The Perch, Binsey
The Perch is a thatched pub in the hamlet of Binsey, on the north-west edge of Oxford, close to the Thames and overlooking Port Meadow. The building is Grade II listed and has a long literary association with Lewis Carroll, which makes it a favourite end point for a riverside walk out of the city.
Photos
The Perch
A very old inn
An inn is said to have stood here for around 800 years. The present building was begun in the 17th century and completed in the 18th, with plastered rubble walls and a thatched roof, plus later red-brick additions. It survived serious fires in 1977 and 2007, and reopened in September 2008 after the second. The older thatched range and the later brick wings sit side by side, so you can read the building's history from the outside.
The Alice connection
Lewis Carroll was a regular here, and The Perch is noted as one of the first places he gave public readings of Alice in Wonderland. Binsey itself has other Alice links, which makes the pub a natural stop for anyone following Oxford's literary trail. Fans of the books can make a short literary pilgrimage of it, combining the walk, the pub and the story.
How to visit
Most visitors arrive on foot across Port Meadow or along the Thames, making a gentle circuit from Jericho. The Trout Inn at Wolvercote is under two kilometres away if you want a longer pub-to-pub walk. Come in fine weather to enjoy the setting, or on a cold day when a thatched pub feels at its best. The Ox by Olivia Musgrave and the Premier Inn at Botley are also within about two kilometres.
Highlights
- Grade II-listed thatched building
- Lewis Carroll read Alice here
- Overlooks Port Meadow
- Close to the Thames Path
- Rebuilt after fires in 1977 and 2007
Good to know
- Easy to combine with a walk across Port Meadow.
- Check with the pub directly (01865 728891) for current food service and table booking.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: en.wikipedia.org