historic pub walking tour london

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London Historical Pub Walking Tour

Our London pub tour takes you to some of the most historic pubs and watering holes in the city. It’s a great way to get a feel for one of Britain’s most famous cultural pastimes. You’ll get to visit London’s most famous pubs & ale houses on a guided afternoon walk. Your entertaining guide will share infamous stories about London, as you pass some of London’s most iconic landmarks.

London Pub Tour:

• Visit some of the oldest pubs, alehouses and taverns in the city! These ancient hidden gems will be brought to life by your guide
• You’ll visit at least 4 of London’s oldest inns, taverns and gin places
• Drink along “The Street of Shame”, following in the footsteps of Dickens and Shakespeare
• Hear stories about London’s most ghostly pub and learn lots of fun, interesting facts from your friendly guide
• Enjoy classic London sights including St Paul’s Cathedral as you walk through narrow cobbled streets
• At the end of the tour, why not enjoy some pub food like fish & chips?

Why take this tour?

English is famous for its drinking heritage, and London has long been associated with its many pubs and taverns. It’s a long-standing British tradition to enjoy a few pints of beer and this tour will give you a taste of this culture. You’ll get to see some of London’s most famous watering holes, with plenty of stories to keep you entertained along the way. A great way to spend 3-4 hours in the city!

Tour Includes:

• Professional tour guide
• Walking tour

Tour Excludes:

• The food and drink are not included in the tour price. You will need to bring some cash so that you can buy your own drinks.
• Meeting point: Outside St Paul’s Underground Station (Exit 2)
• End point: Close to Holborn Underground Station (at approx. 5-6pm)
• The tour lasts 3-4 hours
• This is a small group tour that operates with a maximum of 14 people
• You must give 72 hours notice of departure in order to cancel this product
• If you appear to be under the age of 25, you need to bring photo ID
• Its strongly encouraged for you to have some lunch before the tour, as there is not time to have lunch during the tour.

Tour Booking

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Historic city pub tours.

Fleet Street Tour

Holborn Tour

Covent Garden Tour

Wapping Tour

Oxford Tour

Dublin Tour

Liverpool Tour

• London Tavern Trails

HISTORIC LONDON PUB TOURS

FOLLOWING THE END OF UK GOVERNMENT COVID RESTRICTIONS, OUR TOURS ARE NOW FULLY UP & RUNNING AGAIN

London Tavern Trails™ operates private pre-booked guided walking tours of London's historic pubs

★   To go on a London Tavern Tour, make a booking by e mail or phone, or book online using the "Book Now" buttons on this site

★   Meet on the pavement outside the designated tube station at the agreed time

★   A London Tavern Tour visits 4 historic pubs and lasts around 2½ hours

Our walks combine London, history, old pubs and real ale.

London is the most visited city in the world. Its rich heritage is embodied in its streets and buildings, its walls, rivers, gates, towers, squares, monuments and churches, and in its public houses. The pub is an integral part of London life and there is only one way to experience and enjoy the diversity of London and its pubs, and that is on foot. London Tavern Trails™ provides guided walking tours of London's historic pubs. Join an experienced guide from London Tavern Trails™, and you will:

✱   Visit the historic pubs of London

✱   Learn about their heritage

✱   Discover the history of the area and its inhabitants

✱   Find out about the origins of inns, taverns & public houses

✱   Savour England's national drink (=beer !)

London's pubs have fascinating stories to tell. London taverns of real antiquity are few and far between, but there are a handful of 16th, 17th & 18th century treasures, along with some fine Victorian and Edwardian inns. Our knowledgable guides have a life-long passion for London, its ale-houses and its history. Join them for a guided walking tour and drink in a piece of history.

England's national drink is beer and, more specifically, real ale. Real ale is a natural product brewed using traditional ingredients and left to mature in the cask from which it is served in the pub, through a natural process called secondary fermentation. It is this process which makes real ale unique amongst beers and develops the wonderful tastes and aromas which processed beers like lager can never provide. All real ales contain the same basic ingredients, but each real ale tastes different, according to the types of malt, hops, yeast and water used in the brewing process. All historic pubs visited on London Tavern Trails' walking tours serve these traditional real ales. But, by the way, don't feel obliged to drink real ale - the choice is yours : beer, lager, stout, wine, spirits, soft drinks or whatever takes your fancy.

But don't just take OUR word for it. See what others have to say about our historic pub tours by clicking on one of the Trip Advisor icons on the right of this page.

