Best traditional pubs in London

You’ll have to venture off Fleet Street, down a very narrow alley, to find the legendary Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. This London institution features many fascinating rooms connected by tight passageways and cosy fireplaces. Its gloomy charm made Charles Dickens a regular here; while Dr. Samuel Johnson, whose London home was just around the corner, is also said to have been a visitor.

Historic The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead boasts an impressive literary heritage, featuring in Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers and in Dracula by Bram Stoker. While not the oldest pub in London, the building has been around since 1585. This romantic pub also inspired Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale, which was allegedly written in its beautiful garden. Relax on the big beer terrace on a summer’s day, or get cosy by the roaring fire on cold winter evenings.

Charles Dickens’ old favourite the Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden dates back to 1772, and it has seen all kinds of people passing through its doors. In the early 19th century, this traditional London pub was popular for brutal bare-knuckle fighting, which earned it the name of “The Bucket of Blood”. Today, the old charm survives in a friendlier setting, together with excellent real ale and jazz nights on the last Sunday of the month.

Head to Wapping, on the north bank of the Thames, to find what is thought to be London’s oldest riverside pub, the Prospect of Whitby. Dating back to 1520, the pub was a meeting place for sailors, thieves, smugglers and pirates, as well as being one of Samuel Pepys' favourite watering holes. Try some great cask ales at the old pewter-top bar and enjoy spectacular views of the river from the terrace.

Legend has it, sometime in the late 19th century, a young grenadier named Cedric was killed in a public house in Belgravia, having been caught cheating at a game of cards. Head to The Grenadier for a chance to spot his ghost wandering the pub’s mysterious nooks, and take part in the tradition of attaching banknotes to the ceiling – that’s the only way to redeem Cedric’s soul, apparently.

Discover the only surviving galleried inn in the capital, which is also among the oldest pubs in London. Now belonging to the National Trust, The George Inn boasts several beautiful rooms and a traditional restaurant upstairs, where the inn’s bedrooms for weary travellers used to be located. Dickens visited the site when it was a coffee house and mentioned it in his novel Little Dorrit.

Visit historic Ye Olde Mitre in Holborn for top-notch real ales, delicious homemade bar snacks and its celebrated sandwiches. Constructed in 1546, the pub is famous for hosting a cherry tree that Elizabeth I once danced around with Sir Christopher Hatton and also featured in cult movie Snatch. 

A pub has been on the site of this Mayfair stalwart since 1423, and since 1952 it’s become the go-to place for pies and grilled meats – in particular aged steaks served in The Guinea Grill's restaurant. Take in the historic decor and enjoy beers supplied by Young's London brewery.

It's from centuries-old Anchor Bankside that Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of London rage in 1666. Discover one of the most famous pubs on the Thames, and imagine stepping back in time to when the area was at the centre of Shakespeare’s “theatreland”; with the Globe Theatre being a few steps away. Come in the summer to make the most of the impressive outdoor space on the Thames.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Thames from The Cutty Sark's wide Georgian windows, and feast on a traditional Sunday roast as you watch the world go by. This Greenwich institution is more than 200 years old and offers an impressive list of draught beers, lovely decor and a fantastic riverside terrace.

Travel back in time at The Grapes, a charming riverside pub in Limehouse owned by actor Sir Ian McKellen. Charles Dickens used to visit his godfather in the area, and he mentions the pub in the opening chapter of Our Mutual Friend. Stop for a pint, and get lost in the pages of the famous author – The Grapes features a cosy parlour filled with its writings.

Established in 1602, cosy Holborn spot The Seven Stars is housed in a Grade II-listed building that was one of the few taverns in the area to survive the Great Fire of London. Stay for some good, honest home-cooking and a choice of ales.

A true hidden gem, tucked away in Rotherhithe, The Mayflower stands close to where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail in 1620 for what is now the United States. Expect stunning views of the river, an open fireplace and delicious British dishes, plus lots of charm. The Mayflower is also the only pub in London with a licence to sell stamps, in memory of the seafarers who once stopped here for a pint and a postage stamp.

Take a break from exploring one of most historic parts of London at The Viaduct Tavern, near St Paul’s Cathedral. Said to be built on the site of a former prison, this wonderful public house and gin palace still has five cells visible in the basement. Try the flawless gin and tonics, served with block ice and cool garnishes, and look out for the old booth where the Victorian landlady used to sell gin tokens to customers.

Step into a little piece of France at The French House in Soho. Famous for serving beer by half pints, this lively pub has a “no music, no phones” rule, preserving the chatty atmosphere. Since opening as the York Minster in 1891, it’s seen the likes of Dylan Thomas, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud pass through its doors.