The idea of holding a pub crawl began between friends at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival. As a bunch of 20(ish)-year-olds from the suburbs, we had been used to visiting busy, overpriced London bars whenever there was a birthday to celebrate. 

I wanted to find an alternative that would be cheaper than buying cans of lager in a nightclub, avoid the pounding loud music of an awfully overpacked bar and take in some of the historic pubs and surrounding landmarks of this city. 

There is such a surprising amount of history, even in the most auspicious places it was initially fairly easy to find ancient pubs of interest or cultural importance that serve real ales within an easy walking distance.

The first crawl took a group of around 30 friends through Soho and the back streets, during a busy and sunny Saturday afternoon. The success meant that ultimately folks were asking when the next one would be. 

Over the years we have had as many as 80 people join us as we have mooched around Westminster, Baker Street, Chancery Lane and along the river. Taking in some iconic pubs such as Mayfair’s The Marlborough Head; a favourite of mine due to the subtle features like toilets hidden in the bookcases and booths made of coffins.

Whilst we often fit in some more functional pubs for those to eat cheaply, the route predominantly covers historic venues such as the Princess Louise in Holborn – famed for its listed urinals! 

The routes allow you to immerse yourself in history at venues including the birthplace of the Dictionary – Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and spectacular Lord’s; the home of cricket.

Many of these pubs have stood for years alongside iconic landmarks such as St. Pauls Cathedral, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and Marble Arch; but despite London’s rich history the crawl has taken in some of the more ‘trendy’ spots such as a pleasant stroll over Primrose Hill and Camden Town. 

Many of the best times in life are spent laughing over a beer with friends, so I’m delighted to be able to share this selection of fascinating pubs showcasing some of the most iconic locations across the city. 

Hopefully you will enjoy these routes, with friends and family, as much as we have over the years.