Our 4 classic tours (Holborn, Fleet Street, Covent Garden and Wapping) are detailed on this website. You can choose from one of these tours or a bespoke tour to suit individual requirements. Possibilities include the historic taverns of Belgravia, St. James's, Smithfield, Southwark or Westminster. A bespoke tour can include as few or as many pubs (within reason !) as you wish.

London Tavern Trails™ was founded by, and is owned and managed by John Edwards and Morris Jones. We both graduated from London Universities and have each spent the majority of our working lives in London. We have a passion for London and its rich history and for London pubs. We believe that real London pubs are unique pieces of living history which are central to an appreciation of the city and its bygone days.

The tavern tours take-in carefully selected historic pubs, which are often English Heritage listed buildings and often listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of historic pub interiors.

Each walk lasts around two & a half hours, which includes a number of refreshment stops en route in carefully selected historic pubs.

We will tell you about the history of each pub visited on the tour and inform you about the history of the local area. You will discover things about beer and brewing that perhaps you didn't know. All the pubs we visit serve real ale, as well as other beers, wines and spirits, and soft drinks. There is no obligation to buy a drink or spend money in any of the pubs we visit.

We welcome children of 14 years of age and over on our guided walks. Under UK Licensing Laws, children under 16 are allowed in pubs so long as they are accompanied by someone who is 18 years or over. But different pubs tend to have different rules, so please ask us in advance if you intend to bring a 14-17 year old on one of our tours. Children under 18 are not permitted to buy or to consume alcohol in a pub.

We are supporters of the Campaign for Real Ale. CAMRA campaigns for real ale and real pubs.

Your personal London travel guide

Suggestions.

Historical Pub Walking Tour of London

Experience a Historical Pub Walking Tour of London on this afternoon pub crawl. Accompany your guide on a fun and educational tour in and around the city, where you’ll visit at least four historic pubs and taste different brews (own expense). Pop into centuries-old ale houses, see literary haunts favoured by writers like Charles Dickens and learn about local drinking culture through the ages.

Historical Pub Walking Tour Highlights:

• Visit four traditional London pubs in London Bridge, the City of London, Fleet Street, and Holborn
• Discover what a real London pub looks like on a visit to an alehouse in Blackfriars
• Sit down in a pub once frequented by Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle
• Small-group tour with a maximum of 14 people ensures a more personalised experience
• Duration of the Tour – 3 to 4 hours Approx.

What’s Included in the Pub Walking Tour

• Local guide
• Food and drinks

Book this Tour

Departure & Return

Departure point.

30 Newgate St, London EC1A 7HL, UK. Please check below for the Google map. Your guide will see you outside Cafe Nero on Panyer Alley.

Departure Time

Return details.

Kingsway, Holborn, London WC2B 6AA, UK

What To Expect from the Historical Pub walking Tour

Your afternoon pub tour begins at St. Paul’s, where you will meet your guide and set off for the first stop of your tour. As you walk, check out city attractions like St. Paul’s Cathedral and the bustling Fleet Street. Pass the site of a Shakespearean playhouse, then pop into the Art Nouveau Pub at Blackfriars for a drink. Grab a pint (own expense) and enjoy colourful stories from this neighbourhood’s banking community.

Next, head down Fleet Street, flush with pubs and gin palaces to service the journalists and literary greats of the day. Stop at a proper London boozer for a civilised drinking experience. Buy yourself a delicious local ale (or two), admire the authentic medieval decor, and enjoy the buzz as regulars and newcomers fill up the wooden tables surrounding the horseshoe bar.

Continue along Fleet Street, the former stomping grounds of Charles Dickens, who once resided in Furnival’s Inn (now Holborn Bars). Visit a 17th-century pub that was a favourite of Dickens and fellow writers Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Sip on a delicious beer and cider (not included) and soak up the literary history of the place.

Your tour ends at the edge of Covent Garden with plenty of time (and insider information) to continue the fun at another local pub. Don’t miss out on this great weekend tour. Quench your thirst this summer, and enjoy a historical pub walking tour of London.

Itinerary of the Pub Tour

Pass By: St. Paul’s Cathedral

Enjoy fine views and the quirky history of the area.

