London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs
5
London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs
By Liquid History Tours
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About
Get a local's perspective of London—and follow your guide off the tourist trail to locals-loved pubs—on a small-group, half-day walking tour that introduces you to several of the city's most historic alehouses. Try a range of local brews (own expense), see city sights, and hear stories of the legendary figures who were known to enjoy a few pints in the very same spots.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 18-99, max of 14 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Visit centuries-old, culturally significant pubs on this walking tour
- Choose to accompany your sightseeing with pints of ale (own expense)
- Get insider tips and recommendations from your guide
- Small group size ensures personalized attention
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
- Local guide
What's not included- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Meet your guide and small group in the City of London. Admire such attractions as St. Paul's Cathedral and a one-time Shakespearian playhouse while walking toward your first stop. Order a pint (own expense) in one of London's oldest pubs, frequented by many members of London's banking industry who work nearby. Listen as your guide recounts tales of the local neighborhood. Then, head to Fleet Street, famously the center of Britain's journalism industry, for a drink at a local boozer. Afterward, slip down a side street into a 17th-century pub. Choose from a wide selection of ales and ciders on tap (own expense) and hear tales of the literary greats who frequented that very space—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, and Alfred Tennyson, to name just a few. End your tour at the edged of Covent Garden with plenty of time (and insider tips) to continue the fun at another local pub.
- Start:
- 30 Newgate St, London EC2V 6AA, UKOutside ST.PAUL'S UNDERGROUND STATION (EXIT 2) Meet outside Caffe Nero on Panyer Alley
End:- Underground Ltd, Holborn Station, Kingsway, London WC2B 6AA, UKThe tour has no fixed end point, but you can expect to finish close to Holborn station or the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5452DRINK- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Minimum age is 18 years
- Most travellers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5452DRINK
From
€34.96
per adult
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Itinerary
- 30 Newgate St, London EC2V 6AA, UKOutside ST.PAUL'S UNDERGROUND STATION (EXIT 2) Meet outside Caffe Nero on Panyer Alley
- Pass bySt. Paul's Cathedral
- 1Visit London's finest art nouveau pubPass bySt Bride's ChurchFleet StreetDr. Johnson's HousePrince Henry's RoomRoyal Courts of JusticeLincoln's InnSir John Soane's MuseumCovent Garden
- Underground Ltd, Holborn Station, Kingsway, London WC2B 6AA, UKThe tour has no fixed end point, but you can expect to finish close to Holborn station or the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- L1687BBjoanh0 contributionsGreat experienceAmazing tour! Fun, informative and interesting. Will was the best guide! Great drinks and great history behind the pubs.Written 14 September 2024
- bktrave0 contributionsA great way to spend an afternoonI can’t say enough about Lochlyn and the tour he gave us. It was wonderful, informative, fun and brought smiles to faces of all who took. Was one of our highlights to London. I would highly recommend it to anybody looking to spend a few hours at some great pubs..Written 14 September 2024
- 661marleena0 contributionsYou Don’t Want to Miss this Tour!!!Lachlan was amazing! His knowledge was excellent & his energetic, expressive delivery made this day so much fun ! We would highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to experience historical London off the beaten track & Lachlan is your tour guide !!!Written 12 September 2024
- 81marlenec0 contributionsAwesome Tour Experience!LACHLAN was a fabulous guide! Knowledgeable, entertaining and very passionate about sharing the on this Historic Pub Tour!Written 12 September 2024
- Cordellaedmonton0 contributionsAmazing and informative !This tour was amazing . Great job on all the historical information on the city present and past. Lachlan did a phenomenal job all day looking after us and educating us on the history of the city .Written 12 September 2024
- Paula C0 contributionsHistorical Pub Tour - fascinating !!Lachlan was our guide through the historic pubs of London. He was incredibly smart, funny, and intuitive. He was so knowledgeable and considerate in making sure we had a great time… which we did. There were 4 of us in this tour and we all so enjoyed Lachlan’s explanations as well as his company. We love this tour.Written 11 September 2024
