Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London

You will be personally met at your central London accommodation by your own private guide to begin your trail through the best and most historic pubs London has to offer. A relaxed, informative, and enjoyable tour tailored to your interests and pace. First up is -The Mayflower This waterside Tavern dates back to the 1500's, and in 1620 Christopher Jones docked his ship outside the Tavern. That ship was called the Mayflower and would take the founding colonists out to the New World that would become the USA. Those who have ancestry back to the Mayflower can ask to sign the register kept behind the bar. You can even purchase postage stamps, this tradition goes back to the time when the area was alive with sailors from all over the globe. They often had no time to go to a post office when ashore, so the Mayflower was granted a special licence. Crammed full of nautical items, a cosy fire place and candle lit, you really could be in a different age.

The only surviving galleried Pub in London that dates back to Tudor times. Often referred to as William Shakespeare local, it also has connections to Charles Dickens and Sir Winston Churchill. The yard next to the George used to be the site of the Tabard Inn, featured in Canterbury Tales. The Bear Baiting, Cock Fighting and Bare knuckle Boxing may be long gone, but the George retains many of it's period features and eccentric clientele. Shakespeare if said to have performed plays in the courtyard here.

With cellars dating to the 13th Century and the upper rooms largely unchanged since the 1700's it's no wonder this Pub features on lists of the most atmospheric sites in London. A truly Dickensian Pub. The upstairs bar is as traditional as you can imagine, complete with a fireplace and wooden paneling that dates back to the reign of Charles II. Dr Samuel Johnson, David Garrick, and James Boswell are all said to have supped Ale and dined on Chops here. The most famous resident of this pub is Polly who sits stuffed in a glass box above the bar. This celebrity Parrot lived in the Pub for over 30 years, and became notorious for bad language and mimicking the sound of corks popping! Apparently the Hellfire Club met in the upper rooms here. The erotic tiles discovered in the 1960's seem to support that rumor. As your personal guide, I will make sure you know all the fascinating history of this very special pub.