The Pub Culture

The British pub (Public House) is far more than a bar — it is a living room, meeting place, canteen, and cultural institution. London has about 3,500 pubs, some of which have been serving beer continuously since the 16th century. A pub visit is as much a part of London as Big Ben.

Pub Etiquette

• Order at the bar: There is no table service (except in upscale gastro-pubs). Go to the bar, order, and pay immediately. No tabs.
• Rounds: When drinking with Brits, drinks are ordered in rounds — everyone takes turns buying a round for all. Skipping your turn is an unforgivable social faux pas.
• Pint or Half Pint: A pint (568 ml) is the standard beer. If you want less, order a half pint — no problem, no judgment.
• Real Ale: Try a Real Ale (cask-conditioned, hand-pumped) — it's something entirely different from draft beer. Warmer, more complex, often bitter — a revelation if you embrace it.
• No tipping at the bar: Tipping is not customary in pubs — at most, say "and one for yourself" if you want to buy the bartender a drink.

Historic Pubs

• Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (Fleet Street, since 1667): Samuel Johnson, Dickens, and Mark Twain drank here. A labyrinth of small rooms, low ceilings, open fireplaces.
• The George Inn (Borough, since 1543): London's only surviving galleried pub — a coaching inn with wooden galleries. Shakespeare is said to have visited here.
• The Lamb and Flag (Covent Garden, since 1623): Nicknamed "Bucket of Blood" due to the fistfights that took place here in the 17th century.
• The Churchill Arms (Kensington, since 1750): Completely covered in flowers from the outside — one of London's most photogenic pubs. Inside: Thai food (surprisingly good!).