age and its decor are its charm, A true piece of Oxford.

Nice atmosphere but avoid the vegan Sunday roast! It was bland and dry due to no vegan gravy. Not sure how you can serve a roast the way they served it. I also received it after everyone else at the table finished their meals despite the fact that I was one of the first to order and pay at the bar.

One of the best roast dinners we've ever had , especially the beef ! Lovely staff !!

Dave was so awesome and explained the scotch egg recipe and shared the special coasters with us. Great place, great environment and great staff!

Over the past 50 years, the KA has been my family’s go-to pub whenever we are in Oxford. The beer, as always, is as good as ever, but paying £12.50 for an average pork pie and scotch egg with crisps seems a bit excessive to me. However, Oxford tourists are accustomed to paying high prices in my city, so perhaps it’s time to find a pub outside of the city.

Ate, food was delicious. Had a reservation but didn't have to.

Thanks Matt for keeping my phone for me- thought it was lost

Wonderful atmosphere. Really nice staff. And I just love the puppy treat station they have by the bar.

Beautiful interior, nice vibe. Expensive but not extreme!

A very good Pub in Oxford. The ambience and atmosphere are excellent. The food is great and of course the beer is great and it is the most popular student pub in Oxford.

Great atmosphere and food. Burger was outstanding, pudding delicious. Spacious room and friendly staff.

Nice pub in the city Center close by to the university. Atmosphere inside and out is great. It’s open and light which makes a nice difference to many pubs. Would recommend if your in the area.

We reserved a room for 20+ people and the arrangements were simple, clear, and easy. Staff were professional and swift to respond to our needs.

Generally very good - not the first time here. But I have to say I had the fish in chips again this time and it seems very different than previous and also what others were served (looks tiny and very sad in comparison with what I’ve seen others were served). Hopefully it’s just a “lemon” and not some issue with consistency of food quality/quantify.

Didn't order Scotch egg was a bit dry but ok Very good service staff The bar looks fine outside The direction you walk into the toilet The design of the bar and space is very clever and exquisite. Very unique bar...

Thanks Dave. Great food and service

Always go to Kings Arms when I am in Oxford!!

In recent years the quality of English cuisine has definitely risen in terms of the quality of the ingredients, their combination and perfect cooking. It is always easier to find complete and balanced dishes. In my case the dish consisted of a bed of capers, small roasted potatoes in their skins, herbs similar to wild asparagus, a slice of salmon trout with a rosette of salted butter at room temperature on top. All cooked excellently and with distinct flavors but which combined perfectly. Excellent beers and absolutely adequate prices. From my experience absolutely recommended.

Excellent pub experience. Visit everytime I'm in Oxford

We had the burger. Id give it a 6/10. It was alright taste wise. The fries were double fried which wasn’t great.

Pretty decent pub. Staff nice. Bit expensive, even for Oxford. Very very busy when I was there. Not a place for a quiet pint but if you want to be somewhere buzzing with people it is a good spot.

Excellent pub! Delicious food and great beer choices on tap. Lovely experience with friendly staff. Highly recommend!

Best pub in Oxford! Great Atmosphere with a wide range of ales to choose from. I was served by Richard and Matt who were both very friendly and helpful in making recommendations. Enjoyed the Kings Arms Burger and washed it down with pint of Young’s Special. Staff provided great service and were very welcoming. Highly recommend the Kings Arms for anyone visiting Oxford! Looking forward to my next visit!

Went during lunch time - very busy - reflected on the waiting time for dishes (not their fault but we had to wait nearly 45 minutes for the food ). Ideally located for seeing the major attractions. Limited vegetarian options.

Great pub, lovely food, and even better staff.

Rich and the team looked after us really bloody good. Sorted us a nice table and we had a really good meal 😋 We shall be back!

One of my very favourite pubs on the planet. Home made park pies ans Scotch eggs are sublime. The fabric of the building is a joy, walls largely wood panelled with a lovely old patina. Well worth a visit.

Very good dinner considering it was the Euro finals, England vs Spain

Apperantly, the staff is oblivious to the fact that the beer is supposed to be served cold, at least above room temperature. (Mind you, this is a very old bar which you would expect some experience regarding beer.) You can encounter very poor attitude when you tell them that. I have been served another beer like it was charity, which I paid for lol. Good ambience and potential is wasted that way.

Beer a little expensive, overall nice place.

Site to avoid. The worst experience in the UK. Some of the service was rude (although today you can't say it without sounding racist, the Hindu), slow in service (45 minutes for 1 sandwich and 3 pies), inconsiderate, dirty (we had to ask them to clean the table). The food, what is expected of British food. Good beers.

This place is amazing, great atmosphere, and lovely and accommodating staff.

Whenever I'm in Oxford I call in at The King's Arms. There's a great selection of food and drink, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff are helpful and courteous. Make sure you visit if you're planning a trip to Oxford!

Long wait for rather stodgy uninspired sandwiches. Others ordered after us and were served first. Great old pub so it was a shame.

Decent pub but the smell of deep-fried food was not pleasant. Better ventilation would be welcome!

Tremendous service, could not imagine a more polished customer experience. Truly a sight to behold.

