Bars & pub crawls · HISTORIC PUB TOURS IN THE UK
The good historic pub tours in the UK sell out before the weekend does. Below: the 15 to book early, what each one includes and how they differ at the door.
Spend about three and a half hours walking from the City of London to Covent Garden with a guide such as Tim, Chris, Freddy, or Dave. Visit four distinctive pubs, hear stories tied to Dickens, Fleet Street, churches, law, and local life, and buy drinks as you go.
“Completely worth it! You will love this tour if you love history, drinks, and new friends. So much fun!”
Walk from Piccadilly Circus through Soho with an English-speaking guide, stopping at four historic pubs linked to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mozart. Guides such as Ben, Gherto, Tom, Harvey, and Callum bring the stories to life. Drinks are extra.
“Great tour from beginning to end. Tom was brilliant and knew his craft. Passionate about music in general and who doesn't love hearing stories over a 1/2 pint of beer. All four pubs were crowded (cuz its December in Central London), but Tom made it work and we were always having a good time in our group of 7. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys music stories (drinking not required, but it keeps you warm)”
Meet your English-speaking guide outside St Paul’s Underground station for a gentle two-mile walk through old lanes, famous drinking streets, four historic pubs, and a grand Victorian gin palace. Guides such as Dave, Tim, Shadow, and Lachlan mix London stories with humor. Drinks cost extra.
“Tour was fantastic, Adam was super informative and a lot of fun!”
Meet your English-speaking guide at Piccadilly Circus and walk through Soho’s music-soaked streets, stopping at four historic pubs. Hear stories about Lennon, Hendrix, Bowie, Mozart, and the Sex Pistols, with time to buy drinks and chat with the group.
“Henry was amazing it was by far the best tour we had in london !! we had the best time, highly recommend !”
Walk from Piccadilly Circus through St James’s and its historic pubs with a local guide such as Ben, Luke, Henry, or Tom. Expect royal and celebrity stories, four pub stops, drink suggestions, and a small group of no more than 12. Drinks and food cost extra.
“Fun and informative tour. Was a memorable way to start our New Year’s Eve celebration. Our tour guide Ben was knowledgeable and added in some additional stops that we enjoyed as well. Would recommend.”
Walk through the City of London and Holborn with a private guide such as Lyndon, Lachlan, Ricky, or Adam. Visit historic pubs including Black Friar, the Old Bank of England, and Princess Louise, while hearing stories about churches, courts, Dickensian streets, gin, beer, and London’s wartime past.
“Despite the atrocious weather, we had a great time. Adam was a fantastic guide, good company and knowledgeable about the historical and alcoholic aspects of the tour. Would recommend.”
Meet your English-speaking guide at Piccadilly Circus for a 2.5-hour walk through royal London. Visit four historic pubs near Buckingham Palace, hear stories of Churchill, royalty, music, and film, and buy drinks as you go. Guides may include Tom, Henry, Danny, Ben, Luke, or Carlos.
“Had an amazing afternoon with our group. Our guide Luke was excellent, making sure there was a fun, easy atmosphere with a good variation between history, interesting facts, drink recommendations and time to chat with one another. Met some really lovely people on this tour.”
Join professional actors such as Emma, Dougal, Mike, Hazel, Paul, or David for a two-hour evening walk through Edinburgh. Expect poems, songs, comic character work, historic pubs, and stories about Burns, Stevenson, Scott, and other Scottish writers. Drinks are optional.
“This is a fun experience for people that love literary history. There is some walking as you have to walk to the different pubs, but it is very manageable.”
Meet at Embankment Station at 1:30 pm and walk with a local guide to four historic Covent Garden pubs. Guides such as Rachel, Mike, and Carolina share pub tales, London lore, and drink tips. You get reserved seating at an 800-year-old pub, but drinks and food cost extra.
“We loved this tour and have already recommended it to our friends. Our guide was so knowledgeable and put 100% into this descriptions and answering our questions. It was so interesting to hear about the history behind the pubs and also many of London's famous buildings and myths that we had never heard of before. For £10 each this is amazing value for money and we will be booking another London tour for next week. Julie and Barry from Orpington”
Follow a 2.5-hour route through Whitechapel and Spitalfields with guides such as Cova, Jude, Becky, Sarah, and Ollie. Hear the case at real locations, visit The Ten Bells and The Bell, and buy drinks along the way. Expect walking, grim details, and lively storytelling in English or French.
“Great guide with accurate info delivered well. Great atmosphere”
Start at Sloane Square for a 2.5-hour walk through Belgravia, pairing grand homes and cobbled mews with lesser-known pubs. Guides such as Luke, Tom, Carlos, and Jack share local stories and drink tips. Groups cap at 12, and the tour ends near Hyde Park Corner Station.
“Carlos was the best. So friendly and outgoing, he gave us a real history of the pubs but also parts of London we passed along the way. He engaged each member of our group and made everyone feel welcomed. He really made it a fun and fascinating few hours.”
Join an English-speaking guide, often George, for a two-hour walk from Chancery Lane through old streets and back alleys. Visit historic pubs, hear stories of gin, Dickens, Dylan Thomas, and a poet’s duel, then enjoy a free half pint at one of Dickens’ regular pubs.
“George was our guide and he was so pleasant and enthusiastic. He made the tour an amazing experience and was very open to any questions about London. Great tour!”
Walk from Embankment to Covent Garden with a guide such as Rachel, Mike, Carolina, or Adam, visiting four historic pubs. Hear London stories, folklore, and drink advice, then buy your own ales, beers, spirits, or snacks as you go.
“Rachel provided us with a very fun and informative pub tour, peppered with London history. We enjoyed it very much.”
Follow Clart and McBrain through Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns for two hours of comic theatre, literary tales, and pub stops. Professional actors cover Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Harry Potter, and Inspector Rebus. Drinks and food cost extra, and under-18s cannot enter the pubs.
“Our tour was informative, entertaining and overall a pleasant experience. Definitely recommended this experience.”
Meet your English-speaking guide outside Sloane Square station for a 2.5-hour walk through Belgravia. Visit old pubs, hear stories of the Beatles, royalty, gangsters, and writers, and explore streets many London visitors miss. Guides include Jack, Tom, Luke, Carlos, and Al.
“we had a fantastic guided tour with Jack. he really knew a lot about the historical places we visited. would definitely recommend booking this tour”
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