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Historic London Pubs: A Private Tour
5.0
41 Ratings
Greater London
Embark on a private walking tour of historic London pubs with unique characters and rich history. Discover hidden gems and enjoy an unhurried drink in unspoilt locations.
Embark on a private walking tour of historic London pubs with unique characters and rich history. Discover hidden gems and enjoy an unhurried drink in unspoilt locations.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- The Viaduct Tavern - Explore this historic Gin Palace, where the cellars may still hold cells for prisoners who awaited execution at the adjacent old prison.
- East End - As we pass through Farringdon, we will see The Castle pub and discover its unique connection to the Royal Family.
- Clerkenwell - We will pass by one of the former hubs of…
- The Viaduct Tavern - Explore this historic Gin Palace, where the cellars may still hold cells for prisoners who awaited execution at the adjacent old prison.
- East End - As we pass through Farringdon, we will see The Castle pub and discover its unique connection to the Royal Family.
- Clerkenwell - We will pass by one of the former hubs of Communism and view part of the ancient estate of the Knights of St. John.
- Crown Tavern - This grand old pub, recognizable from television and films, is set in a distinctly Dickensian area of London. Notably, it is rumored to be the meeting place of Lenin and Stalin.
- Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn - Known as the hardest pub to find in London, it intriguingly might be in Cambridge! It was once frequented by Queen Elizabeth I.
- Cittie of Yorke - A London landmark with a unique interior. We might secure a cozy booth in this charming old pub located in the heart of the London legal district. The tour typically visits either this pub or the Seven Stars.
- The Seven Stars - Situated in the heart of ‘legal’ London, this old pub is where clients would celebrate with their legal team upon a ‘Not Guilty’ verdict.
- Lincoln’s Inn Fields - After strolling through the beautiful Lincoln’s Inn, we will arrive at Fleet Street, the renowned home of British Newspapers. Here, we will find a pub that was once part of an old monastery and learn about its most infamous resident, a once foul-mouthed, stuffed parrot.
- Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - This pub, possibly 700 years old, has been a favorite of famous London residents for centuries. Discover its notorious parrot that lived here a century ago and explore the many underground levels and bars.
What's Included
- Local guide
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Local guide
- Private tour
- Professional guide
What's Not Included
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information
Explore some charming historic pubs, some of which date back to before the Great Fire of London. Each pub offers its own unique character and story, allowing visitors to enjoy a leisurely drink in a truly special and preserved setting, just like the locals. Occasionally, a pub may be substituted with another of equal quality if one happens to be closed….
Explore some charming historic pubs, some of which date back to before the Great Fire of London. Each pub offers its own unique character and story, allowing visitors to enjoy a leisurely drink in a truly special and preserved setting, just like the locals. Occasionally, a pub may be substituted with another of equal quality if one happens to be closed.
Please note, this is a private tour exclusively for you (and any friends or family joining). This is not a small group tour.
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
St. Paul's
Cheapside
We can meet you from any Central London hotel. Otherwise we can meet just outside St Pauls Underground Station, next to the Caffe Nero.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(41 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Kevinqlp
Jan 12, 2026
Simply the Best! - I cannot emphasize enough how informational and enjoyable this walking tour of English pubs was!Stephen was a walking encyclopedia of facts and humorous tidbits of London and the pubs we visited.
The pubs by themselves were amazing and historically significant but getting to know Stephen by the end of our 5 hours or so was an added reward.
On top of everything else this was his 52nd birthday and my son Lucas and I and many others who happened to be in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese sang Happy Birthday to him while tipping a few more pints.
What an experience - there is a reason that every other traveler that has written a review of this tour has rated it a 10. Stephen is fantastic - we will be back for another different tour with him for sure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cafeaulait69
Nov 16, 2025
Very personal and insightful tour - We have booked Stephen for a small tour with a totally different view of London as a present. After more than 4 hours with 4 pubs "walk-in" and 8 pubs "walk-by" plus a church plus plenty of additional spots and loads of insightful information presented in a digestible and funny manner, we concluded that it was a marvellous tour. We enjoyed our time with Stephen tremendously. Thank you! The tour is absolutely worthwhile.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Armen_hammer66
Aug 24, 2025
One of the best tours we have ever done anywhere! - We had the absolute pleasure of joining Stephen for a private guided pub tour in London, and it was truly the highlight of our trip. Stephen’s encyclopedic knowledge extends far beyond the pubs themselves, though each stop had its own fascinating story and character. He wove together the history of London, British culture, and even broader European events with such depth and clarity that every street corner seemed to come alive.
What really sets Stephen apart, however, is his humor and engaging personality. He has that rare gift of making you feel both entertained and enlightened at the same time. The four hours we spent with him flew by, and we were genuinely sad when the tour came to an end. It felt less like a “tour” and more like being shown around by a brilliant old friend who happens to know everything about London.
Stephen tailored the experience perfectly to our group, balancing history, storytelling, and of course, some of the most charming and historic pubs in the city. We laughed, we learned, and we walked away with not only a deeper appreciation for London but also memories we will always treasure.
If you are considering a pub tour, or frankly, any tour in London or the surrounding areas, do yourself and your family a favor and book Stephen. You will be entertained, educated, and treated to a jolly good time that far exceeds expectations. He is simply the best.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonathan_s
Nov 7, 2024
Fantastic! - My wife and I had a wonderful time on this tour. Super interactive and very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
Stacey_f
Sep 18, 2024
London Pub Tour - Stephan added so much color and knowledge to the tour. It was a great experience start to finish. We got to see many different neighborhoods and pubs that we never would have found on our own.
Review provided by Viator
980allisont
Sep 8, 2024
Can't recommend enough - do this tour! - Fabulous tour! A must-do if you have a free afternoon in London and are interested in some unique tid-bits and great storytelling! Stephen was an incredible guide who immediately fit in our group and felt like a friend; plus he always had a lively story to share with us over a pint! Would highly recommend this tour (or any of the Ye Olde England themed tours) and will be doing it again on my next trip to London!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q9749aievans
Jul 27, 2024
City and Pub Tour - This is a must for anyone coming to London. Steven is a fun and energetic character who knows everything about the city and beyond, answering any question I had to throw at him. Tours and history aren’t the most boring things in the world for me but it isn’t something I typically look forward to. However, looking back on the trip this was a highlight. Being able to see/tour the city and different pubs with a local was great. A lot of pubs we went to we would’ve never found on our own. Thanks Steven!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rries4321
Apr 29, 2024
Fantastic Pub Tour!!! - What an incredible tour!!! Our guide Stephen took us to five pubs that were fantastic with each one having a very unique history (and the beers were great too!). My favorite was the Mayflower, the oldest pub on the River Thames! Stephen is incredibly knowledgeable on London's history and shared many interesting stories about the pubs and the surrounding area.
I would recommend this tour to anyone and we look forward to booking another tour with him next year!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Guide542168
Apr 26, 2024
Don't miss this pub tour - Stephen was an exceptional friendly and knowledgeable guide! We got great pub history as well as history around London. Definitely worth it! I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suess835
Jan 15, 2024
Learnt so much great day out - Stephen took us on this amazing tour of some of the hidden historic pubs in london.We loved the day very much Stephen is very friendly chatty and has so much knowledge.
We will go on one of his tours again and would thoroughly recommend his tours to everyone.
we saw places we didn't know existed despite living only an hours drive from London .
He also gave us a longer day than we expected and didn't feel rushed at all 10/10
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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