London pub crawls and historic pub tours

Decide this first, because the two formats share a name and almost nothing else.

• Historic pub tours are walking tours that happen to stop in pubs. You meet a guide, walk between three or four old taverns, and hear about fires, plague, writers, lawyers and royalty along the way. Groups are small (12 to 14 on the tours below), the pace is gentle, and drinks are not included: you buy a pint or a half at each stop, and the guide will suggest what to order. Expect conversation, not loud music.
• Party pub crawls are organized nights out in the West End. A host leads a large group, sometimes over a hundred people, between bars and nightclubs, with free entry, a free shot at each venue and discounted drinks shown on a wristband. One operator says plainly that it does not visit traditional English pubs at all. Expect loud music, a dance floor and a late finish.

A simple rule: if you'd rather talk than dance, book the historic tour. If you're on your own and want instant company for a Friday night, book the party crawl. Couples and friends who want both can do a historic tour in the afternoon, eat dinner, and decide afterward whether they still have the energy for the West End.

Whichever you pick, every product on this page is for ages 18 and up, and you should carry photo ID. One of the party crawls says it accepts only a physical passport or driver's license, not a photo or a copy.

Liquid History Tours's small-group tour of historical pubs is the one to beat. It meets at 30 Newgate Street in the City and spends 3 hours 30 minutes on foot through the City of London and its edges, visiting at least four historic pubs before finishing at Holborn. The guide covers the difference between Elizabethan coaching inns and Victorian gin palaces, takes you to the watering holes Charles Dickens used, and recommends a different ale at each stop. Drinks are not included, and the group never goes above 14, so you'll actually hear the stories.

It runs in the afternoon, which leaves your evening free for dinner or a show. Plan to eat near Holborn when it ends.

Experience Local Ltd's Royal Historic Pubs walk covers the West End instead. It starts at Piccadilly Circus and ends at Green Park, stopping at four historic pubs with royal connections that most visitors walk straight past. The guide's material leans toward gossip and legend: kings and queens slipping through alleys and tunnels, Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and even James Bond. It lasts 2–3 hours, the group is capped at 12, and food and drinks are extra. The listing notes that the operator may cancel in bad weather, so check your messages on the day.

Which to choose? If you care about the oldest buildings and the history of the City, take the Newgate Street walk. If you're staying around Piccadilly, Mayfair or St James's and want a shorter, livelier evening, take the royal pubs walk. Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Both party crawls start at the same place: Zoo Bar & Club on Bear Street, just off Leicester Square. From there the group moves through the bars and clubs of Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Soho and Chinatown. Read the fine print before you book, because these are nightclub crawls, not tours of old pubs.

London Party Pub Crawl is the bigger and better-reviewed of the two. Your ticket includes free entry everywhere, free shots, drink discounts and photos taken through the night; additional drinks and the cloakroom are extra. How many venues you see depends on when you start: the 7:45pm departure visits five, 8:45pm visits four and 9:45pm visits three, so arrive early to get your money's worth. Bring a physical ID (no photos or copies) and dress smart-casual: the operator turns away sportswear, joggers and flip-flops. It offers free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

On The Rocks Bar Crawl London pitches its crawl at solo travelers who want to meet people. The ticket includes free entry, a free shot at every venue and cheaper drinks when you show your wristband, and a photographer comes along. The operator no longer accepts stag or hen parties, or same-sex groups of more than nine, on its main crawl, and asks for a clubbing dress code with no sportswear, tracksuit bottoms, singlets or flip-flops. The big catch: all sales are final, with no refund if you cancel, so only book once your plans are fixed.

A word on pacing. A free shot at every stop adds up quickly over 2–5 hours. Eat a proper meal before you go, alternate with water or soft drinks, keep your phone charged, and agree with friends how you'll all get back to your hotel before the night starts.

