The Eagle and Child (Oxford)

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The Eagle and Child in St Giles', Oxford, England is particularly popular with university students.

It has become the destination for literary pilgrimages because of its reputation as the haunt of the Inklings from 1939 to 1962. The Inklings was a writers' group which included J. R. R. Tolkien (of Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fame) and C. S. Lewis. They met there every Tuesday morning to drink and talk, usually in an area at the back of the pub, which was then a private sitting room and is now known as the Rabbit Room. Contrary to popular impression (and also contrary to the plaque posted in the pub), the Inklings did not read their manuscripts to each other in the pub: these readings took place at evening meetings usually in Lewis's college rooms. The Inklings changed allegiance in 1962 by moving across St Giles' to the Lamb and Flag pub, but it is the Eagle and Child's Rabbit Room that attracts visitors.

www.headington.org.uk/oxon/stgiles/tour/west/48_49_eagl...