20 travel destinations inspired by Lord of the Rings

The Eagle and Child – Oxford, U.K.

The Official C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien Walking Tour brings visitors to a number of the pubs the authors frequented during their time in Oxford. For fans who would prefer to skip the tour, the most notable pub to visit would be The Eagle and Child. The pub is still serving customers today, and it lists being a “watering hole” for the famous writers as one of its most esteemed accomplishments.

The reason The Eagle and Child bears so much significance for Tolkien enthusiasts is because it’s where Tolkien and Lewis often met to discuss their ideas and writing—yes, for both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia series. If that isn’t enough to attract fantasy lovers, the pub boasts an even bigger background in the literary world.

To make The Eagle and Child’s literary history even more interesting, a group called The Inklings frequently held lunch meetings in its private lounge, also known as the “Rabbit Room.” The Inklings were a group of Oxford writers, including Tolkien and Lewis, who discussed and read their works with one another. In fact, Lewis purportedly even distributed copies of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe at one of The Inklings’ meetings.

Sadly, The Eagle and Child doesn’t host writing parties today, though it does offer, on top of its fascinating history, a delicious menu of food and drinks. It’s a great place for Tolkien fans to grab lunch or dinner during their journey around Oxford, and we’re willing to bet the food and drinks taste even better than they did during Tolkien’s time.