In London? 3 Reasons to Have a Pint on Fleet Street

Fleet Street is vibrant, historical, and has many lovely pubs – a must see if you are visiting London!  The weather was nice when Nick and I were in town, so we walked from our hotel in the City of London.  It is also easily accessible by the tube (London’s Underground).

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s, pictured above, is a lovely view to have while you are walking down Fleet Street.  If you would like to venture inside the cathedral, see the geometric staircase, or explore the underground crypt, St Paul’s is open for sightseeing Monday to Saturday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, tickets are £16 for an adult and £7.00 for a child.  Headsets with audio tour are included, or if you are like me and prefer an in-person guided tour, you can sign up for one at the guiding desk.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

All London pubs have a special sort of magic, but you should absolutely make sure that Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is at the top of your list.  It is no wonder that Charles Dickens, G.K. Chesterton, and Mark Twain were regulars of this charming and historic pub!

Follow the signs down a narrow alley to the entrance.  For the best atmosphere, head two levels down and get a table in a snug corner of the stone cellar.  Walk on up to the bar to order.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese – 145 Fleet Street
Be sure to check the hours.  When we visited, it was closed on Sunday and many London pubs close by 11:00 pm.

In case you have time for a few more pints, here are some other highly recommended pubs all within walking distance on Fleet Street: Punch Tavern, The Old Bell, The Tipperary, The Harrow, and The Edgar Wallace.  If you want to eat like a Londoner, be sure to try fish and chips, bangers and mash, mushy peas, or shephard’s pie!

History Buff?  Fleet Street is Home of London’s Former Newspaper Industry

While walking down the street, you can see old signs indicating where famous news outlets used to be.  (The Daily Telegraph building is at 135-141 Fleet St, Reuters is at 85 Fleet St, and The Daily Express is at 120 Fleet St.)  There are also eight alleyways with plaques set in the sidewalk highlighting the printing press history.

*Photos by Lauren Mac of Lauren Mac Design