- Koheebee0 contributionsDrinking AND Learning ?! Such fun!Wil !! So impressive, He was a great guide and offered so many historical facts. There was no awkwardness or discomfort the entire tour, everything was organic and simply flowed. I recommend it to anybody!Written 8 September 2024
- Q9187TLmichaels0 contributionsA Nice AfternoonWe had a perfect leisurely afternoon with Will. The tour included a great stories and great pubs. Got to meet other travelers and get a some of the city's history.Written 8 September 2024
- MaxineP63840 contributionsInteresting experienceThe history was so interesting, Mark was a great host! Loved every hidden pub and the stories behind them, wouldn’t have discovered them otherwise.Written 7 September 2024
- annabS7175NZ0 contributionsWould highly recommend!I organised a private tour with a group of colleagues from various EU countries, and it was the perfect work event. Our tour guide Lachlan was so enthusiastic, knowledgable and considerate of our group dynamic and timings - he put a lot of energy into tailoring the tour to a route that suited our agenda. It was a great balance of unique historic information and relaxed pub visits. I only wish we had longer together! I would absolutely recommend the tour and company to friends, family and colleagues (and I already want to do the tour again with my husband!) 10/10, thanks ☺️Written 5 September 2024
- apeter90 contributionsMust do in London, best ever!Mark was fantastic! He provided amazing stories of the various pubs. He always gave great recommendations on the various beers and gin to drink. Highly recommend spending an evening of good drinks and spirits with Mark.Written 4 September 2024
- Westy5Ofus0 contributionsFun Night OutThis tour was fantastic. Adam our tour guide was enthusiastic and full of local history. He certainly knew his stuff and kept us entertained with laughter and fun titbits. The pubs and areas visited we would never have known about had we never gone on the tour. Highly recommend for a fun evening out in London.Written 2 September 2024
- Julie E0 contributionsInterning and fun with ShadowShadow was knowledgeable, interesting and great fun. We learnt lots about the pubs and their history as well as other snippets as we were walking around.Written 1 September 2024
- ash71p0 contributionsFun times with ShadowGreat day touring pubs around Fleet Street and St Paul’s. Shadow was fabulous brought a lot of knowledge and fun to the day - thanks had a Fab time !!Written 1 September 2024
- vash73p0 contributionsHighly recommendedWhat a lovely day spent on a private pub tour in and around St Paul’s and Fleet Street with the charming Shadow. Shadow was such a friendly and engaging guide. The tour lasted over 3 hours and was really interesting and we visited some very lovely pubs. Would highly recommend this tour for a great way to spend a day with friends in London. Especially for those who may work or live in London but don’t get time to really appreciate itWritten 1 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
4,504 reviews
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Janet A
Maidstone, UK2 contributions
Jan 2020
My husband and I joined a group of 10 this afternoon, we were pleasantly surprised by our guide Frankie’s knowledge of the area covered. She was entertaining and informative, her passion for the city’s history was apparent.
A great way to spend an afternoon sight seeing with pub pit stops.
Highly recommend.
A great way to spend an afternoon sight seeing with pub pit stops.
Highly recommend.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connie H
Boston, MA30 contributions
Feb 2020
I HIGHLY recommend this tour. I did it on my first day in London (first time visiting as well) and saw parts of London that I probably would have never seen if I had not done this. Dave was our tour guide and not only was he welcoming and friendly, he was also very funny. Most of where we walked is off the beaten path and nothing that you would find in a typical tourist guide of London. I also learned a great bit about London in terms of its history and architecture.
There were about 12 in the group and a few knew each other/traveled together, majority of us did not know anyone else. We went to 4 pubs, although I would have loved to go to 5 as it wasn't until the end of the 3rd pub and in the 4th that I feel like the group started being more social and comfortable around each other instead of on the quieter/shy side.
Overall, this was a fantastic experience that I highly recommend!
There were about 12 in the group and a few knew each other/traveled together, majority of us did not know anyone else. We went to 4 pubs, although I would have loved to go to 5 as it wasn't until the end of the 3rd pub and in the 4th that I feel like the group started being more social and comfortable around each other instead of on the quieter/shy side.
Overall, this was a fantastic experience that I highly recommend!
