Private Historic Pubs of London Bridge and Borough Walking Tour

Our first stop is The Barrowboy and Banker. This pub used to be a bank and is run by one of the UK's best-known Pub Companies. Famous for its cavernous interior where beer barrels are stored in the old bank vault here you will be able to try famous ales such as 'London Pride' or if you're feeling more adventurous a Porter. Named after the Banking history of the building and the Barrow Boys (market traders) who used to trade in this area, your guide will also explain the history of nearby Southwark Cathedral where Shakespeare's younger brother Edmund is buried.

This Victorian pub is where, according to legend, one of the most famous robberies in British History was planned. Don't worry, you don't need to rob a train to buy a drink here, but if you're lucky, you may see the odd film star outside. Home to the filming location of Bridget Jones' flat in the Bridget Jones films your guide will tell you all about the differences between what you see on film and the real everyday pub which suffers from the trains from London Bridge rattling overhead. While you're enjoying your drink, your guide will also explain how the Great Train Robbery was planned in this bar and how the Pub is used to film crews descending on the nearby streets to film inside the nearby Borough Market. During your drink here, keep your eyes open for shady figures - city workers having a drink before commuting home, or hopeful people on their first date!

When asked about this pub, our guide said, "That's a proper old local pub, that is!" and this should tell you what type of place you're going to visit. A favourite with supporters of the local football team, this pub is a favourite of local people who live and work in the nearby area. Not only is this pub a local favourite, its also packed with history. This former coaching house still has the steps where people would dismount from their carriage and cobblestone streets. It even survived the bombing of the Second World War! Whilst at The Old Kings Head, you will also have the chance to see if you can spot the Pub's Landlord in a mural of the Old London Bridge and what the pub looked like during its time as an old coaching house.

The George is possibly the most historical pub in Borough. This pub has links to the famous Victorian novelist Charles Dickens, and it is rumoured that even Shakespeare drank on the site! Used to stage plays during the Elizabethian Period, the Parliament Bar of this pub was used as a waiting room for the coaches that left this pub, which is now the only galleried coach house left in London. This 17th Century jewel in the drinking crown of London is not to be missed.

The Market Porter is the place to hear a good story whilst you enjoy your drink - after all, a good drink and good company should always lead to a good tale. Whilst here, your guide will tell you of a murder that took place in the pub involving an umbrella and a disagreement between two Victorian gentlemen. Think you've seen a ghost whilst here? The Market Porter is supposed to be haunted by laughing ghosts.

The Rake is famous for having less space at the bar than it does in its toilets. This beer lovers' paradise has one of the largest selections of beers of any pub in London and is a hidden gem which is a must-visit if you're serious about booze. Look out for the sign above the bar, which sums-up this pub's philosophy to all things alcohol.

Wet your whistle in the place where the famous diarist Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of London burn through the city. Built on a site where people have been boozing for over 800 years, the current building was built during the time of William Shakespeare. A rabbit's warren of corridors, small bars, staircases, and secret entrances, this historic pub was once a smuggler's paradise. Linked to famous figures such as Samuel Pepys, Samuel Johnson, and David Garrick the latest famous face to drink here was Tom Cruise in the filming of Mission Impossible. On a hot day, why not sit outside on the terrace and try an English Sparkling Wine, or pop yourself in a snug on a cold day and enjoy the warming company of the people you are with and mulled wine?