Can I do this London pub crawl if I don't drink alcohol?

Yes. All five pubs serve non-alcoholic options including soft drinks, alcohol-free beers, and food menus. The crawl works equally well as a self-guided historic walking tour with great atmosphere at every stop.

Do I need to book a table at any of these pubs?

No, these are walk-in pubs. The exception is The Old Bank of England on a Friday or Saturday night if you're planning a sit-down meal — calling ahead is smart in that case.

Do you tip in London pubs?

Tipping at the bar is not expected in UK pubs. If you want to show appreciation, you can offer to buy the bartender a drink. For sit-down food service, a 10 to 12.5% tip is standard, though many pubs add this as automatic service charge. Always check your bill.

Top 5 Must-Visit Pubs on a London Pub Crawl (With Map!)

Q: What's the best time of day to start a London pub crawl?

Early afternoon, around 1:00 to 2:00 PM, is the sweet spot. Pubs aren't crowded yet, you can grab good seats, and you'll wrap up around dinner time. Avoid Friday and Saturday evenings unless you don't mind crowds.

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If walls could talk, the pubs in London would have so much to say. Join us as we set out to raise a pint in some of London’s oldest, funkiest, and slightly spooky pubs. These pubs serve some serious character, which is why we’re sharing a map, beer tips, and some fun stories for your journey.

Where boozy meets history — join the cheekiest pub crawl in London.

Quick Glimpse: The 5-Pub Crawl Route

Walk this crawl in order — it’s mapped to flow naturally between stops:

Ye Olde Mitre
The Seven Stars
The Old Bank of England
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
The Old Bell Tavern

Total walking time: about 25 minutes between stops. Plan 3-4 hours start to finish if you’re settling in for a pint at each.

London Historic Pub Crawl Map

We’ve created a custom Google Map with all five pubs marked, beer recommendations on each pin, and walking directions between them. Save it to your phone before you start by tapping the menu icon at the top-left of the map.

Self-Guided Pub Tour

There is so much to do and see in London and let’s be real, it can be hard to fit everything in if you’re only visiting for a short while. That’s where Passport Partners comes to your rescue. Don’t stress about where to grab a pint, we’ve got your back. We’ve mapped out 5 of our favorite pubs in Central London to make things easy.

If you’re into:

Boozy history
Secret alleyways
Haunted buildings
Really good beer

This blog is for YOU.

1 Ye Olde Mitre

📍 1 Ely Ct, Ely Place, London EC1N 6SJ
🍺 Beer to Order: Fuller’s Extra Special Bitter
🚇 Nearby Tube: Chancery Lane (Central Line)

No proper pub crawl starts without a legendary first stop and Ye Olde Mitre is the perfect place to kick things off. Tucked away down a narrow passageway, this hidden gem is a bit of a treasure hunt to find, but totally worth the effort. This pub dates back to 1564, when it served the servants of the Bishops of Ely. Today, it overflows with history. It once even hosted Queen Elizabeth herself. Ye Olde Mitre definitely sets the tone for this crawl.

Walk 11 minutes to your next stop…

2 The Seven Stars

📍 53 Carey Street, London WC2A 2JB
🍺 Beer to Order: Fuller’s London Pride or Five Points Pale Ale

Step into one of London’s most haunted pubs. Tucked just behind the Royal Courts of Justice, The Seven Stars is a quirky joint that’s undeniable in charm is the pub’s resident cat, donned in a ruffled collar, lounges by the bar daily. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, their handwritten menus and daily specials are scrawled on chalkboards. Having survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, this pub has proudly remained independent, and chatting with the regulars is half the fun. Don’t be surprised if you walk away with a ghost story or two.

Walk 3 minutes to your next stop…

3 The Old Bank of England

📍 194 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2LT
🍺 Beer to Order: Guinness
😋 Food to Order: Fish and chips

The Old Bank of England is one of London’s most stunning places to grab a pint (or two). Converted from an old bank in 1990, the building still contains the original bank vaults beneath the bar, adding drama to the space. Visitors are surrounded by ornate ceilings, chandeliers, and a grand staircase but there’s a darker twist behind this building’s beauty. Legend has it that a local barber housed his very famous shop nearby. The infamous Sweeney Todd is said to have committed many grisly murders in his shop and then baked their remains into meat pies. (Yuck.)

Walk 5 minutes to your next stop…

4 Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

📍 145 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BP
🍺 Beer to Order: Samuel Smith Ale

Get your cameras ready because we’re headed to our FAVORITE pub on this crawl. Dating to 1667, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese sits tucked down a narrow alleyway off Fleet Street, this hidden gem is admittedly a bit of a treasure hunt to find, but honestly, totally worth the effort. Be sure to duck your head on its winding staircases as you tour its rooms. We highly recommend checking out the bar in the cellar, which dates all the way back to the 13th century. In fact, don’t expect any sports on the TV here — this pub doesn’t have any TVs or music. Relax, take in the atmosphere, and imagine what it would be like to sit next to some of this pub’s famous past visitors: Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to name a few.

This is the pub we make time to visit every single time we’re in London. The ambiance and unique atmosphere are like no other. We hope you love Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese as much as we do.

