The London Pub Guide

100+ of London's finest pubs, curated for every occasion

The Classic Soho Pub Crawl

A walk through the most characterful pubs in Soho and the West End. Every one of these has a story, from French Resistance fighters to Victorian gin palaces. This is London pub history in five stops.

5 stops0.8 miles3-4 hoursAny day works

The Route

1
The French House
Start at Soho's most famous pub. Half pints only, French wine, bohemian atmosphere. De Gaulle plotted the Free French resistance here during WWII. Dylan Thomas lost the manuscript of Under Milk Wood under a chair.
What to drink: A glass of French red wine. When in the French House, do as the French do.
🚶 6 min walk (0.3 miles)
2
The Lamb and Flag
Walk through Soho to this tucked-away Covent Garden pub. One of London's oldest pubs, dating to 1623. Charles Dickens was a regular. The poet John Dryden was attacked in the alley outside (it was known as Blood Bucket Alley).
What to drink: A proper cask ale in the wood-panelled upstairs bar.
🚶 3 min walk (0.2 miles)
3
The Harp
CAMRA National Pub of the Year. A tiny, perfectly formed real ale pub with ten handpulls and an ever-rotating selection. Standing room mostly, but worth the squeeze. The stained glass windows are magnificent.
What to drink: Whatever the bar staff recommend from the ten handpulls. They know their beer.
🚶 2 min walk (0.1 miles)
4
The Salisbury
A grand Victorian pub on St Martin's Lane with ornate glass, carved wood and original gaslamp fittings. One of the most beautiful pub interiors in London.
What to drink: A gin and tonic at the ornate bar. This pub demands something with ceremony.
🚶 8 min walk (0.5 miles)
5
The Princess Louise
End at perhaps the most stunning Victorian pub interior in London. Grade II listed, with original etched mirrors, tiled walls, a horseshoe bar and snob screens. Sam Smith's prices mean everything is absurdly cheap. A perfect finale.
What to drink: A pint of Sam Smith's for under four pounds. The cheapest pint in the West End in its finest building.
Best for
History loversTouristsAfter workShowing friends LondonCulture vultures
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The London Pub Guide
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