I'm looking for recommendations on the best pubs in London. My wife and I are going in August. We've been before so we know they're everywhere and are all pretty good. We're looking for traditional pubs that still focus on ale and maybe have some historical notoriety. I've done some research and I'm already planning visits to Ye Olde Chesire Cheese, French House, Black Friar, Lamb & Flag, Anchor Tap and The George. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

If you go to the Churchill Arms (forget the street, but take the tube to Nottinghill Gate and ask anyone) you get two good experiences in one: First, it's a great pub and, regardless of it's widespread notarity in tour books, the locals absolutely spill out onto the sidewalks in the evenings. Second, behind it (attached) is a great little Thai restaurant. <BR> <BR>Since you're heading over to the Lamb & Flag, walk a couple of blocks to Covent Garden (or, better yet, take the tube to Covent Garden, turn right at the corner and walk to the Lamb & Flag). Anyway, just after exiting the tube and turning right to head toward the stalls area you'll see a pub on the first corner on your right (one of these days I'll note the street name!). It's the White Lion. Go around the corner to enter, go up the steep stairs and at the top is a small dining room. Grab a table at the window and watch the world pass by below. The food is great (VERY good chicken and fish & chips), beer is cold and the meals come up from the bar area below by dumbwaiter. <BR>I'll keep thinking...

<BR> <BR>My favorite pub is always the one just around the corner . . The really good ones are outside London butsome of the more memorable ones in Central London . . <BR> <BR>"The Drawn & Quartered" by the Tower <BR>"Three Tonnes" (behind M&S on Oxford) <BR>"The Angel", Marylebone High & New Cavendish <BR>"The Boot & Flogger" in Blackfriers <BR> <BR>These are personal favourites, not necessarily widely visited. <BR> <BR>Enjoy . . Rich

Oh I do like the Lamb and Flag and the White Lion! I enjoyed the locals so much ...after a few trips to the 'traditional pubs' in the guidebooks, I found I enjoyed sitting with locals more than other tourists looking for an authenitic experience. The agree IMHO that the pub just down the street and around the corner is the best way to 'meet' the country and its people. <BR> <BR>Cheers! <BR> <BR>Wendy

Oops- not 'the' agree IMHO, but I agree IMHO!

George, <BR>Here’s a walk that covers four rather historic pubs in a relatively concentrated area. Take the tube to the Charing Cross station. Walk across Trafalgar Square to St. Martin’s Lane. (It’s between the National Gallery and St. Martin in the Fields church.) At 90 St. Martin’s Lane, you’ll find The Salisbury Pub which dates from the mid 19th century and is notorious for the bare knuckle fights that were held there in that era. It’s a stunning pub and you may find it filled with theatre people. Leave the pub, cross St. Martin’s Lane and enter Goodwin’s Court at 55-56 St. Martin’s Lane. Goodwin’s Court is a wonderfully authentic 18th century street. At its end turn left on Bedfordbury, then right on New Row, cross Garrick Street and continue straight onto Rose Street to 33 Rose, The Lamb and Flag pub. This one is really old, being one of the few wooden structures to survive the Great Fire of 1666. It was once known as the “Bucket of Blood” because of all the fights that broke out in it. It was also one of Charles Dickens favorite spots on his pub crawls. Backtrack to Garrick Street, turn left, continue down Garrick (which changes its name to Bedford) to The Strand and turn left again. Continue on The Strand to 91 The Strand and The Coal Hole pub. Now a popular refuge for theatre people, it got its name in the early 19th century from the coal haulers who unloaded boats on the river and went there to restore themselves. Leave the pub, cross The Strand and walk straight ahead to Southampton Street. Walk up to Maiden Lane, turn left and continue on Maiden Lane which changes its name to Chandos Place. At 51 Chandos Place you’ll find the Marquis of Granby pub which dates to the 17th century when it was called “The Hole in the Wall” and run by a mistress of the Duke of Buckingham. It’s a friendly tavern which, like the others, attracts theatre people. Now backtrack on Chandos to Southampton, turn left on Southampton and continue up the hill to Covent Garden Market where you won’t find any pubs of historic significance but you will find three pubs on the north side of the market, any one of which serves pretty good traditional pub food. <BR> <BR>

George: <BR> <BR>You have received excellent advise, but thought I would suggest the following site anyway: <BR> <BR>http://www.pubs.com/ <BR> <BR>You might find something of interest there. I have enjoyed going through the site. We love pub food and the whole atmosphere. My grandfather worked in a brewery and as a child I often accompanied him to the brewery. I absolutely love my pint of ale! I always say a good dark ale is not just a drink, but actually a meal! <BR> <BR>Have a good time. I envy your pub crawl. Joanne

Wow, thank you, Wes Fowler! I've printed your post out to save for my next visit to London! <BR>And thank you everyone else too.

If you're looking for history, you should try the Prospect of Whitby. Its one of the oldest riverside pubs and has a history of smuggling and villainry. Its really interesting. I also heard (not sure if its true) that this is the where food was dropped off during the plague - the closest that Dutch ships would come to London (apparently this is where the expression the Black Plague comes from). Also, from here is a really nice riverside walk up to Limehouse along the river and the old warehouses, and now a lot of new apartments. Its very pretty, and along the way you pass the Barley Mow, which doesn't have much history but is a really good riverside pub. The walk to Limehouse takes about 30-45 minutes. You can go to Limehouse DLR station and walk down towards Narrow Street, or from the other end go to Tower Bridge and find your way to Wapping Wall where the Prospect of Whitby is. This is a really nice part of London, not much touristed.

OK. I just wrote without thinking or re-reading! Its the expression Dutch Courage (not Black Plague), as apparently the Dutch were the only ones who would come to London.

Thanks for all of the great information. I'll be sure to put it to good use.

The Three Greyhounds in Soho!