Historic Pubs of London
No trip to London would be complete without a visit to a real pub. Pubs are unique pieces of living history, secreted in forgotten streets and alleyways far from the main thoroughfares, that have stood timeless as the city around them has moved through the centuries. Pubs have survived, not preserved in amber, but because of their very nature as working establishments that continue to provide a community with the same time-honored services of refreshment and hospitality.Pubs represent a history of London life that stretches across the centuries from the taverns that served Chaucer and Shakespeare to those frequented by Orwell and Dickens. Here for the first time, London's finest hundred pubs have been beautifully photographed inside and out and brought to life with their special fascinating histories. River pubs and theatre pubs, Victorian gin palaces and medieval coaching houses have been chosen for their well-preserved architecture and authentic interiors and their lively place in local history. These 100 pubs have been the drinking haunts of the famous and infamous, from pirates and press gangs to highwaymen and East End gangsters and from literary clubs and members of parliament to kings and their lovers.This book is also a practical guide to these historic pubs, offering all of the essential information--opening hours, how to get there, what kind of beers are offered, and whether or not food is served.