A free guide to the history of Oxford's most famous pubs is now available.

The new Oxford Classic Pub Walk has been written by Jane Curran, chairman of the Oxford Guild of Guides and a Blue Badge Guide. It focuses on five watering holes. They include The Crown in Cornmarket Street, a favourite haunt of William Shakespeare, while The White Horse in Broad Street, built in 1700, was where fictional detective Inspector Morse enjoyed a break from crime-busting.

The Bear Inn in Alfred Street, also included in the guide, is reputedly Oxford's smallest pub and is said to be built over a bearpit. It also has a collection of 3,000 ties donated by customers, including celebrities.

Antiquity Hall, Hythe Bridge Street, previously known as The Nag's Head, is a canal-side pub. Its doors open on to the area where barges weretied up.

The final entry is the Eagle and Child, St Giles, which dates back to 1666 and was a favourite of JRR Tolkien, creator of Lord of the Rings, and CS Lewis, who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia. The guides are available from the pubs or by calling 0121 420 6034.