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel B
Chicago, IL4 contributions
My parents and I went on this pub tour in London this past weekend, and it definitely was one of our favorite activities that we did on our trip! Our tour guide Dave had a great sense of humor and was very knowledgeable regarding the city, its landmarks, and its history. We visited four pubs total (one that we were supposed to visit that day was closed as it was a Sunday, but we visited it the next day and were very glad we did), and we thoroughly appreciated learning the history of each one and enjoying the atmosphere while having a drink. I would highly recommend this tour if you are planning a trip to London!
Written 13 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ido G
9 contributions
Jun 2021
We did the tour with Will, who was super knowledgeable and fun to be with. It's mostly walking the streets of the City of London, sitting in historical pubs and talking about history. It was very interesting and the guide made sure the experience was fit to the atmosphere in the group. However, you need to pay for your own drinks which makes the tour about 40 GBP per person (25GBP tour price + 15GBP average for drinks). I think the tour should cost 15-20 for what you get. Nevertheless it was a wonderful tour.
Written 9 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for joining us and enjoying the stroll! Regarding the price level please note that that it has remained unchanged for 10 years, we guarantee every departure with just one passenger and due to current group size restrictions we continue to lose money on every departure at the moment. With commission and taxes accounting for over 50% (before operating costs) we like many businesses in the pub & hospitality trade are fighting for our onward survival. So thankyou for joining us and supporting us as we continue to share the great pubs and rich history with like-minded locals and travellers alike. Cheers to you!
Written 10 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tania B
Brighton29 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
What a fantastic way to spend an afternoon in London. We were given this as a gift and the whole booking experience was seamless John send confirmation and all the details we needed to enjoy our afternoon. Our tour guide Dave was amazing, he was witty, funny but so knowledgeable he took us to some amazing pubs with great beer telling us interesting facts and funny stories about the pubs history. Dave interacted really well with all of our group, ranging from oldies like us to young couples on holiday from far away shores. Dave gave each couple the time to ask questions and he answered them all expertly! Book this tour if you want to find and visit pubs off the tourist spots and really enjoy the history behind them. You may be lucky enough to have Dave as your guide a really lovely afternoon. Thanks Dave Tania and Steve.
Written 12 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah W
Teddington, UK1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Friends
We had two guests come to town to visit, as we have just recently relocated from the states to London. Dave, our tour guide, was amazing!!!! First, I should say, we have a 9 month old. Dave took it in stride that she would be joining us on the historical pub tour. Dave was VERY funny and he really was able to mix the right amount of humor, historical information and drinking into the tour to keep me and my guests entertained throughout the entire tour. Anytime guests come to visit we will definitely be recommending this tour!!!
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RICO AND YAMILA T
Texas18 contributions
A must do tour. We have been to London on several occasions and we absolutely delighted to have chosen this tour. We met a lot of wonderful people, learned a little history of London and it’s great pubs, and tasted several excellent examples of the outstanding beer being sold in the UK. We also did this tour on our first day. We arrived at 1000 in the morning and went on the tour at 1400 hours until about 1900 hours. We then went to dinner and then returned to our hotel to rest. By during this and not going directly to bed on our arrival we reset out internal clocks and were able to get up the next day with no issues.
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Off the plane and straight into the thick of London's liquid history. That's the spirit. Great review. Cheers!
Written 7 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alan Jackson
Langley City, Canada44 contributions
Apr 2022
Myself, my wife, and our moms all thoroughly enjoyed this tour. It is a fantastic way to visit some great pubs, and to learn some quirky history about London. The groups are kept small enough that the tour feels more like a group of friends visiting the pub than it does a tour.
I'm sure the pubs visited vary on each tour, but you are certain to visit some truly historic and culturally important pubs, with time enough to enjoy a pint in each one. Or two, if you're quick enough. You'll learn about the history of the pub, or the building it's in, perhaps a ghost story or two, and tales of famous customers who may (or may not) have frequented the pub in days gone by.
Our guide, Kevin, was superb. Full of insight into the history of pub culture, the quirky history of the locations visited, and more than willing to answer any questions, or just have a friendly chat over a pint. A lovely bloke, even if he is an Arsenal supporter.
I cannot recommend this tour highly enough, especially to those with in an interest in pub culture, or even an interest in the history of London in general. A fantastic way to spend an afternoon in London.
