We're building up our London Relocation Guide to make it the greatest guide to London living possible. We've already covered a list of our top 10 picks for restaurants near Old Street, and now we're going to cover one of the most beloved aspects of English culture: pubs! Pubs are an integral part of England’s landscape, and London is the perfect place to find a great pub. There is many a place to wet your whistle in old Londontown, and while they all have their individual charms we think that these 10 are the best for nostalgia and tradition.
The George Inn is London’s only surviving coaching inn. Owned by the National Trust, this is a very popular historical pub with locals and tourists alike. It was even visited by Charles Dickens.
Dating back to 1520, this old nautical pub is right next to the Thames on a quiet street and contains the original flagstone floor. The decor makes it easy to imagine what the first patrons might have seen, honest workers and smugglers alike.
Another historical riverside pub, the Anchor boasts of a rather grim history involving grave sites and the plague. No matter the historical associations, the current atmosphere is much friendlier.
Placed on the site of previous pubs, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was well known in the 17th century. It was burned down in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt. Once you find the pub in a narrow alleyway, its charm will draw you in and keep you there for a few drinks.
Built in Covent Garden in 1787, the pub is named after the Punch and Judy puppet performances that were performed for children in the same area. Much of the original brickwork is still in tact, and the balcony is a great spot to watch street performers.
Occasionally frequented by George Orwell, and containing a room of the same name, the Dog and Duck is a Soho landmark with connections to literary history and a great ale selection.
The Lamb is a preserved Victorian pub with faded photos and paintings and an 18th century facade. The surviving snob screens take you back to a time when social classes didn’t dare mix.
This eclectic pub has several claims to fame, including a meeting between Lenin and Stalin in 1905, and being the spot where Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett filmed scenes from “Notes on a Scandal.”
This old tavern might be difficult to find through a back alley, but it claims that Queen Elizabeth I once danced around a cherry tree here. Regardless of the story’s truth, Ye Olde Mitre is a must-see pub.
Currently owned by Sir Ian McKellen, this cozy pub has antique detailing, frosted windows, historic portraits, dark wood paneling, and many old Dickens volumes to add to its historical riverside charm.