QUICK FACTS ABOUT LONDON PUBS
There is nothing more British than a pub. The Public House is exactly that, the place where you meet if you are British to exchange jokes, tell stories, watch football and…drown your sorrows! There have been attempts to recreate the British Pub experience outside of the UK but they never seem to quite measure up.
William Fitzstephen remarked that London was cursed by two evils, Fire and Drink. Large amounts of the British day can often be spent in these buildings and they have taken on an almost mystical quality. On Sunday, entire families may often be seen making their outing to a pub for the Roast Beef and Yorkshire delight.
Beer is the principal drink sold in pubs available in imperial half pints and pints 20% larger than the US measure. The choice is usually between lager and bitter and the locals usually prefer the latter although the culture is changing. You can find some wonderful Real Ales as they are known in a number of pubs which are natural ‘live beers’ allowed to ferment in the cask. Unlike lagers, British ales are served at room temperature and may take some getting used to.
As a rule there is no table service in pubs and you order your ‘grub’ at the bar. Don’t worry about tipping this is not the custom in the UK pub.
Whilst Pubs used to close in the afternoon, licensing laws changed in 1988 and pubs stay open 11am to 11pm generally but not all pubs choose to.
Each pub looks different and has a different story to tell. Watch out for original period Victorian or Georgian features from ornate glass work to wooden carvings. Greater London’s 7,000 pubs mean that you’re never more than a stone’s throw away from a great pint and a great story.
Our Pub Walks take you to some of the most famous, as well as some of the least-known, watering holes in the city – an excellent cross section of taverns each one of them with an extraordinary and colourful history. Combine two pleasures, a fine drink with an intriguing story and you have the ingredients for a good evening out in London Town. Enjoy.
