London pubs

You might like to check out the Blackfriar pub when you are near St Pauls. It's just at the end of Blackfriars bridge. The beer is fine and the food is OK, although nothing special. The interior decoration and history are really worth the visit though. http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=30 http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theblackfriarblackfriarslondon/findus/ Alan

Another option for St Pauls is the Founders Arms pub. From the southern side of the Cathedral walk down the path to the river bank and cross over the Millenium Footbridge, turning right once you've crossed. It's a modern building on the river bank but the food's pretty good and there are great views of the buildings on the other side of the river.

Yes, the Founders is also nice, and serves Youngs. My favourite beer. Alan

I have the Cockpit bookmarked for my next visit to the area. http://www.fancyapint.com/Pub/173

Best Pub: The closest once with unlocked doors.

Near the British Museum and Covent Garden: the Princess Louise. The food is only meh, but it has Sam Smith beers (really good) at unusually decent prices. More importantly if you like pubs, the ground floor has been lovingly restored to proper Victorian glory, and it is GORGEOUS. ( Here's someone's photo from Flickr showing it fairly empty -- I've only been in it when it was wall to wall with the after-work crowd.)

The Princess Louise is a great suggestion. Just around the corner from the Holborn Tube, or about 10 minutes' walk from Covent Garden. More photos and many interesting comments The gist: go early, try to get an empty 'snug', use the men's loo at your peril (quick peek to see the marble interior but with nose plugged).

I like "Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese" (1/3 of a mile from St. Paul's on Fleet Street. And the "Sherlock Holmes Pub" was good (It's about 1/2 mile from Westminster Abbey, but very close to Trafalgar Square... Good luck, Jim

I like The Lord Raglan. Past St Pauls' in route to the Museum of London (which is a great museum and you should visit). By Parlimentsimply walk up Whitehall heading toward the Horse Guards and number 10 Downing. You'll find the pub we've traditionally have our first pint at for over a decade. The Red Lion. Always fun because of the crowd which often contains, Parliment members, barristers, government workers, etc. OR from the front of Westminster Abby cross the street and walk over to Westminster Hall. Take a left on Tothil street and follow it one long block to Dartmouth and turn right. Near the end of this block on the right where Queen Anne's Gate dead ends is the Two Chairmen Public House. Can look both pubs up on beerintheevening and fancyapint websites for more reviews. If I'm in this area of London these are the two spots I enjoy. Slainte.

"Ye Old Cheshire Cheese" is definitely worth a visit. It's well known and a little touristy, but it's also historic and old and fun to check out. Dinners are a bit pricer there than a typical pub, though. Just a block or two away is the "Old Bell Tavern" with a fantastic looking and affordable menu (we didn't eat there, though) and much more of a local vibe. In Covent Garden the Lamb and Flag is a very welcoming pub with a great ion of beer on tap. I don't remember seeing food, though. There may have been a dining area upstairs? Dirty Dick's is another sort of tourist pub that's also really entertaining. In "The City", The Counting House is a beautiful old bank pub with good pies. Ditto for The Drawn and Quartered not far from the Tower of London. My absolute favorite pub for history, ambiance, and cheap pub grub is Ye Olde Mitre. I would say it's a must. It's not TOO far from St. Pauls, although you'd still probably want to take the tube a stop or two to the nearest stop. It's a little tricky to find (hidden in an alley that opens up into an ancient courtyard). But utterly fantastic.

The "Hung, Drawn, and Quartered" near the Tower of London had great food and fullers beer