Historic Pubs of London: The Ultimate Itinerary

An unforgettable afternoon off the tourist trail in London

It’s no secret that London has a lot of pubs – it’s one of our favourite pastimes, and we could easily write a whole blog on how to spot a good one – but what if you only have an afternoon to spare? And what if you want to skip the guesswork (and endless wandering)? Allow us to take you on a journey through some of London’s most evocative and pretty streets, with a few stops at London’s oldest pubs for good measure.

This walking tour/pub crawl centres around Limehouse and Wapping, and ends close to Tower Bridge.

Note: Times are suggestions – take this at your own pace and enjoy every sip!

1. Westferry Station

This is the starting point of our walk. Westferry is on the Dockland’s Light Railway system – if you’re not sure, we suggest Google, CityMapper or the TfL Go app to help you here.

• Tip: Don’t forget to “tap out” when leaving the station. Unlike the tube, there are no barriers, so you’ll need to tap your Oyster or contactless card on your way out to avoid being charged.

To Next Stop: Head south-west down Limehouse Causeway (which turns into Narrow Street) and follow the road for about 500m.

2. The Grapes

The Grapes is the first pub stop on our tour. After that long walk you have definitely earned yourself a drink…

• Location: The Grapes, 76 Narrow Street, E14 8BP
• What to Expect: An old, cosy pub with heaps of character (and characters). Expect timber beams, barrels-for-tables and a genuine maritime vibe. Littered around the bar are some clues as to the identity of the famous owner – if you don’t already know!
• Recommendations: If you’re here around lunchtime, the pub fare is exceptional – but keep an eye on the specials board. If here for refreshment only, the ale selection is well stocked and always worth trying something new.
• Tip: The view from upstair across the thames to Canary Wharf is stunning, and makes a god vantage point from which to see a famous Anthony Gormley installation on the Thames.

To Next Stop: Suitably refreshed, exit the pub by the main door and turn left. Keep walking East until you reach the next stop. This is the longest stretch of walking on this tour, and may require navigating around some construction works (at time of writing) – but will take around 20 minutes until you reach…

3. The Prospect of Whitby

Arguably the most famous of all the pubs on this list, The Prospect of Whitby is often cited as the oldest pub in London!

• Location The Prospect of Whitby, 57 Wapping Wall, E1W 3SH
• What to Expect: Similarly rustic, historic pub with a ton of nautical charm. Slightly bigger on the inside than the Grapes, and likely to be busier.
• Recommendations: We’d recommend stopping here for lunch if the timing works and you’ve built up an appetite, otherwise try and find a spot on the balcony for a beer with a view!
• Tip: Outside the pub, on the river side is a gallows and a noose, a nod to the grisly past and the many executions that happened at this spot – notably the namesake for the next pub on our list. If the tide is low, there is a set of steps just down the side of the pub that will take you on to the “beach”.

To Next Stop: Exit the pub by the main door, turn left and keep walking. At the end of Wapping Wall, you’ll turn left on to Garnet Street, which turns in to Wapping High Street. Continue along this street for about 5 minutes until you reach…

4. The Captain Kidd

Something a little different from Sam Smith Pubs, The Captain Kidd is a great stop nonetheless!

• Location 108 Wapping High Street, E1W 2NE
• What to Expect A beautiful, cavernous entranceway leading to a pub that feels much larger than our previous stops. Definitely set up more for dining and drinking than just drinking. On a summer’s day, the beer garden is excellent.
• Recommendations: As a Sam Smith pub, the drink selection is unique to the brewery. For the more discerning however, there’s a great drink guide on the website that will help you decide. For us it’s a Taddy Lager, a Strawberry Fruit Beer…and usually a packet of crisps (although, if eating – the food is also very good!)

To Next Stop: This is the shortest “hop” between stops. Leave the pub and (you guessed it) turn left. Walk for about 2 minutes before arriving at…

5. The Town of Ramsgate

This is the pub we’ve been to the least on this list, and although sharing a huge amount of history with the previous stops on this tour, The Town of Ramsgate is distinctive enough to warrant a drink and perhaps even a snack after all that walking. The claim is that a pub has been on this site since 1545!

• Location 62 Wapping High Street, E1W 2PN
• What to Expect A compact and inviting corner pub with a great selection of beers and food
• Recommendations: On a sunny day, grab a spot in the beer garden for a pint. If eating, well, you absolutely cannot go wrong with their fish and chips!
• Tip: The Town of Ramsgate sits next to the Wapping Old Stairs. At low tide, there is a fantastic view of Tower Bridge and the Shard from the banks of the Thames. Just beware – it gets very slippery!

To Next Stop: Head west out of the Town of Ramsgate along Wapping High Street, turning onto St. Katharine’s Way. Following this street will lead you to the final stop on our tour. Don’t miss some fantastic views down the Thames as you walk the historic streets.

6. St. Katharine Docks

St. Katharine Docks is a beautiful oasis with plenty of spots to rest your feet. Perhaps enjoy a stop in one of the many restaurants or cafes that line the walkway surrounding the marina, or just enjoy checking out some of the boats moored here. From here, you can easily continue your walk into the city, hop across Tower Bridge, or even jump on the train at Tower Gateway or Tower Hill. Unless that is, you’re still a bit thirsty…

7 (Bonus!). The Dickens Inn

A bit of a departure from the cosy little riverside pubs we’ve frequented this afternoon, The Dickens Inn is actually a converted old warehouse. Beautifully decked out, grab yourself a spot on the balcony (weather permitting) and enjoy some more quality time…

• Location: Marble Quay, St. Katharine’s Way, E1W 1UH
• What to Expect: A generally quite lively pub frequented by locals and tourists, lots of wood, a great selection of drinks and a cracking menu
• Recommendations: The surrounding area is too nice not to recommend trying to sit outside, however that may prove difficult when it is busy. If there happens to be a bit football game on, it’s a popular place to watch on one of their many big screens.

Well, that just about rounds out our fantastic afternoon of great London pubs, history, and walking. We certainly hope you enjoyed it as much as we have (on quite a few occasions now!).

Did you try it? Have you visited any of these pubs before? Anything we missed? Leave us a comment below – we’d love to hear from you!