Best historic pubs in London
The top 3 according to 1,643 votes from people: The George Inn, Southwark · Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street · The Grapes, Limehouse. (Updated Oct 13, 2025.)
Coaching inns, Dickens haunts and riverside taverns: London's most atmospheric old pubs according to historians, locals and pub lovers.
Top 10
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1
The George Inn, Southwark
London's last surviving galleried coaching inn, owned by the National Trust.
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2
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, with dark cellar bars.
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3
The Grapes, Limehouse
Thames-side pub known to Dickens, co-owned by Sir Ian McKellen.
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4
Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn
Hidden down an alley in Hatton Garden.
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5
The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead
16th-century inn on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
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6
Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
Claims to be the oldest riverside pub in London.
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7
Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden
Historic pub tucked into Rose Street.
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8
The Mayflower, Rotherhithe
Riverside pub near where the Mayflower set sail.
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9
The Princess Louise, Holborn
Victorian gin palace with etched glass and wooden snugs.
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10
The Black Friar, Blackfriars
Arts and Crafts interior full of carved monks.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
The Holly Bush, Hampstead
Cosy Georgian pub up a hillside lane.
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12
The Churchill Arms, Kensington
Pub covered in flowers that serves Thai food.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (2)
The Grapes in Limehouse, tiny and full of history.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, rebuilt after the Great Fire, dark little rooms, love it.