London Bridge Pub Crawl

Dating back over 800 years, The Anchor, is just a stone’s throw away from the original site for The Globe Theatre – its very famous neighbour.

It’s even been claimed that Shakespeare himself used to drink in this pub. This place is set on one of the most historical areas of The Thames, overlooking the iconic river and boasting fantastic views, and has a fascinating, yet somewhat gruesome, past. In its time – The Anchor has been a tavern, a brothel, a brewery and, allegedly, plague pits - and has seen many a famous face pass through its doors. Its scenery has even been used in the films ‘Get Him to the Greek’ and ‘Mission Impossible’ – this is a seriously big name pub in London. The interior of the ale house embodies its rich heritage; it’s all deep red windows, wooden beams and exposed brickwork. The menu also extends to the traditional vibe – you can kick-back with a proper ale and tuck into some Great British grub.

Set beside a full scale replica of Sir Francis Drake’s iconic ship, The Golden Hinde, this pub is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

History, character and charm ooze from the great beams and exposed brickwork at the Old Thameside Inn. The pub is excellently located in the heart of the city – just a short stroll to bustling Clink Street and the world-famous Borough Market – and directly in front of the renowned Winchester Palace. For the history buffs in your group, you’ll know this was once home to Cardinal Wolsey – one of Henry Vlll’s most trusted servants. Dine like a king on the quality and wholesome pub grub, sample the huge and eclectic range of real ales and celebrate like it’s 1599.

The Rake is, quite literally, a hidden gem in the midst of the bustling Borough Market.

In fact, it’s actually the first pub to open in Borough Market for over 100 years. And, it also lays claim to another bold statement (although, the owners have never confirmed this rumour) – it is the smallest pub in the capital. Squeezing in about 40 people, The Rake is about the size of a minicab office, but don’t let that put you off – this place is dedicated to beer. The draught beers are constantly changing, with seven keg pumps and three cask ale handpulls. And, the fridges typically hold 130 different beverages from across the world – including some very strange beers, such as the Wostyntje, a mustard beer hailing all the way from Belgium. If you’re looking for a place to suit everyone’s taste, you’ll find it at The Rake. That’s a promise.

Step back in time at the traditional Horniman pub.

Set in London Bridge – overlooking the iconic Thames – and just a few minutes’ away from the world-famous HMS Belfast and Tooley Street; this pub is a warm and welcoming haven in the lively capital. Steeped in history, The Horniman is actually on the site of a former tea warehouse, owned by Frederick Horniman, and the inside of the pub is dedicated to his fascinating travels to Africa, India and the Americas. This place is one of the best stops in London for some delicious real ales and craft beers; serving brews from around the world, as well as variety of eclectic gins and even hot choc-tails. And, to start the stag weekend off on the right foot – you can tuck into some hearty British grub to set you up for a night of celebrating.

Set in what was originally the first London branch of the National Westminster Bank, this pub will take you back in time to London’s fascinating past.

The bar still retains many of the bank’s original features; high ceilings, large windows and even a maze of vaults underground (handy stores for the beer and wine). Get ready for a night in The Big Smoke with some locally-brewed, award-winning cask ales, produced just 8.8 miles (to be exact) from the pub at Fuller’s, Chiswick, London’s last remaining family-run brewery. And, that’s not all – The Barrowboy is famous for their homemade pies (proper London pie and mash) and these are the real stars of the show.

A little off the beaten track, Dean Swift is your local for speciality brews.

As you can guess, beers are the piece de resistance for this pub. Beers from near and far grace the shelves of the Dean Swift – including some from the Kernel Brewery, just around the corner from the pub. This place has only recently undergone some serious refurbishment and is now a must for kicking back with a cold one and checking out the landmarks. Artisan ale has been on the up this past year (2015 has been the official year of the Hipster) and Dean Swift has this in spades. Of course, like the other venues in this crawl – Dean Swift serves a mighty range of British dishes to set you up for a night of celebrating.

Directly opposite the Tower of London and overlooking the iconic River Thames, Browns is a high-class stop on your stag weekend in the capital.

Butlers Wharf was once a thriving hub of the tea trade in London and, over the years, it’s moved particularly upmarket (although, you can still get a good cup of Rosey Lee). This laid-back, relaxing venue boasts an ethos to comfort, good times and delicious food; with tables seated next to huge windows looking out onto the river. There’s also a stunning outdoor terrace which has even better views of the lively capital. It’s going to be one hell of a pub crawl.

Get to know everything London Bridge on our London Stag Weekend page - jam-packed with activities, accommodation and venue ideas.