Stop At: Blackfriars Bridge

Visit London’s finest art nouveau pub

Duration: 15 minutes

Admission Ticket Free

Pass By: St Bride’s Church

Hear the tale of the “Wedding Cake” church

Pass By: Fleet Street

Explore the “street of shame” and visit a number of historic pubs

Pass By: Dr Johnson’s House

See the home of the famous wordsmith and meet his favourite cat Mr Hodge

Pass By: Prince Henry’s Room

See a building dating to 1610 and the gateway to the Knight’s Templar

Stop At: The Old Bank of England Pub

See London’s finest banking hall, and now a pub

Duration: 20 minutes

Admission Ticket Free:

Pass By: Royal Courts of Justice

Listen to the legal tales and enjoy the majestic architecture

Pass By:  Lincoln’s Inn

See London’s oldest tailor and traverse the heart of legal London.

Pass By:  Sir John Soane’s Museum

Be inspired to return to this exquisite collection.

Stop At  Princess Louise We sometimes stop for a drink in this fine Victorian gin palace-style watering hole.

Pass By: Covent Garden

We finish our walk on the edge of Covent Garden with more pubs and restaurants a short walk away.

Additional Tour Info:

• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking
• The minimum age is 18 years
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Most travellers can participate
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travellers

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

• Art Nouveau Pub
• London pubs
• Walking Tour

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Historic London Pub Tour

Tour Information

Historic london pub tour highlights.

Join us on the City of London pub tour to see the most; iconic, historic, and unusual pubs in London.

You will get to experience London like a true local visiting some of London's best traditional pubs and hidden gems with an entertaining local guide.

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Click here to view our full selection of free London walking tours .

We will explore secret alleyways and hear Tales from some of London’s greatest pubs, from where people have imbibed for over 500 years.

We will learn about the origin of London's famed Gin Palaces of the 19th Century as we wander through streets that would have been home to beggars, thieves, and vagabonds.

We'll discover five iconic watering holes visited by some of London's most infamous characters, each with a history to tell.

These include some of the best-preserved traditional pubs in England.

Each pub we visit will have a very different atmosphere and history but all share a fine offering of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in a wonderful building.

Highlights:

• Visit pubs frequented by London's most famous poets, writers, and free thinkers!
• Follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth I and visit the hardest-to-find pub in London.
• Explore parts of London as a local and get away from the tourist crowd.
• Drink in a pub that has actual jail cells in the basement from medieval times.
• See the first Irish Pub outside of Ireland.
• Hear the tales of and visit some of the famed Victorian Gin Palaces!

What else you should know

It's a walking tour, but there's not a lot of distance involved.

Having said that, the alleys can be very narrow and there are a small number of steps to climb throughout. Wear comfortable shoes! 

Pubs will accept cash or card payments for drinks as you prefer. You will need to pay for your own drinks during the tour!

This is a tour for guests aged 18 and over only.

What to bring : Photographic ID (18 years and over only) .

Where: Outside The Blackfriar Pub (opposite Blackfriars Station - North of the river Thames). The tour finishes near Holborn Station.

Duration: Approximately 2.5 - 3 Hours

When:  Wednesdays at 16:00 Book online HERE .

Cost: This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done. A name-your-own-price tour is a tour for anyone's budget.

The average cost of a pint is £7.

And much, much more

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Historic Pub Walking Tour of London

• Guided tour of historic pubs with a knowledgeable local London tour guide
• Entry into 4 historic London pubs is included in the price of the tour
• Drinks - All drinks are at own expense
• Food - Please have lunch before the tour. It will not be possible to have lunch in the pubs.
• Embankment station, Embankment Pl, London WC2N 6NS, UK The tour starts at Embankment Station (Embankment Pier Exit). This is the side located nearest the river. On arrival please look for your tour guide holding the yellow umbrella.
• Covent Garden, London, UK The tour ends at a historic pub within the Covent Garden area of London
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• The tour starts at Embankment Station (Embankment Pier Exit). This is the side located nearest the river. On arrival please look for your tour guide holding the yellow umbrella.
• All guests must be 18 years old or over.
• All guests must bring with them a valid form of photo identification. A Passport or Driving Licence is sufficient. Please note this may be checked by the guides or pub staff.
• All pubs visited on the tour are subject to availability.
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Embankment station Embankment station, Embankment Pl, London WC2N 6NS, UK The tour starts at Embankment Station (Embankment Pier Exit). This is the side located nearest the river. On arrival please look for your tour guide holding the yellow umbrella. See address & details
• 1 London Stop: 4 hours Visit 4 historic pubs in London including centuries-old pubs and ale houses closely associated with London’s history and culture. Step inside pubs frequented by the King's and Queen's of England and many of London's most iconic figures including Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, Nelle Gwynne, Arthur Conan Doyle and Dick Turpin. Read more
• You'll end at Covent Garden Covent Garden, London, UK The tour ends at a historic pub within the Covent Garden area of London See address & details

