This hidden central London boozer is officially the best historic pub in the city – according to Secret London readers

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Sam Barker

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  1 October, 2026

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In a place as full of boozers and history as London, you can be sure that its residents have some strong opinions about the city’s best historic pubs. So naturally, when it came time to find out where London’s best storied, old pub is, there was only one place to turn: to Secret London readers.

We asked you where your favourite old boozer is in the city, and there were loads of suggestions. But there was also one clear winner, receiving almost 3x as many votes as the second-placed pub. According to Secret London readers, the very best historic pub in London is none other than Ye Olde Mitre.

Ye Olde Mitre

This hidden boozer is tucked away down a small alley in Holborn, but nonetheless has enough fans and acclaim to have topped the list of the city’s best old drinking dens. And it does boast some impressive history.

The Holborn haunt has been standing in the same spot since the 16th century, all the way back in 1546. And back then, it wasn’t even part of London! Despite having never moved, the pub was technically part of Cambridgeshire until the 1960s.

The pub was originally part of the land belonging to the Bishop of Ely, as part of the Bishop of Ely’s nearby palace. The palace and surrounding land (pub included) were considered too pretty to be part of London; thus they were declared part of Cambridgeshire! There are subsequently stories of criminals hiding inside the pub, since it was outside of the Met Police’s jurisdiction.

Nowadays, it’s a charming boozer with dark wooden furniture and a whole host of Elizabethan memorabilia. It may be right in the heart of the city, but when you turn down that alley and walk through the pub doors, you escape the hustle and bustle of London.

London’s best historic pubs

So, which pubs took the top spots as London’s best historic boozers? These are the drinking destinations to seek out for those who like a drop of history with their pints:

1. Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn
2. The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
3. The Mayflower, Rotherhithe
4. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, City of London
5. The George, Southwark
6. The Grapes, Limehouse
7. Lamb & Flag, Covent Garden
8. Anchor Bankside, Southwark
9. The Churchill Arms, Kensington
10. The Jamaica Wine House, City of London

📍 1 Ely Court, Ely Place, EC1N 6SJ.
🚇 The nearest stations are Chancery Lane and Farringdon.