The Bear Inn on Alfred Street is one of Oxford's oldest and most characterful pubs, with a licence dating to 1242. The interior is exactly what you hope for: low beams, flagstone floors, wooden furniture worn smooth by centuries of use, and walls and ceiling covered entirely by glass-fronted cases displaying thousands of snipped neckties. It is tiny by modern standards and gets busy in the evenings, but the lunchtime crowd is more manageable.
The pub serves real ales alongside the usual range, and the small outdoor area is pleasant in summer. The location — just off the High Street, a minute's walk from Christ Church and the covered market — makes it the obvious choice for a pint after visiting the nearby colleges. It is genuinely historic rather than merely old-looking, and the tie collection is a legitimate oddity worth seeing. The pub is owned by the Fuller's chain but retains much of its old character.