With its Victorian-era furnishings, hand-pulled ales, and fireplace, the John Snow may look like an archetypal London drinking den. And, for the most part, it is. But the pub’s namesake and a nearby water pump both had a huge role in shaping contemporary medicine’s understanding of how diseases spread.
John Snow, 39 Broadwick St., Carnaby, London, England, United Kingdom, W1F 9QJ
Are you looking for more whimsy in your London pub? Then consider Vaulty Towers. This DIY-feeling boozer is owned by the same people as an underground art space. The multicolor exterior is a preview of the almost junkyard interior that employs stage props and leftover items from art exhibitions and performances, making it one of the city’s most fantastical watering holes.
Vaulty Towers, 34 Lower Marsh, London, England, United Kingdom, SE1 7RG
In 1962, in the London equivalent of the demolition of New York City’s Penn Station, the Victorian-era Euston Station was torn down. All that remains of it today are two stone lodging houses, one of which currently functions as a pub. The Euston Tap has one of the city’s larger selections of draught beer, serving beer nerds and luggage-toting commuters alike, most of whom are blissfully unaware of the space’s controversial history.
The Euston Tap, 190 Euston Rd., London, England, United Kingdom, NW1 2EF
For those whose emphasis is on drink rather than history or culture, this award-winning venue claims to be the only pub in London pouring beers and ciders exclusively from small and independent producers. There’s a short menu of porky English dishes, and a classic, low-key London pub feel and vibe.
The Southampton Arms, 139 Highgate Rd., London, England, United Kingdom, NW5 1LE
Looking for that elusive London pub with views? Tamesis Dock takes the form of a renovated 1930s-era Dutch boat that is moored on the Thames; it’s thought to be one of only two boat-based pubs in London. The location grants Instagram-worthy views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the London Eye, and Battersea Power Station, and there’s even live music and food.
Tamesis Dock, Albert Embankment, London, England, England, SE1 7TY
The site of an inn since the 15th century and a restaurant since 1952 (it claims to have been London’s first steakhouse), The Guinea is arguably the London pub most respected for its food. Specifically, it’s one of the better places in the city for old-school, meaty British pub bites such as Scotch egg, Welsh rarebit, deviled kidneys, and meat pies. And they also pour a mean Guinness.
The Guinea, 30 Bruton Pl., London, England, United Kingdom, W1J 6NL
Camden Town’s The Dublin Castle is arguably one of the most important pubs in London in terms of its contribution to contemporary music. The bar launched Madness’ career in the late ’70s, and later became a jumping-off point for bands such as Blur, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, and The Killers; it’s said that Amy Winehouse could be found behind the bar pouring herself beer. The Dublin Castle still hosts live music from Wednesdays to Sundays.
The Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, London, England, United Kingdom, NW1 7AN
With a history dating back as far as the 16th century (the current structure was built after a 1676 fire), the George Inn, often referred to simply as “The George,” started off as a galleried coaching inn, and is the only remaining example of this type of structure in London. The pub is name-checked in two of Dickens’ novels, it’s possible that The Bard was a customer here given the pub’s proximity to the Globe Theatre, and a now long-gone inn next door features in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. These days, The Shard towers over The George, which spans a clutch of bars and restaurants.
George Inn, 75 Borough High St, London, England, United Kingdom, SE1 1NH
Cittie of Yorke is often cited as London’s oldest pub, as it can be linked to previous venues that span back as far as the 15th century, and it boasts a Tudor-style interior. But the structure has been rebuilt several times over the centuries, and the interior as it looks now was only designed and built in the 1920s. Regardless, the centerpiece Henekey’s Long Bar, mentioned by Dylan Thomas, remains a beautiful place to order a hand-pulled ale from an oak cask.
Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London, England, United Kingdom, WC1V 6BN
The Champion is considered one of London’s most well-preserved Victorian-era pubs, complete with still-intact “snob screens,” hinged glass panels that grant drinkers a bit of privacy from nosy bartenders. It’s also known for its ornate stained glass windows that depict Victorian-era sports champions, but these were only installed in the ’80s, when the space was purchased by the Samuel Smith pub empire.
The Champion, 13 Wells Street, London, England, United Kingdom, W1T 3PA