City of London Historic Pubs

The Square Mile is dotted with pubs that survived the Great Fire (some literally rebuilt the morning after). Best done on a weekday lunchtime when the City is working and the pubs are properly busy. Weekends they're closed or empty.

🍺 5 stops🚶 1.4km⏱ ~3 hours📍 Meet at Farringdon or St Paul's

HistoricCity suitsReal aleWeekday onlyWood-panelled

The route

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Stops

1
Ye Olde Mitre
★ 4.7
1, Ely Court, London, EC1N 6SJ
1546. Tucked down an alley behind Hatton Garden.
2
Old Doctor Butler's Head
2, Mason's Avenue, London, EC2V 5BT
1610. Named after James I's quack doctor.
3
Ye Olde Watling
★ 4.6
29, Watling Street, London, EC4M 9BR
Rebuilt 1668 by Christopher Wren. Cosy upstairs.
4
The Hand & Shears
1, Middle Street, London, EC1A 7JA
Smithfield. Used by the Bartholomew Fair court for sentencing.
5
Hoop & Grapes
80 Farringdon St, London EC4A 4BL, UK
1721. Only timber-framed building in the City.