Behind the pub are buildings that were operated by the anchor brewery the anchor started life as the brewery tap. Book an original tour bus ticket and discover london from the comfort of a. This riverside pub is situated on the banks of the thames and is said to be the oldest riverside tavern, dating back to 1520. The city is home to hundreds of historic watering holes but many have been rebuilt, refurbished and renamed over the years so its hard to keep track of exact timelines and dates spanning several centuries. If more of the original structure had survived intact it would be the oldest pub in london, by hidden londons reckoning. Illustration by lea williams for our book londonist drinks. Dec 30, 2019 this historic pub on the banks of the river thames holds the status of being the oldest riverside tavern site in london. Apr 18, 2017 the oldest pub in st albans, and also definitely one of the oldest in england. But new operator, the londonbased truman brewery, itself a revived concern, reopened it in 2018. Nov 23, 2018 visiting the oldest, most beautiful and quirkiest pubs in london, this historical pub crawl is the best way to see traditional boozers and explore london as well. Nov 01, 2012 a history of britain told through the story of one very special pub, from the beer drinkers bill bryson times literary supplement welcome to the george inn near london bridge. Nearly 500 years old, the town of ramsgate is one of the oldest pubs in london. The newman arms is one of londons most storied pubs it was integral to fitzrovias fecund 20thcentury literary scene, and has been in existence since 1730, so it was a real shame when it closed in 2017.
London historic pub tour in the old docks eating europe. Sep 15, 2019 the oldest record of a pub called the red lion on this site is in 1522, but the current building dates from 1899 though its also now home to a theatre, a strange addition to possibly the capitals oldest pub. It is supposed to be the oldest pub on the river thames. Prospect of whitby pub in wapping greene king local pubs. It lays claim to being the site of the oldest riverside tavern, dating from around. Historic pubs and places to eat in london travel the. The oldest record of a pub called the red lion on this site is in 1522, but the current building dates from 1899 though its also now home to a theatre, a strange addition to possibly the capitals oldest pub. The prospect of whitby in wapping is londons oldest riverside pub dating back to 1520. The prospect of whitby in wapping is london s oldest riverside pub dating back to 1520.
Londons best riverside pubs and bars time out london. The oldest pubs in london their colourful histories and. The prospect of whitby is a historic public house on the banks of the thames at wapping in the london borough of tower hamlets. The creepy story behind the uks oldest riverside pub that. With its bold, gold and black signage and white walls, the prospect of whitby is a striking addition alongside the river thames, as well as the oldest riverside pub in the entire city. It lays claim to being the site of the oldest riverside tavern, dating from around 1520.
Sep 24, 2019 a vintage riverside setting if ever there was one, this charmingly wonky pub in limehouse is a fine place to enjoy a pint of london glory. The seven stars is a beautiful historic pub is one of the few buildings that escaped the great fire of london in 1666. The mayflower is a small but perfectly formed gem in sleepy rotherhithe, an area steeped in history as a former port, the site of the worlds first subterranean river tunnel, and the 1620 departure point of the pilgrim fathers mayflower ship. It is in the bankside locality on the south bank of the thames close to southwark cathedral and london bridge station. If you are walking the thames, this book is fanatstic. The mayflower in rotherhithe, which is the oldest pub on the thames, also made the cut thanks to its location at the point where the historic. May 15, 2019 the oldest pub in london is the seven stars in holborn. The title of london s oldest pub is a muchdisputed accolade. Set in the heart of historic london, ye old mitre is another of the most charming and historic old pubs. Jan 02, 2017 the cittie of yorke features in a new book, great pubs of london, written by george dailey and featuring photographs taken by his daughter charlie. Londons most striking historical pubs, including the place where elizabeth i. Just like in every place that the romans settled, remnants of roman artifacts and architecture have been uncovered in london.
Some of the most classic and oldest bars in london are pubs by the river thames. Great book, only criticism would have liked more pubs to have been. You want old london pub, you got old london pub with the george iv in west london. Ive found pubs in london that were established long before 1520, but they were opened under a different name.
Heres a beer garden thats so close to the thames that it sometimes becomes part of it. A history of britain told through the story of one very special pub, from the beer drinkers bill bryson times literary supplement welcome to the george inn near london bridge. With more than 40 pubs along the river thames in london, it would be impossible to get to them all in a single day. The cittie of yorke features in a new book, great pubs of london, written by george dailey and featuring photographs taken by his daughter charlie.