Walk 3 minutes to your final stop…

5 The Old Bell Tavern

📍 95 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1DH
🍺 Beer to Order: Nicholson’s Cask Ale
🚇 Nearby Tube: Blackfriars Station (District and Circle Lines)

One of London’s best-kept secrets and your final stop, The Old Bell Tavern. This pub dates to 1678, when it originally housed the stonemasons working on a nearby church. The cozy interior with wooden beams, period decor, all of it just really leans into that authentic old London atmosphere. Furthermore, there are so many nooks and crannies to explore here. Honestly, we’re kind of obsessed with this place’s charm. It gives off exactly the boozy-history vibe we love, and it’s the perfect place to wind down the crawl.

Beginner’s Guide to British Beer

Pull up a stool — we’re giving you a crash course in Beer-ology: British beers edition. 🇬🇧 Travel by glass through the UK’s beer scene and enjoy a wide variety of flavors with each pour.

Start With the Basics: Ales

Bitter Ale

Don’t be afraid based on its name. Best known for its balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness, this British pub ale is a classic and extremely popular with the locals. When you order, ask for a pint of London Pride.

Pale Ale

Light in color and flavor, UK pale ales have a noticeable hop-forward bitterness. Similar to American-style pale ales, but with a lower alcohol content.

India Pale Ale (IPA)

Hoppier and more aromatic versions of pale ales. UK IPAs have a strong, bitter flavor and often feature tropical notes. Once again, similar to the American version but with a lower alcohol content.

Mild Ale

Lower in alcohol, mild ales are often malty with a smooth texture and flavors ranging from nutty to caramel-like. They used to be more common but are now more of a niche style.

Cask Ale

Now, if you’re not a frequent beer drinker, you might not have had a cask ale. It’s not really a style of beer but a way it’s served. Casks are served using a hand pump (not a tap) and served cool — the idea is that this method pulls out the natural flavor of the beer.

Lager

Light beer lovers who enjoy something crisp or malty will do well to order “a pint of lager, please.” A pub might have Foster’s, Heineken, Carling, or Stella Artois on tap — any of which you may like. If you’re into Miller Lite or Bud Light back home, this is what you’d likely prefer.

Beyond Ales: Porters and Stouts

Porter

A beer you’d likely sit and sip, porters got their name from their popularity amongst porters working in London in the 18th century. The traditional UK porter is served cool (not ice-cold and crisp like a lager) and is typically served from a cask, not a barrel. Crafted with notes of chocolate, coffee, and caramel, they have a slightly sweeter taste — unlike American porters, which are stronger and bolder.

If you’ve never had a traditional porter, order yourself a Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter. You won’t be disappointed.

Stout

Originally called a stout porter (now just referred to as stout), think rich and creamy with a heavy texture. Your most common stout, and a staple in our household, is Guinness. If you’re from the USA, be sure to try a Guinness here — we swear it tastes different (less bitter) than what it does in America. Other favorites you might consider: O’Hara’s Irish Stout or Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout.

Now that you’re officially educated, it’s time to put that knowledge to use.

Cheers to Exploring London One Pint at a Time

Overall, this crawl is honestly one of our favorite things to do in London It’s the kind of itinerary you can hand to a friend visiting for the first time and know they’ll come back raving about it. We’ve done it twice now and we’ll keep going back.

If you follow this crawl, tag us on Instagram @passportpartnerstravel. We love seeing your version and what new places you explore and add to the list. Drop your favorite historic pub in the comments so we can check it out on our next trip.

Safe travels, and cheers!

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan for 3 to 4 hours start to finish if you’re settling in for a pint at each stop. The walking time between pubs is about 25 minutes total, but the real time sink is enjoying each pub and chatting with regulars, exploring the historic rooms, and ordering food at one or two of them. If you want to move faster (one drink per stop, no food), you could finish in about 2 hours.

Absolutely. All five pubs serve a variety of non-alcoholic options like soft drinks, juices, alcohol-free beers, and full food menus. The crawl works just as well as a self-guided historic walking tour. The buildings, the secret alleyways, and the stories (Sweeney Todd, ghost legends, Charles Dickens’ booth) are the real draw, and you don’t need to drink to enjoy any of that.

Early afternoon, around 1:00–2:00 PM, is our sweet spot. The pubs aren’t crowded yet, you can grab good seats, and you’ll wrap up around dinner time at the final stop (perfect for fish and chips). Avoid Friday and Saturday evenings unless you don’t mind crowds because these pubs get packed with locals after work. Sunday afternoon is lovely if you’re around for it.

For the crawl itself, no. These are walk-in pubs and reservations aren’t typically needed. The exception is if you’re planning a sit-down meal at The Old Bank of England (their fish and chips are worth the visit) on a Friday or Saturday night. In that case, calling ahead is smart. Otherwise, just walk in, find a seat or stand at the bar, and order at the counter (UK pub etiquette — table service isn’t standard).

Tipping at the bar is not expected in UK pubs and trying to tip a bartender is sometimes seen as awkward. If you want to show appreciation, you can offer to “buy them a drink” (they’ll often add it to your bill but pocket the money). For sit-down food service in a pub restaurant, a 10–12.5% tip is standard, though many pubs add this as an automatic service charge. Always check your bill before adding extra.

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