🍺Top 10 Historic Pubs in London
The history of London pubs goes back several centuries. For centuries, these establishments served not just as a place of leisure, but as an important social center where people exchanged news, intrigued, and, of course, drank beer and ale. It's very difficult to find a bad pub in London. There is also a problem with the best – many people claim this title. We've selected a few pubs that you definitely shouldn't miss when visiting London..
If you start a conversation with an Englishman, he will definitely tell you about his favorite pub. He will also remember the one where he drank beer for the first time, and share other interesting stories. The word “pub” comes from the English “public house”, which literally means “public house”, that is, an establishment where people gather. Just imagine: in London alone there are more than 3.5 thousand such places.
Most pubs have a rich past, some are overgrown with legends, but they have two things in common: a cozy atmosphere and a wide selection of low- alcohol drinks. If you want to immerse yourself in the old days, have a delicious meal and have a heartfelt conversation, go to a pub. And the best way to do this is in one of the colorful establishments with its own fascinating history.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
The pub has been around since 1538 and is one of the few places to be rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The name of the establishment literally translates as “Old Cheshire Cheese”. Located on Fleet Street, which was once the center of printing. So journalists and writers are former frequent guests of the establishment. Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle and other famous personalities raised their glasses here.
Three small dining rooms serve “old-time” English dishes: steak, kidney pie, fish and chips and apple pie with custard. And by going down into the cellar with a stone floor strewn with sawdust, and sitting down at an oak table, you can taste traditional Yorkshire draft beer.
Many nooks and small rooms, walls lined with dark wood, fireplaces and antique furnishings attract tourists like a magnet. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a pub and a museum rolled into one pint. At the entrance there is a sign with the names of 15 monarchs who ruled England during the establishment's existence, as if hinting that power changes, but the pub is eternal.
The Churchill Arms
“Churchill's Arms,” as this pub is called, is one of the most unusual and beautiful establishments in West London. From the outside it cannot be confused with anything – the entire façade is covered with flowers. For the Christmas holidays, the flowers are replaced with fir trees, and the building itself lights up with thousands of LED lights.
The interior can surprise even more: pots, mugs, basins, hats and a bunch of other antique items hang from the ceiling. It was as if the pub owner was collecting everything he could get his hands on and dragging it inside. Creative disorder manifests itself in everything. Think about it: an English pub with Thai cuisine, run by an Irishman.
The establishment is very welcoming, and the carpet on the floor creates an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. Inside you can meet local residents, workers of nearby offices, and tourists. Order yourself a glass of English beer with shrimp, go to the back patio, more like a winter garden, and enjoy all this splendor surrounded by flowers.
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Ye Olde Miter
Unlike the previous establishment, the Ye Olde Miter pub is not so easy to find. He is hiding in a small alley between Hatton Garden and Ely Place streets. If you don't know where to go, you can easily get lost. Several varieties of excellent ales and ciders, delicious homemade snacks, excellent old-fashioned service – these are the qualities of a true pub that Ye Olde Miter has.
It was built back in 1547 as a dining place for the servants of the Bishop of Ili. The pub is overgrown with many stories and legends. The local bartender will be happy to share them if you ask him politely. One of these legends says that Queen Elizabeth I herself danced around the table here on May Day.
A cozy pub cannot boast of large dining rooms and rich cuisine. The most you can order from food is a couple of toasts or a pork pie. But you don’t need more to drink a couple of pints of ale and plunge into the world of old England. A scene from Guy Ritchie’s film “Snatch” was also filmed here.
The Lamb
The Harp is a traditional British pub with a rich history. An interesting detail preserved from the Victorian era is the special frosted glass panels above the bar counter for snobs. These panels were very popular in the 1890s. Their goal is to hide the visitor’s face from the bartender at the time of ordering. There is also a polyphone here – a distant ancestor of the CD player.