The tavern was formerly known as the pelican and later as the devils tavern, on account of its dubious reputation. The coachmakers arms is one of wallingfords oldest pubsinns which oozes character and old fashioned charm, serving traditional pub food with 3 en suite letting rooms. Its found on the north side of the thames and there are terrific views over the river from the rear. Oct 25, 2019 white swan, riverside, twickenham tw1 3dn the london apprentice, isleworth. One of the unfathomable mysteries of london is deciding what is the oldest pub. Apart from being the uks oldest riverside pub, which is an achievement in itself, there is a haunted tale behind it all. When the sun is shining, londoners flock to these thamesside pubs and restaurants for outdoor drinking and dining. Oldest pub on the river thames town of ramsgate, london.
Today, people head to the prospect of whitby to enjoy a leisurely drink while admiring glorious views across the river thames. Discover liquid highway an iconic ale created by the hop kettle brewery for the thames path national trail. This newishlooking boozer claims to be london s oldest licensed pub. The list below runs from west london to east london and takes in the thames, the river lea and the regents canal. A barstool history of london as seen through the windows of its oldest pub the george inn. Jun 15, 2016 this nauticalthemed pub sits on the site of the former shippe pub, built in 1550, making it the oldest pub on the river thames give or take a few refurbs here and there. Venture into one of several pubs that lay claim to being the oldest pub in london on the thames. Aug 07, 2017 an updated and expanded edition of the bestselling great pubs of london, this book features a map, an index, new pictures and additional chapters on the lamb, the argyll, and the viaduct tavern. Welcome to the oldest pub on the river thames, london. This historic pub on the banks of the river thames holds the status of being the oldest riverside tavern site in london.
First licenced as a pub in 1722 and still going strong almost 300 years later. Oct 17, 2017 guiness world records said the bingley arms is the oldest, not fighting cocks. The oldest pubs in london and why you should drink there 1. Our london old docks food tour takes you on an incredible journey back in time. Is it the oldest pub by name, by location, by age of building or of interior, by length. Its website suggests it was established in 1189, but there is no historical evidence for this. The mayflower offers great views over the river from both the outside covered patio and upstairs in the restaurant. Wonderfully located on a bend of the river thames, the dove is known as one of the best pubs in london to view.
This nauticalthemed pub sits on the site of the former shippe pub, built in 1550, making it the oldest pub on the river thames give or take a few refurbs here and there. Full of legend and lore, the 16th century pub is said to have been visited by everyone from samuel pepys to frank sinatra. In our quest to eat in the oldest or most historic pubs in london, we came upon the mayflower. Any way you choose, london is not short on pedigree pubs. The tudor tavern still retains many of its original features, including its flagstone floor and extremely rare pewtertopped bar. While the fire ravaged the city and destroyed most of the buildings in the london area, a few escaped. The oldest riverside pub in london offers lovely views of the thames were. These pubs claim to be the oldest in the uk business insider.
It will probably never be solved because it depends on what you mean by old. Oct 25, 2019 at the other end of the scale is the nearby white hart, a fairly unassuming pub on drury lane. The barley mow pub, marylebone, london theres nothing worse, when youre trying to enjoy a quiet pint with a friend, than raucous drunks nearby. Sep 29, 2017 the oldest riverside pub in london offers lovely views of the thames were sure thats what used to draw the sailors and smugglers to the pub once known as the devils tavern. A tavern establishment under various names has been at the pubs location for over 800 years. If more of the original structure had survived intact it would be the oldest pub in london, by hidden london s reckoning. The anchor bankside is a pub in the london borough of southwark. Nestled in the heart of rotherhithe it oozes history and is its decked jetty is the perfect place from which to watch the river flow by. It may now be more known for its craft beer and british menu, but the pub was one of the first places to start a coaching service for patrons wishing to head into central london take that uber.
It was first built during 1520, and originally titled the devils tavern. For centuries the pub has been an essential part of londons cultural and social fabric. Does an old tavern built on the same site as an older one count more than a brand new one built on an even more ancient tavern or coffee house which. Londons oldest pub the debate about londons most ancient boozer is still raging in the twentyfirst century. Former clientele included charles dickens and samuel pepys. Some of the citys oldest buildings date back to this time of roman occupation. Oldest pub on the river thames we visited this pub during our last trip to london in august 2014, i had found it on the internet as well as a note which told us that this pub was the oldest pub on the bank of the river thames, dating back to the 1460s.
