London: Historic Pubs Food & Ale Tour with 4 Tastings

Four Centuries of London Pubs in One Evening Walk

You walk four historic London pubs in the City, tasting traditional British food and ale at each stop (pork pie, sausage roll, devilled whitebait, and scotch egg) with a local guide who knows the history behind each place. The group stays under twelve, and the whole evening takes a few hours. Book if you want the food and drink culture without arranging the stops yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Historic London pub food and ale tour

• Meet guide at Ye Olde Mitre
• Enjoy pork pie and ale tasting
• Walk to The Old Bell Tavern
• Sample sausage roll with cider
• Visit Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub
• Taste devilled whitebait with stout
• Arrive at Ye Olde Cock Tavern
• Try scotch egg and portobello ale

The experience

You're in London with a free evening and no real plan. Just the thought that you'd rather not eat alone in a hotel room. This tour solves that by walking you through four of the city's oldest pubs in the space of a few hours, each one with its own food and drink pairing built in. Ye Olde Mitre, built in 1546, is where you start: a Tudor-style pub so old it feels less like a building and more like a time machine. Your guide meets you there and orders the first round: a pork pie with ale. It's straightforward, it's traditional, and it's the kind of thing that tastes better when someone who knows the place is telling you why it matters.

From there it's a short walk to The Old Bell Tavern near Covent Garden, where you get a sausage roll and cider. Then Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (a 15th-century inn that Charles Dickens and Mark Twain used to drink in), where the pairing is devilled whitebait with stout. The last stop is Ye Olde Cock Tavern on the Thames, a 600-year-old place with low wooden beams and a scotch egg with portobello ale. The whole thing takes you through the City of London's oldest corners, and your guide fills in the gaps between bites: why these pubs survived when so many didn't, who drank there, what the food tells you about how people ate centuries ago. It's not a lecture. It's just the kind of thing you notice when you're walking with someone who actually knows the place.

The group stays small, twelve people maximum, which means you're not herding through doorways or waiting for a table. You walk at a moderate pace and stop long enough to eat and drink without rushing. If you're vegetarian, the tour can adapt the food. If you have serious allergies or dietary restrictions, you'll need to email the team after booking so they can arrange your ingredients at each stop. Non-alcoholic options exist too, though the tour is built around the ale and cider pairings, so that's what the experience is really about.

What’s included

• Your evening includes four food tastings (pork pie, sausage roll, devilled whitebait, and scotch egg) paired with four drinks (ale, cider, stout, and portobello ale) across four historic pubs in the City of London.
• A local English-speaking guide leads the group, which stays under twelve people.
• The tour covers lunch through the food and drink pairings at each stop.
• Public transportation is nearby, and vegetarian adaptations can be arranged if you email the Guest Experience team after booking.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pubs tour in a small groupGuide in English · 15:00Up to 12 guests

Pubs tour in London, privateGuide in English · 15:30Private tour with a local guide, visiting four historic London pubs, with traditional British snacks, local beverages, and stories from the city's history.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 15:00 and 15:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Devour UK Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to eat and drink your way through London's oldest pubs without planning the route, timing the stops, or figuring out what to order. The guide and the pairings do that for you, and the small group means you're not fighting crowds.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start?

Start time isn't listed. Contact the operator after booking to confirm the meeting time at Ye Olde Mitre.

Can I do this tour if I'm vegetarian?

Yes, the tour is adaptable for vegetarians. Email the Guest Experience team after booking to arrange your food at each stop.

What if I don't drink alcohol?

Non-alcoholic options are available, though the tour is built around ale and cider pairings. Let the team know after booking.

Is this tour suitable for vegans or gluten-free diets?

No, the tour is not recommended for vegans or gluten-free guests due to the nature of the food pairings. Dairy-free guests also won't have replacements at every stop.

Can I do this tour if I'm pregnant?

Pregnant guests can join, but note that non-alcoholic options may not have a food replacement at every stop. Email the team to discuss your needs.

Is the tour accessible for people with mobility issues?

No, this is a walking tour at a moderate pace. It's not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs, or strollers.

What's included in the price?

Four food tastings, four drinks, entry to four historic pubs, and a local English-speaking guide. The tour covers lunch across the stops.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are kept to a maximum of twelve guests.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the first pub?

Public transportation options are available nearby. The tour starts at Ye Olde Mitre in the City of London.