The establishment adheres to traditions, so inside you will not see TVs or hear music – only live communication. When entering, it is recommended to switch your smartphone to silent mode and postpone all telephone conversations until later. The menu has a huge selection of all kinds of drinks: from cask ales to various beers from small breweries. The pub was once named a top pub by the independent voluntary organization for the promotion of real ale.
Princess Louise
This pub was built in 1872. He was named after the daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Despite the fact that the establishment is not in the safest area of London, it is an example of the best Victorian style pub. The pub is even recognized as a national treasure of the country.
From the outside it doesn’t stand out in anything special, but once you go inside, you are immediately transported to another era: a beautiful marble floor, everything is covered in wood, antique stained glass windows on the windows. Even the handles of the beer dispensing guns are hand-engraved. It feels like every corner of the place is made by hand.
The main attraction and pride of the establishment are the only Victorian urinals that have survived in England to this day.
The Star Tavern
This establishment is known as one of the best places for “real” ale in the country. Situated in a listed Georgian building. This is one of the few pubs to have featured in every annual edition of The Good Beer Guide for 50 years.
The Star Tavern is like a savannah watering hole where lion and antelope can drink side by side. In the 1950s and early 1960s, London gangsters could be seen drinking with the nobility at this establishment. According to the sign, this tavern was once the site of the Great Multi-Million Pound Train Robbery of 1964.
The emphasis at Star Tavern is on excellent service, good beer and homemade food in a casual setting. The menu includes classic English dishes: steaks, pies, fish and chips and hearty Sunday roasts. But the main feature of the establishment is quality beer. Much of it is brewed at Fullers Brewery on the banks of the River Thames.
The Ten Bells
At first glance, this is another 18th century pub with an old interior and excellent beer. But in fact, this is a creepy place associated with the name of Jack the Ripper. They say that it was here that the famous maniac met the second and fifth of his victims: Annie Chapman and Mary Janet. This story gave the establishment a sinister, but at the same time attractive reputation. Therefore, lovers of scary stories are frequent guests.
In 1976, the pub was even renamed “Jack the Ripper”. However, 12 years later, the city authorities decided that this was too much, and returned the establishment to its former name. By the way, The Ten Bells can be seen in the film “From Hell” starring Johnny Depp.
The Grenadier Pub
If stories about a famous serial killer don’t scare you much, then a visit to The Grenadier Pub will certainly make you turn around in a dark alley more than once. Dedicated to the soldiers of the British army, the establishment is extremely popular not only for its good beer, friendly atmosphere and excellent location, but also for its own ghost inside.
According to legend, one grenadier was caught cheating during a game and beaten to death. No one remembers what year it was, but it was definitely in September. Rumor has it that the ghost of a dead soldier visits the pub on September evenings. Sometimes he lifts objects into the air and rattles dishes in deserted rooms. You can see for yourself how true these stories are. The pub is included in the “Ghosts of London” tourist program.
The Viaduct Tavern, an old pub built on the site of a prison, also enjoys a similar reputation. The tavern's cellars once housed cells for prisoners. There you can hear chilling sounds, and a lonely worker will certainly receive a mystical touch from behind.
The Punch Bowl
British film director Guy Ritchie, known for such films as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Revolver and The Gentlemen, is a true connoisseur of pubs. Therefore, in 2008, together with his then-wife Madonna, he purchased “Punch Bowl” – this is how this establishment is translated.
Opened in 1750, The Punch Bowl had a gentleman's reputation. However, with the change of owners, it was involved in a number of scandals. At first, the star couple was accused of artificially inflating alcohol prices. Later, divorce proceedings and the division of the pub began. It was then nearly closed due to noise complaints from local residents.
But for a truly English pub that has stood for centuries, this is all childish pranks. Today it is not only an excellent establishment, but also a favorite place of English stars. The doors are also always open for the average tourist. If you are a celebrity hunter, then another place worth visiting is Lore of the Land. By the way, it was opened by Guy Ritchie together with former football star David Beckham. You might even be able to meet them.