Bingley arms is the oldest pub that has never ceased to run. A combination of traditional and contemporary hops are used in the brew. First established in 1520 and overlooking the thames, the prospect of whitby claims to be the oldest riverside pub in the uk. One of these is the oldest pub in the uk the lucy ogilvie. Ye olde trip to jerusalem in nottingham is one of many pubs claiming to be the oldest in the uk. Weve been a favourite with celebrities over the years and have appeared on the big and small screen. An updated and expanded edition of the bestselling great pubs of london, this book features a map, an index, new pictures and additional chapters on the lamb, the argyll, and the viaduct tavern.
Dont spend hours searching for a good pub in london. Over the years the building has changed monikers from shippe to the spread eagle, the crown and the mayflower named after the vessel of the same name, which took to. The 9 pubs fighting for the title of the oldest pub in london. Its actually a pub in wapping, east london and its got a pretty strange back story.
Best historic pubs in london collated in book by george dailey. The mayflower pub takes the title of oldest pub on the thames and boasts views of where the mayflower ship itself was moored in 1620. Jun 26, 2015 oldest pub on the river thames we visited this pub during our last trip to london in august 2014, i had found it on the internet as well as a note which told us that this pub was the oldest pub on the bank of the river thames, dating back to the 1460s. The pub is mentioned in ben aaronovitchs novel rivers of london where the main character, p. A good little book for visitors to london who may want to stray off the beaten track and visit a genuine old london pub. If you visit during low tide, you can still see the post to which condemned pirates were chained to drown as the tide rose. The prospect of whitby pub in wapping is not only londons oldest riverside pub, but also one of its best. We uncover the fascinating stories and secrets that shaped the area, all served up with londons best craft brews, ciders and finest pub grub. Speculation as to which is londons oldest pub has lead to fierce debates, not least during late night discussions in the pubs themselves. The blackfriar is located on queen victoria street in blackfriars london, just a short stroll from blackfriars bridge, upper thames street, the bridewell theatre, st brides church and fleet street. The mayflower rotherhithe pub home oldest pub on the thames.
Londons 10 best pubs by the river thames londonist. Intrigued to read about several of the old pubs that my family once owned and managed, so a bit of family history. Guiness world records said the bingley arms is the oldest, not fighting cocks. In celebration, today i bring you a lady in londons guide to the 12 best riverside pubs in london. The 15 oldest pubs in the uk, ranked according to their claims. Youll find a host of londons most iconic attractions, including st pauls cathedral, the. Time out selflessly went out to judge their antiquity on your behalf. A barstool history of london as seen through the windows of its oldest pub the george inn brown, pete on.
Most of the present pub was built around 1800 but parts of it certainly including its stone floor may date from as early as 1520. The 9 pubs fighting for the title of the oldest pub in. Another of rotherhithes great riverside pubs, this one has a tiny bench on the outside where a few lucky patrons can file in for a frontrow seat to the boat show. Instead, we designed a london pub crawl that meanders with the curves of the river, with stops at 8 river thames pubs along the way. Almost 500 years old, and one of charles dickens known haunts there are many, the grapes remains a popular watering hole for locals and visitors alike thanks to its oldeworlde charm which includes an absence of tv screens and careful running by. Londons oldest pubs all vie for the title of the oldest pub in london. Tales from the bar a tour of londons great pubs bbc news. As you sit on the banks of the river thames, its not hard to imagine a georgian gentleman sipping on a tankard of ale and watching the eddies. From centuriesold liquor licenses to namechecks in the domesday book, scroll. Its been standing since 1520, and a reminder of its dark past can be seen with the noose and gallows that hang off of the balcony. The mayflower pub is a hidden gem in the heart of rotherhithe, london. Jan 16, 2015 londons oldest pub the debate about londons most ancient boozer is still raging in the twentyfirst century.
Youll visit some of the oldest recorded taverns on the river thames and learn which famous faces have frequented them too. Apr 19, 2018 when the sun is shining, londoners flock to these thamesside pubs and restaurants for outdoor drinking and dining. May 17, 2019 first established in 1520 and overlooking the thames, the prospect of whitby claims to be the oldest riverside pub in the uk. Jul 27, 2015 the angel right down the thames from the mayflower is a pub called the angel. A traditional english pub surrounded by cobbled streets, the outside decked jetty and cosy candlelit restaurant have stunning river views. And although east and north london offer their own pretty canalside pubs, our city has always been built around the riverside, making some of the below among the oldest pubs in london and positively salty with maritime history. Just choose from these 10 longestablished pubs where monks, highwaymen and.
The white hart inn on drury lane claims to be londons oldest pub. While the worlds oldest bar is a hotlycontested title, oldest pub is an. Survey the thames from the inside of the angel pub. Wetting londoners whistles for more than 200 years.