You don't need a guide to drink in London's oldest pubs. This route runs west to east through the City of London, from Holborn to Bank, linking six historic pubs. We confirmed each address and that each pub is currently trading on its own website on November 3, 2026. Six is too many for one sitting: pick three or four, order halves, and eat along the way.

1. Ye Olde Mitre, 1 Ely Court, Ely Place, EC1N 6SJ. Tucked down Ely Court, off Ely Place, it bills itself as a pub that "takes traditional pub-keeping seriously," with real ales, guest ales, real scrumpy cider, a real fire and board games. Its site lists it as closed on Sundays.
2. The Old Bell Tavern, 95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH. The pub says it has been a licensed tavern for more than 300 years and was built by Sir Christopher Wren to house the masons rebuilding St Bride's Church after the Great Fire.
3. The Blackfriar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG. Built in 1875 on the site of a Dominican friary, it's an Art Nouveau showpiece designed by architect H. Fuller-Clark and artist Henry Poole, whose sculptures, mosaics and reliefs still fill the interior. A campaign led by Sir John Betjeman saved it from demolition. If you see only one pub on this list, make it this one.
4. The Viaduct Tavern, 126 Newgate Street, EC1A 7AA. Back on Newgate Street, it describes itself as a traditional gin palace near St Paul's, with a long gin list alongside craft and cask beer. It has step-free access, and its site lists it as closed on Sundays.
5. Ye Olde Watling, 29 Watling Street, EC4M 9BR. In the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral, on the old Roman road that gives the street its name. Both the pub and the City of London Corporation say Wren rebuilt it in 1668 to house his workers, and that the plans for St Paul's were drawn up in what is now the dining room.
6. Jamaica Wine House, St Michael's Alley, Cornhill, EC3V 9DS. Known locally as "the Jampot," it stands on the site of London's first coffee house, which the pub dates to 1652, with Samuel Pepys among its early patrons. Today's red sandstone building dates from 1869 and pours Kentish cask ales from Shepherd Neame. Bank and Monument stations are close by for the trip home.

When to go. The City is a business district, and its pubs keep business hours. At least two of the six list themselves as closed on Sundays and most close earlier on Saturdays, so this route works best on a weekday afternoon or early evening. Check each pub's own website for that day's hours before you set off.

If you'd like the same pubs with a storyteller, the Liquid History Tours tour starts on the same street as the Viaduct Tavern and covers the same part of the City. For a darker evening walk a little farther east, our Jack the Ripper tours guide compares the Whitechapel walks, several of which finish at a pub.

Age and ID. GOV.UK is clear: if you're under 18, it's against the law to buy alcohol, to try to buy it, or to drink it in licensed premises such as a pub or restaurant, and it's illegal for an adult to buy alcohol for you. The one exception is that 16- and 17-year-olds with an adult may drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal. Every tour on this page sets its own minimum age at 18, so teenagers can't join any of them. Carry photo ID even if you're well over 18, because bar staff can ask.

Children in pubs. According to GOV.UK, children may be able to go into a pub with an adult, but that depends on the conditions of each pub's license. The Viaduct Tavern, for example, lists itself as welcoming families; elsewhere, ask at the bar.

Ordering. In a traditional pub you go to the bar, order and pay there, and carry your drinks back to your table. Don't wait at a table to be served. If you want to eat, many pubs on our route also take table bookings for food through their websites. When a group drinks together, people often take turns buying a "round" for everyone; if you join in, make sure you take your turn.

Pace yourself. A pint at every stop adds up, and you can always ask for a half. Drink water between stops, eat something, and plan your route home before you start. If you've had a few, a licensed black cab or a pre-booked car is the safer way back.

A pub tour pairs well with other evening plans. Pair an afternoon historic pub walk with an evening West End show; our West End show tickets guide compares the ways to book. Literary visitors can add a Sherlock Holmes tour on another day.

If you'd rather focus on food than drink, compare the market walks and tastings in our London food tours guide. For ghost walks, night bus tours and evening cruises, see our London night tours roundup.