• kavithamreddy9 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour! Excellent tour, Will was very good and took us to many special historic locations.Cost is much better than from other websites. Read more Written April 17, 2024
• IreneH2353 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very good tour Great experience and stories by Will who is our tour guide. So much stories and histories he has shared during the tour. Thank you Will Read more Written April 17, 2024
• 434buthainaa 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Must book when in London!! Excellent tour enjoyed our day Carolina was amazing the tour covred the main places we wanted to see and the routes choosen were great Read more Written April 17, 2024
• Andre L 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Carolina was wonderful Carolina was awesome. Knowledgeable and presented London as the most wonderful place in the world! Great job. 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀 Read more Written April 17, 2024
• Kristenmli 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great way to see the sights! Carolina was fantastic - informative, fun, and easy to follow with a great location for each part. What a great way to see the changing of the guard! Read more Written April 17, 2024
• jtmueller5 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour for a low price! The best way to start your London trip! Our guide Adam was so great and his history knowledge 10/10! You can really tell he loves his city. It was a great way to get your bearings and see all the highlights of a huge city. Also a great introduction to the tube. This tour’s a great value for a low price. Be ready for a lot of walking!! Read more Written April 16, 2024
• A2817XUleahl 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must-do! Will was a fantastic guide! He went at a perfect pace - not too fast or slow. He had great local knowledge and all the behind-the-scenes info. He's also funny and personable. This tour in general is a great one! It shows a whole bunch of the buildings and all the secret spots to get the absolutely best views. We got to watch the Changing of the Guard from literally feet away, right where they march out of the barracks. I highly recommend both the tour and Will as your guide! Read more Written April 15, 2024
• Adam S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A+ Tour was great! No complaints. Adam was an amazing guide - very friendly and knowledgeable. We’re sorry we had to cut out a few minutes early but we had to get across town and ended up being a bit late still. :( Read more Written April 15, 2024
• mesther8 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun tour, wonderful guide! Had an amazing time - our guide, Adam, was wonderful! Great sights, stories, and company. Adam is a joy - great sense of humor and very knowledgable! Read more Written April 15, 2024
• T3629SBjennifers 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun tour with great guide! Adam was absolutely amazing. We had an amazing time. Genuinely can’t recommend this tour more, especially if you get to have Adam as your guide. Read more Written April 15, 2024
• ileanau2024 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful Tour Will was a great tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and shared many stories about the military and the ceremonies. The guards and band marched right in front of us. Read more Written April 15, 2024
• suzys938 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles London first timers Carolina was the best guide! We learned a ton and she was so knowledgeable! We had great views of the sights. Highly recommend! Thanks Carolina! Read more Written April 15, 2024
• 832bobbiek 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Changing of the guard with personality Carolina was excellent as a guide. Very knowledgeable and personal. Loved the stories and history. Must do experience! Read more Written April 15, 2024
• craigwN1758TP 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome tour Louise was awesome. Definitely recommend. I learnt a lot about the guards and the royal family from a very passionate person. Read more Written April 15, 2024
• tmQ1428KF 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles London weather doesn't stop Carolina!! Carolina was phenomenal!!! Informative. Friendly. Must do! Answered every question! Impressed this group of teachers! Read more Written April 15, 2024

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Historic Pub Tours

The fun way to experience london, explore ancient laneways and amazing pubs and hear tales of naughty, crazy music legends, famous actors and infamous criminals., virtual experiences.

Bringing the best of British pub culture through this hilarious interactive virtual experience, and all from the comfort of your own home or office.

Perfect for drinks with friends, team building or a gift that's outside the box.

We're a collection of local and veteran entertainers, history buffs and musical guides, who've come together to show you the hidden depths of London and its secret venues and best locations. 

Experience London like a true local, in the company of a true local. 

Historic Pub Tours

Click the link above for more information

London has been home to some of the greatest musicians, artists, actors and criminals in history, from the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix to Karl Marx, George Orwell and Shakespeare.  

Come visit the same venues, pubs and areas that they all frequented, partied and played.

Want to visit London's most iconic landmarks and Old City sections, but don't want a regular boring tour? 

Why not discover and explore London, while taking regular breaks to enjoy a drink at some of London's grandest and most historical pubs too!