The French House

Switch your mobile off and never, ever order a pint – they only do halves so you’ll just look like a dick. Now, settle back and enjoy the theatric eccentricity played out before you in the pub where amongst Francis Bacon, Brendhan Behan and General De Gaul, Dylan Thomas reputedly lost the manuscript for Under Milkwood. A fine place.

The French House is Soho's legendary boho boozer (with a good restaurant downstairs) with a history to match: this was the meeting place of the Free French Forces during WWII, and De Gaulle is said to have drunk here often, while Dylan Thomas, Peter O'Toole and Francis Bacon all frequently ended up on the wooden floors. Come here to sip on Ricard, French wine or Kronenbourg and check out the quirky locals.