King's Arms in Oxford

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!

Delicious food. Lively atmosphere. Friendly service.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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 :)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Very friendly pub at a very touristic Spot.

Quite possibly the best ham egg & chips I have ever had. Husband had the fish & chips & said much the same thing about his meal

This pub, with its roots dating back to 1400, is an absolute treasure. The interior is simply charming, and the beef burger? Absolutely divine! While the famous pork pie didn't quite hit the mark for me, the old-world vibe of the place more than makes up for it. Don't miss the chance to enjoy a pint here!

Strange customers, bar staff are bad at pouring cask ales (have had to ask for 2 refills), and staff seem narky-it’s a lovely pub as the location and building are great, but don’t rely on that! Aspire to be better! This could be an amazing pub, instead it’s just average and could be so easily fixed with a bit of training!

The building is fantastic and in a great part of Oxford. The food mediocre and the service was shocking, rude in fact. Dirty glasses, lots of stuff on menu unavailable I won’t rush back.

A great pub, recommend the pork pie and fish & chips. Good selection of local ales as well as the more well known brands. Ordering at the bar may take some time when it is busy, toilets are a bit smelly but that is expected in such a busy place.

A great pub really friendly staff a very warm and welcoming atmosphere with great food to boot highly recommended.

Top quality pub food. The staff were amazing serving a very large group. Try the pork pies and scotch eggs!

Food was ok. Service below average. Beautiful pub but not atmosphere and staff seemed bored and uninterested. Shame because it was Easter lunch I was looking forward to.

This pub serves the types of of food that reinforces the negative stereotypes of British food. We ordered sausages and mash and a burger. The mashed potatoes were lumpy and tasteless, the gravy was watery and bland, and the sausages had almost no flavor. And the burger tasted like overcooked meatloaf. The local beer (Shotover Prospect) was terrific though. Come here to drink, not to eat.

I went for drinks, loved it, the location is also a plus

Really nice pub in the centre of Oxford - lovely team and great food.

Great place. Welcoming. Sreat service. Winner all round

Wonderful authentic pub with long history, great food

I recently visited this pub and was really disappointed with the service and cleanliness. The staff seemed uninterested in assisting customers, and the place wasn't hygienic at all. ( no joke there was knife and forks just left on the side in a bucket ). The food was okay but the gravy was water. It was not the welcoming atmosphere I was hoping for, and I think there's a lot of room for improvement.

One of our favorite pubs when we visit Oxford!❤️❤️

Barman unable to give me the correct drinks after I read him the list I had twice, didn't know what a half was so gave me pints and they were Shandy's not Bitter that I had asked for. Plates were cold, fish and chips were cold, no crab in the crab cake and it was also cold. Very disappointed as we had visitors from Switzerland wanting to try traditional English food and we said your pub would be the best for that, how wrong we were.

We had a great a great time, service was excellent, good food, very filling and drinks tasted great. We were a bit of a difficult table to serve due to weird requests but Dylan was brilliant and we thoroughly enjoyed our time.