Pie unbelievable, Sunday roast the best we’ve had in ages, staff went above and beyond, great vibes

Best pub in Oxford in the best location, working here must be an absolute dream Barman called Gabriel's an interesting one

Friendly welcoming staff who were knowledgeable and hospitable. There was a great range of ales, the 2 pints I enjoyed with our dinner seemed very well looked after. Our food was of great portion, hot and tasty. We'll definately be returning and recommending this great old pub+

This place NEVER disappoints. Such polite and able bar staff ably shepherded by excellent manager, Matt.

Over £22 for two pies and two beer shandies. What is the world coming two ?

Beautiful pub located in a prime location !

Great for a big group, food was lovely!

Great fish and chips, fair price, good Bohemian beer, and nice wait staff.

Booked for father's day 2 weeks in advance. Didn't have a great experience here 2 months ago but before that, it was always excellent. Had a 15.15 reservation. Was told on arrival that there was over 1hr 30 mins waiting time for food. Absolute disgrace. Won't be spending my money there again.

"I had the pleasure of experiencing the best Sunday lunch ever at The Kings Arms in Oxford. The roast beef was succulent and perfectly cooked, accompanied by roast potatoes and vegetables that were nothing short of exceptional. But that's not all; the beer they served was superb, complementing the meal wonderfully. The warm and pleasant atmosphere of the pub added to the overall charm of the experience. If you're looking for an unforgettable Sunday lunch, I highly recommend The Kings Arms. It's an absolute gem in the heart of Oxford."

A lovely pub with lots of history and a great atmosphere, the food is tasty and the staff friendly, I will definitely be back, highly recommended

I made a booking a week in advance and they set up a really nice table for us. Everyone here is SO friendly and kind. They were running around nonstop on a busy Friday and still went out of their way to check in on us multiple times. I still had never had a scotch egg before and was excited to try them. They were quite good but I'd recommend not going too heavy on the mustard. I thought I would need more than I did LOL and the mustard is actually very strong. We also ordered the salad, steak and ale pie, and the fish and chips. The fish was super crispy, the pie was delicious, and my dad loved the salad. For dessert, we had two orders of the sticky toffee pudding and it was the best that I've ever had! I make it at home and I'm going to try to recreate it because I loved it so much. 10/10 amazing service despite how busy it was. This was one of our favorite meals during our trip because of how good the food is and how nice everyone was. Highly recommend if you are in Oxford!

It did take a bit of time to receive our food, but it gave us time to talk. but the food was excellent. The sticky toffee pudding was definitely a stand-out!

A lovely pub in the heart of the city, I’ve frequented many times over the years for drinks. Thought I’d finally try the food. A little pricey and the food portions were a tad small. The gravy was quite watery and sausages were overcooked. Think I’d just stick to drinks in future.

I had the worst experience here today. This is our local pub and we use to go here a lot and looks like staff have changed. We won’t ever be coming back. We went and sat down under gazebo as that’s where it said they were ordering food (first come first serve) I went over to a lady description: half shaved head and blue frame glasses. I had asked “is it possible we can have a food menu please?” And she said “yeah, did you sit down yourself or get hosted to sit there?” And I said “we just sat down outside as it said we could only order food here.” She replied “ok in future please get hosted to sit down” and gave me the menu and she said “I will come over to take our order soon”. I apologised to her as I didn’t know we had to get hosted before as no signs anywhere explaining that. We then were ready order 5minutes after looking at the menu and she went round and took peoples orders who arrived after us when she knew we were looking over trying to make eye contact , even so we were so patient. 30mins went by and I finally got her attention by waving. She then came over and said “sorry about that, what would you like?” And I responded “two bacon and chicken ciabatta sandwiches please, that’s all thank you”. And then 1 hour went by and still no food. People were getting served who had arrived after us and I also had a newborn baby with me. She kept consciously looking over at us and didn’t even have the decency to come and tell us what was going on considering we had a crying baby in the sun and I really feel like it was done out of spite because we wasn’t “hosted” to our seat. I do not think it takes over an hour to cook a sandwich and even so if something went wrong in the kitchen or had delays why is there no update to anyone especially when someone has a newborn baby. We ended up walking out after waiting a total of 2 hours to get served and also waiting for food. If that was done out of spite that is disgusting as I had our little baby with us who was getting distressed being sat in the sun. I think you should really have words with your staff. Really unprofessional. They should be updating their customers and not ignore them when trying to get their attention. Won’t be coming back.

Disappointing...we ordered two Sunday roasts and the gravy was very watery. No flavour, no thickness. The potatoes were just cooked, none of the lovely perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside potatoes we have come to expect in England. There were enough soft greens to wish we had ordered the fish and chips. Really a third class meal.

Classic pub near Oxford. Has great cider and other drinks like any other pub. Interior is nice. Sticky Toffee Pudding is a classic, although a warning that it’s very very sweet. Aperol spritz was okay. You should get cider.

Had a lovely meal. Great, friendly service - received an apology (which was not at all needed) due to the fact that things were ‘a bit frantic due to reduced staff levels’ but we really wouldn’t known. Must be even better when at capacity 🙂

Was happy to see the pub is still going strong after 10 years of being able to visit. Food was absolutely incredible, staff and atmosphere great as ever.

Haven't visited The King's Arms for a few years. Very busy on the Saturday afternoon I was there. Had a pint of Youngs Ordinary...(now called Original) and a pint of Youngs Special. Both beers were in good condition. Nice pub, worth visiting. I will go back again soon.

Cozy pub popular with tourists with delicious beers and good food. Fast service and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Fish and chips impeccable.