Hidden Pubs of Old London Town
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 4 customer ratings
(4 customer reviews)
Temple underground station, London
Guided by Andy
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | Weekly | 6 pm | 8.30 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
25-12-2024Short read: Cheek-by-jowl, higgledy-piggledy, quintessential London.
Long read: Gnarled, brooding back-alleys, secluded courtyards and tortuous zigzag passages. Oh there are famous sights, but to get to them we have to walk crookedly, through a maze of curiosities. We set our course by the best old pubs in town – including the most famous London inn of all. Old pubs that are, as every English pub should be, a solace and a delight. And all the more special for being hidden away down this or that dark alley, like precious gems in rumpled velvet. Here, like no other place in town, we have 2,000 years of London and its inns in the palm of our hand. The echoes are of Roman tabernas and Shakespearean ale-houses and Dickensian coaching inns – of feasting and wine and song, of the souls of poets dead and gone. The very zeitgeist of London. And what better company to keep than the shades of Dr Johnson, Oscar Wilde, and Dickens himself. Guided by Andy.
“WHAT WILL I SEE?”
OK, LET’S POP A FEW CORKS, HERE’S A TASTER…
1. You’ll see the finest Elizabethan building in the City
2. You’ll see a spiky bronze dragon clutching his thing
3. You’ll be taken through a precinct of essentially monastic character
4. You’ll see a rare survivor of pre-Fire London
5. You’ll see the only privately owned retail bank in the country. And “see through” that secret doorway.
6. You’ll see a very early example of a purpose-built office, a pioneer of the Jacobean Revival
7. You’ll see the first major Gothic Revival public building after the new Palace of Westminster
8. You’ll see the smallest house in the City of London
9. You’ll see the only London Art Deco building worthy to be set beside the skyscraper lobbies of mid-town Manhattan
10. You’ll see Wren’s tallest spire (“soaring out of its hemmed-in site, it’s like a hollyhock that escapes from the pressure of undergrowth”)
11. You’ll see a herald blowing a trumpet
12. You’ll pay your respects at the memorial to the parrot Polly, who died in 1926 aged forty, famous for her perfect imitation of the pop of a champagne cork – a feat that she performed four hundred times on Armistice night.
And that’s just for starters…
HIDDEN PUBS OF OLD LONDON TOWN – THE PRACTICALS
The meeting point is just outside the exit of Temple Tube.
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“The best walks are conducted by London Walks” Toronto Globe & Mail
“the best walking tour operator in London” London The AA Guide
“I did the Pub Tour with Steve Tuesday nov 19th and had a great time. He took us through some really cool and hidden areas in Temple and Fleet Street and shared some great stories. I thought Steve was a great, fun, entertaining and knowledgeable guide. He took us to two pubs which are real London gems and the tour ended in front of one of a third pub, one of London’s most iconic pubs. I’d recommend this tour to History and pub lovers.” MaximeRolaz, TripAdvisor, November 2019
Punch Tavern in Fleet Street. Photo by Tony Hisgett https://flic.kr/p/8qajkZ
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, public Hidden Pubs of Old London Town walk do think about booking one as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Hidden Pubs of Old London Town – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. And – always with private London Walks and tours – we go to great lengths to make sure the guide-walker(s) “fit” is well-nigh perfect. Ring Fiona or Noel or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a very special (and unusual) gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
Elizabeth Forbes –
Andrew was not only knowledgeable and entertaining, but he managed to herd some 25 individuals along and be heard as well. He was very friendly and amiably answered all my off-the-wall questions. Walking through Inns of Court and hearing his stories about the Knights Templar, the Temple Church and the Inner Court hall was a highlight for me. (With four lawyers in our family, hearing background on how barristers train was of great interest!) Another highlight: seeing Dr. Johnson’s house and Andrew’s spiel about that. The pubs we stopped into were full of character as well as historic; we had about 20 min at each to imbibe both brew and atmosphere. I definitely recommend this tour.
Elaine –
Loved last weeks walk with Andy. He is incredibly knowledgeable and great fun. I especially enjoyed the tour of the temples and the history of the various films viewed there. We went to some really great hidden gem pubs and everyone on the tour was really lovely! Highly recommend London Walks.
Linda –
Fun, entertaining and informative walk with Andy. Great little anecdotal tidbits of history We visited some wonderful pubs we never would’ve found on our own. Highly recommend this tour.
Catherine –
Thoroughly enjoyed this tour with Andy. We saw some really cool pubs. Andy gave us great info with superb storytelling and wit! Thank you for a wonderful evening.