Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London | La Vacanza Travel

Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London

Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Destination: United Kingdom, England, London
from
282.15

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  • 3 to 4 hours
  • London
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

The UK is well known throughout the world for it's many cosy, unusual, quirky, historic and atmospheric Pubs. This tour visits the best  London has to offer. Get away from the usual tourist trail and head into the hidden courts and alleys of old London.

Expect colourful and sometimes grisly tales, flag stones, wooden panelling, quiet snug corners, and traces of the many people both great and ordinary who have propped up the bar in times past. 

Includes one FREE drink at every stop!
• The Oldest and Most Historic Inn's Tavern's & Pubs
• Visit the Pub's Charles Dickens took inspiration from
• Hidden Alley's, nook corners, and log fires
• Try traditional Ales & Ciders
• Hear the stories and history behind each PubA relaxed tour at your leisure and pace - Will you manage all 5 Pubs?

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: The Mayflower Pub, 117 Rotherhithe St, London SE16 4NF, UK

You will be personally met at your central London accommodation by your own private guide to begin your trail through the best and most historic pubs London has to offer.

A relaxed, informative, and enjoyable tour tailored to your interests and pace.

First up is -The Mayflower

This waterside Tavern dates back to the 1500's, and in 1620 Christopher Jones docked his ship outside the Tavern. That ship was called the Mayflower and would take the founding colonists out to the New World that would become the USA.

Those who have ancestry back to the Mayflower can ask to sign the register kept behind the bar. You can even purchase postage stamps, this tradition goes back to the time when the area was alive with sailors from all over the globe. They often had no time to go to a post office when ashore, so the Mayflower was granted a special licence.

Crammed full of nautical items, a cosy fire place and candle lit, you really could be in a different age.

Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: George, 75 Borough High St, London SE1 1NH, UK

The only surviving galleried Pub in London that dates back to Tudor times. Often referred to as William Shakespeare local, it also has connections to Charles Dickens and Sir Winston Churchill. The yard next to the George used to be the site of the Tabard Inn, featured in Canterbury Tales.

The Bear Baiting, Cock Fighting and Bare knuckle Boxing may be long gone, but the George retains many of it's period features and eccentric clientele.

Shakespeare if said to have performed plays in the courtyard here.

Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet St, London EC4A 2BP, UK

With cellars dating to the 13th Century and the upper rooms largely unchanged since the 1700's it's no wonder this Pub features on lists of the most atmospheric sites in London. A truly Dickensian Pub.

The upstairs bar is as traditional as you can imagine, complete with a fireplace and wooden paneling that dates back to the reign of Charles II. Dr Samuel Johnson, David Garrick, and James Boswell are all said to have supped Ale and dined on Chops here.

The most famous resident of this pub is Polly who sits stuffed in a glass box above the bar. This celebrity Parrot lived in the Pub for over 30 years, and became notorious for bad language and mimicking the sound of corks popping!

Apparently the Hellfire Club met in the upper rooms here. The erotic tiles discovered in the 1960's seem to support that rumor.

As your personal guide, I will make sure you know all the fascinating history of this very special pub.


Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Ye Olde Mitre, 1 Ely Court Ely Place, London EC1N 6SJ England

A pub with a history stretching back to Tudor times. It is said the doorway is propped up with a tree that Queen Elizabeth I danced around. Tucked away down a tiny alley even people familiar with the area find Ye Olde Mitre hard to find.

Definitely a strong candidate for London's oldest pub, It is also in the Diamond quarter of London, Hatton Garden. I wouldn't be surprised if some retired Safe Breakers, and Bank Robbers are among the regulars.

It has certainly featured in many films and TV shows over the years, notably Snatch starring Brad Pitt.

Fagin's Gang in Oliver Twist had their Den in this area too. Surely Dickens popped in for a pint?


Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BN, UK

There has been a Pub on this site since the 1400's. The current building is a mix of different centuries, with lots of nooks, crannies, and wooden booths. When open, its possible to go down into the cellars.

Many notable figures throughout history have supped Ale here, or warmed their bones next to the curious triangular stove that stands in the middle of the main room.

Fingers crossed we can get one of the cosy wooden booths and enjoy talking about our favourite pubs, and indeed drinks of the day.


Duration: 40 minutes

Inclusions
  • Beverages - One complimentary drink at each stop - Beer/Wine/Soft Drink
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Private tour
  • Local guide
  • Professional guide
  • Alcoholic Beverages

Exclusions
  • Transportation to/from attractions - Mostly on foot, but some Tube travel involved.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Minimum age is 18 years
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Aldgate East Station (Stop E), London E1 1FE, UK


Return Details

Temple Station, Temple Pl, Temple, London WC2R 2PH, UK

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

3 to 4 hours


User's Reviews

R5891PTjohns

10 Feb, 2024

Richard was absolutely great. Before the tour he communicated with us about any Pubs we had already visited or specific ones in which we were interested. He was very informative on the histories of the individual pubs and neighborhoods as well as the general history of the periods through which the pubs served historical figures. It was a fun and enlightening experience — and provided an opportunity to try many different brews!

mollyferguson123456

05 May, 2023

We had the best tour with Diggity the dog… and Ricky of course ;) in all seriousness it was a very laid back, interesting tour. Great recommendations for drinks and we learned so much about London! 10/10 would recommend :)

Levi_B

13 Jun, 2022

This is a truly phenomenal tour for anyone who loves history and pubs. I cannot recommend it more highly! My father and I had a great time, learned more than we could have imagined, drank some great beer, and were able to take our own pace on the tour. I will do this again!

Fiona O

19 Apr, 2022

Chris’s knowledge was great, he kept us all entertained but the recommendation to try the scotch eggs topped off everything. Lovely way to spend your first day in London.

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