I'm sure the pubs visited vary on each tour, but you are certain to visit some truly historic and culturally important pubs, with time enough to enjoy a pint in each one. Or two, if you're quick enough. You'll learn about the history of the pub, or the building it's in, perhaps a ghost story or two, and tales of famous customers who may (or may not) have frequented the pub in days gone by.
Our guide, Kevin, was superb. Full of insight into the history of pub culture, the quirky history of the locations visited, and more than willing to answer any questions, or just have a friendly chat over a pint. A lovely bloke, even if he is an Arsenal supporter.
I cannot recommend this tour highly enough, especially to those with in an interest in pub culture, or even an interest in the history of London in general. A fantastic way to spend an afternoon in London.
Written 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A remarkable day out considering Kevin is a Gooner, but let's not hold that against him too much! Lovely review and thanks for joining. Cheers!
Written 3 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joe H
5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Tour started promptly at 2 pm, near center of City of London. Tour guide, Dave, was super cool and had an amazing depth of historic knowledge of the streets, buildings and pubs we visited.
This tour went to almost 6 pm!!! The value meter is off the charts.
The pubs on the tour were arguably the oldest in the City of London, like Ye Old Cheshire Cheese. So many good beers and ales we drank along the way. Would recommend to be well-rested, because this is a true journey with ‘pints’ at every turn.
Cheers
This tour went to almost 6 pm!!! The value meter is off the charts.
The pubs on the tour were arguably the oldest in the City of London, like Ye Old Cheshire Cheese. So many good beers and ales we drank along the way. Would recommend to be well-rested, because this is a true journey with ‘pints’ at every turn.
Cheers
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karl s
Birmingham, UK11 contributions
Sept 2021 • Friends
I treated my friend to the Liquid London Pub tour for her birthday in September, I enjoyed this tour some years earlier but for my friend it was her first guided tour. We both thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon, it was the perfect balance in terms of learning about historical buildings and enjoying drinks in some fine pubs that were steeped in history. The tour guide, Mark Wimmers, was wonderful, his knowledge knew no bounds and I loved the way that he introduced a blend of humour and fascinating insight into the history of this great city. Mark was a brilliant charasmatc tour guide, if only my history teachers at school had made my lessons as interesting as Mark did I might have left with a decent history grade. Thank you for a memorable and enjoyable experience. Karl
Written 21 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Karl for such a cracking review and joining us again for our trundle down Tippling Street. Look forward to another stroll. Cheers!
Written 23 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Would you recommend a weekday tour vs a weekend? Just wondering how busy the pubs get and if/how that impacts the tour. TIA!
Written 25 March 2023
Sorry for the delay; would recommend a weekday for the tour, as I think you are right that the pubs will be more crowded in the weekends. Enjoy!
Written 3 May 2023
HI, I will be traveling solo for work and I was wondering about the solo/couple dynamics of the tour. Are there may solo travelers in the group and do we all introduce ourselves to the other members of the tour?
Thanks in advance
Steve
Written 25 June 2022
Hi Steve.Did the tour last Friday. The group size is 12 .Although most of the group were in couples ,there were families (adult son with his Mum and Step dad ,myself with my adult son) and singles .The group age overall would be between 25 and 65 .The people seem to have an interest in the British culture of 'beer ' and 'the pub' and the social history of London amd England that goes with it. The guide introduces himself at the beginning and over the three hours everyone gets to know each other and have a relaxing time. The tour is in English, so most are English speakers. There were a lot of Americans on our trip ,who had all booked separately and were not part of a package. No one knew each other before hand, but by the end everyone was talking and having a great time.
Written 28 June 2022
HI, I will be arriving in oct. of 2022 and will be solo. Was just wondering the dynamics of solo travelers with known groups/couples. Do you have many solo travelers in the groups.
Thanks in advance,
Steve
Written 25 June 2022
Our tour began at 2:00 at St. Paul’s and ended at the Old Cheshire Cheese. Fun tour!
Written 27 June 2022
Is this appropriate for a 12 year old, we would be 6 adults and her
Written 29 January 2021
The website allows me to purchase tickets for a Tuesday although the tour says its run on Wednesday, Friday and weekends. Can you verify i can book the tour on a Tuesday?
Written 21 October 2019
Please note this tour departs everyday at 2pm except Christmas Day etc. All reservations completed using the live availability listed here or on own website. Cheers!
Written 7 January 2020
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