London Bars That Are Older Than the US

In London , beer has been a basic of life pretty much since the metropolis was founded … which was , in case you forgot , a really longsighted prison term ago . Yankeeland was n’t even a twinkle in dependable old UK ’s eye when Londoners first start criticise back dry pint like it was going out of style . Go and soak up some history in these ridiculously one-time pubs – while you inebriate in some in effect old - fashioned booze .

The Grapes

LimehouseFounded:1583Currently own by Sir Ian McKellen , this was once one of the more knavish pubs in the surface area – a place where manslayer , thief , and boatman would take vantage of drunks to reappropriate their belongings and dump the body ( dead or animated ) into the river . These days , it ’s a bit nicer , with plenty of rustic appeal and lots of beer .

The Spaniards Inn

HampsteadFounded:1585Perched on the edge of the heathland , the literary world owe The Inn a lot of party favor : Dickens refer this pub inThe Pickwick Papers , Bram Stoker include it inDracula , and it was ofttimes a spot for drowning the esthetic woes of Byron , Keats , and Reynolds . These days , its massive outside garden distance is up there as a perfect solar trap for slothful good afternoon .

Prospect of Whitby

WappingFounded:1520If you were looking for fuss back in the Clarence Day , this would be your jam . Loaded with pirates , traitor , moon curser , and thieves , The Devil ’s Tavern ( as it was eff ) was the local hangout for those look to take vantage of the pothouse ’s meridian location on the river . Although it was burned about to the ground in the eighteenth 100 , shady characters always need a post to wheel and deal , and the space was quickly rebuilt . These days , it ’s a bit more meek , but the opened plan layout means there ’s in general place for you to behave out your swashbuckling antics .

The Old Bell Tavern

The CityFounded:1670Although the name has changed a couple times – it was once called “ The Swan ” – this land site has been intoxicate humans for century . Even the Great Fire could n’t keep this spot from boozing the world , having been completely rebuild by designer Sir Christopher Wren as a dedicated watering kettle of fish to the hardworking masons who were rebuild St Bride ’s Church nearby . Now own by monumental pub grouping Nicholson , it ’s lost a bit of charm in the cleanup , but its beautiful , antique stained glassful windowpane remain integral .

Lamb & Flag

Covent GardenFounded:1772Up a tiny alley in Covent Garden , this tiny pub was once know as “ The Bucket of rakehell ” for the bare - knuckle joint fights that would regularly break in out amongst imbiber . While the business is much more convivial these days , this place go absolutely take , with more people spill out onto the street than inside … the scene is very up penny-pinching and personal .

Ye Olde Mitre

HolbornFounded:1546Founded in the Tudor era , this erstwhile - schooltime tearing hole has really stuck to its ancestor . Squeeze down the pub ’s tiny side street , and you ’ll find a space without music , gambling motorcar , or raucous behaviour here : the Mitre is mainly a spot for suits and tourer to unwind , bump back a few ales , and soak in the decor … which has n’t switch in half a century .

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

The CityFounded:1667While there was a previous saloon on this same site since 1538 , it ’s been trade as The Cheese consistently since the late 1660s , with not too many update . Existing with no rude ignitor inside – who really needs vitamin five hundred in England ? – the measure has evolve into a serial of small rooms over several floors , starting with sawdust - continue floorboards which can soak up beer , line of descent , and traffic from the outside , just as it had in days gone by . The place becomes slightly more refined the more trading floor you climb .

The George Inn

BoroughFounded:1677Once a coffee berry theatre which Dickens visited , the George is one of the last remaining terrasse pubs and is perfectly gorgeous from the outside . Originally a coach lodge , the saloon itself has multiple rooms take with gear from Day last by , like tapestries , maps , and portraits save and curated by the building ’s possessor , the National Trust .

Cittie of Yorke

HolbornFounded:1645This location has been a spot for crapulence since the 1400 ’s , but the Cittie of York itself has only – only ! – been slush since 1645 . The quad itself is a mismatch of styles and plan , with wood radio beam cap , fireplaces , small booths , and monolithic ceiling . Be sure to keep exploring in there , as there are a identification number of hidden bars that have all link up up into the one big building complex .

Sign up herefor our day-to-day London email and be the first to get all the intellectual nourishment / drunkenness / merriment in the uppercase .

Haley Forestis a food and drinks author who appreciates chronicle , but have a go at it modern libation and their “ belike wo n’t kill you " properties . Check out her adventures on all things social at@HCForest .

the spaniard’s inn