Historic Pubs With a Twisted Backstory (No Ghosts Required)
London isn’t short of pubs. You can’t walk more than a few streets without spotting one — old timber-framed taverns, Victorian gin palaces, or cozy neighborhood locals. But beyond the pints and Sunday roasts, some pubs come with histories that twist and turn in unexpected ways. Forget ghost stories — these are tales of crime, rebellion, eccentric landlords, and secret plots that played out over a pint.
So, grab your imaginary pint and let’s explore some of London’s most historic pubs with backstories that are anything but ordinary.
1. The Prospect of Whitby (Wapping)
Dating back to the early 1500s, The Prospect of Whitby is often described as London’s oldest riverside tavern. But its claim to fame isn’t just age — it’s infamy.
This pub was a notorious hangout for smugglers, pirates, and even executioners. Outside the pub, there’s still a noose hanging above the Thames, a reminder of the days when convicted criminals were executed at nearby Execution Dock.
Even Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens wrote about its reputation. Imagine sipping your drink while knowing this was once where the city’s most dangerous figures plotted their next move.
2. The Ten Bells (Spitalfields)
The Ten Bells looks like a charming Victorian pub with tiled walls and character for days. But its history? It’s tied to one of the darkest chapters in London’s past.
In the late 1800s, several of Jack the Ripper’s victims were known to frequent this pub. Today, it’s just a lively East End boozer, but the connection to the Ripper murders is still part of its legacy.
While the pub doesn’t glorify the events, it stands as a reminder of Spitalfields’ gritty Victorian history, where everyday life and horror once collided.
3. The Old Bank of England (Fleet Street)
On Fleet Street, known for its journalism past, stands a grand Victorian pub that was once… a bank. And not just any bank — this was the Law Courts branch of the Bank of England.
Before it poured pints, it housed gold bullion in its vaults. Legend has it that the pub sits on the site where the infamous barber Sweeney Todd supposedly operated, disposing of victims through tunnels that led to a pie shop.
Is the Sweeney Todd story true? Probably not — but the mix of fact and folklore makes drinking here feel like stepping into a Dickens novel.
4. The Lamb and Flag (Covent Garden)
Nicknamed “The Bucket of Blood,” The Lamb and Flag wasn’t always a refined spot for a pint. Back in the 18th and early 19th centuries, it was infamous for bare-knuckle boxing matches held in its back room.
Crowds would cram in, betting on fights that left more blood on the floor than beer. Even poet John Dryden was once attacked outside the pub by hired thugs.
Today, the pub feels cozy and traditional, but its past is a reminder that Covent Garden wasn’t always filled with theatres and flower markets.
5. The Mayflower (Rotherhithe)
At first glance, The Mayflower looks like a picture-perfect riverside pub. But its history reaches across the Atlantic.
This is the very spot from which the Mayflower ship set sail in 1620, carrying the Pilgrim Fathers on their historic journey to America.
The pub still flies both the U.S. and U.K. flags, and inside you’ll find nautical memorabilia nodding to its extraordinary past. Where else in London can you drink in the footsteps of early settlers who shaped American history?
6. The Dog and Duck (Soho)
Soho’s Dog and Duck has seen it all — artists, writers, rebels, and eccentrics. George Orwell was a regular here, often popping in for a pint while working on his novels.
But the twisted part? In the 18th century, the pub was linked with the brutal sport of duck-baiting — where ducks were set upon by dogs for entertainment. Thankfully, that cruel pastime is long gone, but it’s a reminder that London’s pubs weren’t always about laughter and music.
7. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (Fleet Street)
Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is one of London’s most atmospheric pubs. With its dark wood, labyrinthine rooms, and sawdust-covered floors, stepping inside feels like time travel.
But here’s the twist: this was once a meeting place for literary giants like Charles Dickens, Samuel Johnson, and Mark Twain. While that’s inspiring, the darker edge is how much political plotting also happened here. Deals were struck, secrets shared, and reputations ruined — all over ale.
What These Pubs Tell Us About London
London’s pubs aren’t just places to drink — they’re living archives. Each one carries stories of crime, politics, rebellion, and transformation. From riverside executions to literary salons, from bare-knuckle fights to transatlantic voyages, they reveal the city’s contradictions: brutal yet brilliant, violent yet visionary.
And unlike ghost stories that drift into myth, these tales are rooted in real events and real people. That’s what makes them even more fascinating.
Planning Your Own Historic Pub Crawl
If you’re inspired to visit, many of these pubs are still open and thriving today:
Prospect of Whitby – Wapping, E1W
Ten Bells – Spitalfields, E1
Old Bank of England – Fleet Street, EC4
Lamb and Flag – Covent Garden, WC2
The Mayflower – Rotherhithe, SE16
Dog and Duck – Soho, W1
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese – Fleet Street, EC4
Each offers not just drinks but a story waiting to be discovered.
London’s pubs are more than just cozy corners for a pint. They’re stages where history played out in ways both twisted and inspiring. So, next time you duck into one of these historic spots, remember — you’re not just having a drink, you’re stepping into centuries of drama.
And if you’re planning a trip to London (or you live here and fancy exploring your own city), make sure to add a few of these pubs to your list. You’ll leave with more than just a buzz — you’ll leave with stories to tell and Follow @London.yaar for more!