Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London worth booking?
Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London is a 3-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $247 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 11 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (11)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $247 per person
The UK is well known throughout the world for it's many cosy, unusual, quirky, historic and atmospheric Pubs. This tour visits the best London has to offer. Get away from the usual tourist trail and head into the hidden
What you get
About this experience
The UK is well known throughout the world for it's many cosy, unusual, quirky, historic and atmospheric Pubs. This tour visits the best London has to offer. Get away from the usual tourist trail and head into the hidden courts and alleys of old London. Expect colourful and sometimes grisly tales, flag stones, wooden panelling, quiet snug corners, and traces of the many people both great and ordinary who have propped up the bar in times past. • The Oldest and Most Historic Inn's Tavern's & Pubs • Visit the Pub's Charles Dickens took inspiration from • Hidden Alley's, nook corners, and log fires • Try traditional Ales & Ciders • Hear the stories and history behind each PubA relaxed tour at your leisure and pace - Will you manage all 5 Pubs?
What's included
Included
- Local guide
- Professional guide
- Private tour
Not included
- Transportation to/from attractions - Mostly on foot, but some Tube travel involved.
- Alcoholic beverages
What you'll see and do
You will be personally met at your central London accommodation by your own private guide to begin your trail through the best and most historic pubs London has to offer. A relaxed, informative, and enjoyable tour tailored to your interests and pace. First up is -The Mayflower This waterside Tavern dates back to the 1500's, and in 1620 Christopher Jones docked his ship outside the Tavern. That ship was called the Mayflower and would take the founding colonists out to the New World that would become the USA. Those who have ancestry back to the Mayflower can ask to sign the register kept behind the bar. You can even purchase postage stamps, this tradition goes back to the time when the area was alive with sailors from all over the globe. They often had no time to go to a post office when ashore, so the Mayflower was granted a special licence. Crammed full of nautical items, a cosy fire place and candle lit, you really could be in a different age.
40 minutes here
The only surviving galleried Pub in London that dates back to Tudor times. Often referred to as William Shakespeare local, it also has connections to Charles Dickens and Sir Winston Churchill. The yard next to the George used to be the site of the Tabard Inn, featured in Canterbury Tales. The Bear Baiting, Cock Fighting and Bare knuckle Boxing may be long gone, but the George retains many of it's period features and eccentric clientele. Shakespeare if said to have performed plays in the courtyard here.
40 minutes here
With cellars dating to the 13th Century and the upper rooms largely unchanged since the 1700's it's no wonder this Pub features on lists of the most atmospheric sites in London. A truly Dickensian Pub. The upstairs bar is as traditional as you can imagine, complete with a fireplace and wooden paneling that dates back to the reign of Charles II. Dr Samuel Johnson, David Garrick, and James Boswell are all said to have supped Ale and dined on Chops here. The most famous resident of this pub is Polly who sits stuffed in a glass box above the bar. This celebrity Parrot lived in the Pub for over 30 years, and became notorious for bad language and mimicking the sound of corks popping! Apparently the Hellfire Club met in the upper rooms here. The erotic tiles discovered in the 1960's seem to support that rumor. As your personal guide, I will make sure you know all the fascinating history of this very special pub.
45 minutes here
Ye Olde Mitre
A pub with a history stretching back to Tudor times. It is said the doorway is propped up with a tree that Queen Elizabeth I danced around. Tucked away down a tiny alley even people familiar with the area find Ye Olde Mitre hard to find. Definitely a strong candidate for London's oldest pub, It is also in the Diamond quarter of London, Hatton Garden. I wouldn't be surprised if some retired Safe Breakers, and Bank Robbers are among the regulars. It has certainly featured in many films and TV shows over the years, notably Snatch starring Brad Pitt. Fagin's Gang in Oliver Twist had their Den in this area too. Surely Dickens popped in for a pint?
40 minutes here
There has been a Pub on this site since the 1400's. The current building is a mix of different centuries, with lots of nooks, crannies, and wooden booths. When open, its possible to go down into the cellars. Many notable figures throughout history have supped Ale here, or warmed their bones next to the curious triangular stove that stands in the middle of the main room. Fingers crossed we can get one of the cosy wooden booths and enjoy talking about our favourite pubs, and indeed drinks of the day.
40 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
London
Outside Whitechapel Art Gallery
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Options you can book
Tour For TWO People
Bespoke Historic Pub Tour with a drink at each Pub & private guide for TWO PEOPLE Non rushed and personal tour. (Total cost for 2 persons)
Tour For ONE Person
Bespoke Historic Pub Tour with a drink at each Pub & private guide for one personNon rushed and personal tour.
Tour For THREE People
Bespoke Historic Pub Tour with a drink at each Pub & private guide for THREE People Non rushed and personal tour. (Total cost for 3 people)
Tour For 4-5 People
Bespoke Historic Pub Tour with a drink at each Pub & private guide for 4-5 people - Non rushed and personal tour. (Total cost for up to 5 People)
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Richards Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 18 years
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Hidden Pubs
We did this tour with George as our guide, and what an afternoon! Our small group of five had so much in common and by the time we finished, we felt like we were all family, including George. He fit in so well with us and his knowledge of the city was fantastic! What a way to see some things off the beaten path!
via Tripadvisor
Best tour ever!
Annabelle was amazing!!!! Best tour ever! She has so much knowledge and was so fun. Highly recommend! The coolest pubs!
Response from the operator: Lovely review, but I am Richard and not Annabelle! So perhaps this review belongs on a different page? Wouldn't want to take someone else's glory as they seemed to be doing a great job.
via Tripadvisor
Custom pub tour turned out exactly as we wanted
This was the perfect tour for us. Richard was awesome! So knowledgeable and friendly. I loved customizing the tour to exactly what we wanted, and he accommodated our interests on the fly in a dynamic way. We never felt hurried. We aren’t too knowledgeable on English history, but that wasn’t a problem at all because he tailored the history stories to our level of prior knowledge. It was awesome to get to go into these super historic pubs that were sometimes very crowded and have a local (Richard) know right where to find a pint and a table without fighting the crowds. Thanks, Richard! We’ll be booking with you next time we come to London!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this wonderful review. It was a pleasure to meet you and show you around these historic pubs. I hope to see you again on a future trip. Thanks again!
via Tripadvisor
One of our London Highlights!
The pub tour with Richard was one of our favorite things we did during our trip and we tell everyone who’ll hear it. While we expected a standard tour, Richard exceeded those by telling us the history of not just the locations we visited, but every landmark we passed along the way. We learned so much and not just specific to the pubs we visited, it was really fascinating. Not only was it extremely informative from beginning to end but Richard really cared about giving us a great experience, like making sure we rode on a double decker bus, offering to take pictures with certain landmarks, giving recommendations, etc. You can tell he’s extremely passionate about his job and loves what he does. Do not miss tour with Richard, you won’t regret!
Response from the operator: Wow, what a great review! Thank you so much, much appreciated. I hope to see you again for one of my other tours. Thanks again!
via Tripadvisor
Great afternoon in London
Had a really good afternoon and the host Claire was passionate and engaging and really friendly. Would highly recommend
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
- Price range
- $247 to $395
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.
How much does Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London cost?
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Prices start at $247 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.
Is Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Walking Tour: Historic and Hidden Pubs of London start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in London?
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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs, The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit London?
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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in London?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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