From coaching inns to gin palaces: the London pub, the back story

About From coaching inns to gin palaces: the London pub, the back story

By the ULTIMATE London Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The pub is the heart of London social life. From medieval inns to Victorian gin palaces and riverside taverns, London’s pubs carry centuries of history.

Inns and taverns

London’s oldest pubs grew from inns on the roads into the city. The George Inn in Southwark, rebuilt in 1677 and owned by the National Trust, is the last galleried coaching inn in London.

The Victorian pub

The Victorians built ornate pubs with etched glass, mahogany bars and partitioned rooms, many of which survive. Each pub has its own character, from The French House in Soho, with its half-pints and no-music rule, to the flower-covered Churchill Arms in Kensington.

In a London pub, you order at the bar; nobody comes to your table.

Riverside pubs

Along the Thames, pubs such as the Anchor at Bankside, The Grapes at Limehouse and the Duke’s Head at Putney look out over the water; their terraces are packed on summer evenings.

Pub etiquette

Order and pay at the bar; table service is rare outside dining pubs. Tipping is not expected. Many pubs serve food at lunch and dinner, and the Sunday roast is a London tradition.

Our advice: pair a historic pub with a walk, the George after Borough Market, the Anchor after Tate Modern, or the Duke’s Head after the Thames Path at Putney.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with From coaching inns to gin palaces: the London pub, the back story before you go.