Tourist Guide UK

The Anchor, Bankside  old pub almost overlooking St Paul's, and frequented by Pepy's Good for drinks outside on the balcony / beer garden on summer evenings, close to the Globe Theatre, Borough Market area and Tate modern. see the free walk at self guide and watching the Thames which passes by underneath you.

Cutty Sark a couple of hundred metres to the east of the cutty sark along the riverfront is another - though the interior of this 1700's inn has been sadly modernised. see the greenwich walk which is listed for free at self guide

Waterman's Arms Isle of Dogs which is a high-ceilinged Victorian pub nicely refurbished in music-hall décor and which has live shows very much in the English music hall tradition.

The Mayflower Rotherhithe. 17th century, riverside inn complete with lattice windows, whitewash timbering and a balcony view of the spot from which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed. Said to be the only tavern in London that is licensed to sell both British and US stamps.

The Angel close to the Mayflower once Captain Cook's "local" between those sea voyages that widened the world. It also happens to be opposite the execution dock of Judge Jeffries but is a very friendly haunt these days. The balcony affords some pretty stunning views of Tower Bridge and the Prospect of Whitby

The Prospect of Whitby (57 Wapping Wall, E1) claimed as an old smugglers' pub on the Thames, well still got plenty of plenty of character, one of my local's, in the 60's was frequented by Rugby players on a Saturday with weirdly a Hawaiian band playing (many glasses were thrown into the Thames and were then collected by my friend "Doddy" and his giant alsation dog! when the tide was out)  and on a Sunday jazz unusual!  off Glamis road which is off the Highway E1 & close to Cable Street not very accessible if you are driving, see the wapping walk which is listed for free at self guide.

The George, Borough High Street. If you see only one pub this is it, not a London boozer with the "local pub" feeling, but the is only remaining old galleried coaching Inn. used to be my local, and was inhabited by the student doctors from nearby Guy's It's now a national monument, and preserved by English Heritage, and close to borough Market,   see the free walk at self guide which passes by.

The Black Friar, one of the most outstanding pubs in Britain, corner of Queen Victoria St and Blackfriars Rd  Pre-Raphaelite murals.

Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, at the top of Chancery Lane,  famous old pub with superb interior - go to the back of the pub for the best bits.

Dickens Inn -  in St. Katherine's Way is a traditional wooden beamed and wooden floored pub  The pub has an interesting setting over looking Tower Bridge and a Marina with the boats and walkways. 25 years on present site in St Katherine's dock -  but the building is older converted from an old brewery. see the wapping walk which is listed for free at self guide.

Lamb and Flag - Rose St, Covent Garden - old pub in side street opposite the Garrick Club

Olde Cheshire Cheese - 145 Fleet Street. Pub frequented by Dickens Thackeray, Dickens' chair is reputedly still where he left it.

The Grapes, Shepherd Market W1 Victorian pub which this small part of Mayfair takes its name, close to Piccadilly, Berkley Square and Green Park.

Dog and Duck Bateman Street  Soho -  very small, frequented by advertising and film workers.

The Crown Albert Embankment opposite the Tate Gallery. One of the best Thames-side Victorian pubs with splendid views of the Houses of Parliament, Lambeth Palace and the wharves which line the river banks.

The Kings Head and Eight Bells Cheyne Walk Chelsea. In the 18th century this was actually two pubs: The Kings Head for Naval officers, and the Eight Bells, for ratings. set-back a bit from the embankment, from which it is separated by an elegant garden.  The historian Carlyle's house across the street is now a museum.

City Barge Strand-on-the Green, Chiswick,. Queen Elizabeth I granted this low-beamed inn a charter back in 1484 and the old portion is much as she would have seen it.

London Apprentice at Isleworth an attractive Elizabethan inn situated on a bend in the river frequented by swans. King Henry VIII and his wives slept here, en route to Hampton Court, King Charles II also enjoyed the hospitality on offer. The terrace give a very peaceful prospect of Kew across the river.