Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street

A pub that, if anything, overplays its history (the Dr Johnson connection is tenuous at best) - but hey, the current building dates back to 1667 so there's plenty of history to play with! Be warned that this is no bright, modern or open-plan pub � the dark wooden interior is a maze of narrow corridors and staircases, leading to numerous bars and dining rooms. Fairly cold inside, so nice to visit in the summer. Sam Smith's beer is the order of the day here, meaning that by Central London standards this is home to that rare creature, a reasonably priced pint.

19 May 2009 19:10

The Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden

Small, unspoilt old-fashioned boozer in a part of London renowned for theme-pubs. Very crowded, turn up late in the evening and you'll have to fight your way to the bar before drinking outside in the street. Ales served are usually kept well.

19 May 2009 19:06

The Blackfriar, Blackfriars

I like this pub - the interior, a real work of art, must make it truly unique and it's worth going into the place just to take a look! Amazing now to think that so-called 'modernisers' once wanted to demolish it. Can get crowded inside (being a thin, wedge-shaped building, it's not exactly spacious). Cask ales, including TT's Landlord last time I visited. Decent enough food.

19 May 2009 19:03