London Historic Pub Tour in the Old Docks

Ages

Duration

3.5 hours

Departs

Mon, Thurs & Fri

This food tour is not currently being offered – please review our other food tours in London.

Explore this old pirates & artists hangout, one historic pub at a time…

If you’re visiting London or want to explore more of this vast city you call home, why not let us take you back in time to London’s historic old docks? For centuries the London Docklands was Britain’s main trading port and a hub for thieves, dockers, sailors and even pirates!

Today, the neighbourhood couldn’t be any different! With its charming cobbled lanes and luxury riverside apartments, it’s hard to imagine the London Docklands’ colourful past! Although the dockers and pirates may be long gone, the brews they drank, the taverns they frequented and the stories they told still remain.

Our London Old Docks food tour takes you on an incredible journey back in time. We uncover the fascinating stories and secrets that shaped the area, all served up with London’s best craft brews, ciders and finest pub grub. You’ll visit some of the oldest recorded taverns on the River Thames and learn which famous faces have frequented them too. Listen to tales of Charles Dickens, Frank Sinatra and Princess Margaret, while dining on fish & chips, bangers and mash, and other iconic British dishes – all paired with the perfect brew!

Discover another side of London while enjoying incredible views of the city skyline on this fascinating food experience along the river.

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This tour is not currently being offered. Please review our other great London food tours.

Free cancellation

24 hours in advance for a full refund

Lowest Price Guarantee

As Featured In

Featured on National Geographic, DW, Lonely Planet, Fodors, Virgin

FOR BEER LOVERS! Double your beers at 4 of our stops and get a pint of a local cider with our Premium Drink Package for only £18.50 per person!

Enhance your taste of local life with 2x the beer during your tour among the historic pubs of London. The Premium Drink Package includes:

An additional 1/2 pint at four of our pub visits.
Swap your final beer tasting with a pint of a local cider.

You can add the Premium Drink Package to your booking during checkout.

Note: this option is only available for ages 18+; Eating Europe reserves the right to substitute a non-alcoholic drink should the guest become inebriated.

Lee, our guide, was really knowledgeable and fun! The food was fantastic and the ales, beer and ciders were amazing. Plus, I learned a lot, so what’s not to love? I highly recommend the tour!

- Damon (Tripadvisor Review)

Private tours

If you are coming to London with your entourage and you’d like to take a private tour just for you and your group – we can make that happen! Just visit our private tours page and fill out the form – we’ll help you plan the perfect London tour for your needs.

Book a Private Tour

Meet Your Local London Tour Guides

One of our London food tour guides will show you the very best the city has to offer.

Lauren

My grandparents grew up in the east end, so although I was born in Essex , my roots are here

Well worth heading to a local pub- my favourite is The Hemingford Arms, where you can eat delicious Thai food whilst listening a traditional Irish music session

Rather than paying to just go up The Shard, book a table at the bar there instead- cocktails and a view!

Josh

Born in Worcester, but moved to London in 2013

Max’s Sandwich Shop In Crouch Hill have the best sandwiches!

For a Sunday roast, head out of Zone 1 and go to pubs where the locals live

Cara

Born and raised in Bath but living in London since 2013

I absolutely love the Southbank, wandering along and ending up in borough market for a doughnut

Don't be affraid to get lost, you never know what you might find!

Kaffe

I grew up just North from London but have been an official Londoner since 2010

My favourite pub in London is called the Mayflower, it's a lovely walk along the south bank of the Thames from Tower Bridge. Enjoy a nice pint overlooking the river and pretend you're a pirate

Pick a neighbourhood a bit further out, head there and then just wander around. I guarantee you'll stumble on something great

Katie

Grew up on a farm in Somerset but now loving the big city life.

I love to go to Mildred's in Soho for fresh and super tasty vegetarian cuisine and then finishing off with a glass of bubbly.

Go to Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew to lose yourself in nature. If you want a fun night out then head to Soho Theatre to see some of the best comedians.

Niall

I was born in Hull, Yorkshire but moved to London in 2011

Favourite place to eat is The Oystermen in Covent Garden, you can't go wrong there. Always a good spread. Although St. John's bakery in London Bridge is a close second

Near Tower Hill Station, there's a hidden gem of a pub called The Dickens Inn. Great drinks, pub food and looks beautiful. Sunday Roast, always a good shout. You're right by the harbour too. Not too far from the Tower of London

Max

I was born and raised in St Albans, Hertfordshire, but now living in the east end of London

My favourite place to eat in London is Yardsale Pizza, Hoxton

If you're on a night out late in Soho, go to Garlic and Shots - you will not regret it

Elle

I'm from the West Country, in Bristol, but I'm afraid I don't have the accent!

Sunday Brunch at Megan's is the tastiest & the staff are always so lovely.

Go to see as many theatre shows as you possibly can - The Moulin Rouge at the Vaults in London Bridge is not to be missed. Also, the Stairway to Heaven is the best bar in London.

Paddy

I'm from Scarborough in North Yorkshire but have lived in Borough for over a year, making me a certified local!

The India Club just off the Strand is outrageously good for the price and their dosas will make your heart sing

Follow the river! Rent a bike or get on a TFL boat and you can explore the city without a single traffic jam.

Madeline

I am from Essex - just East of East london

my favourite restaurant in London is six by Nico because I’m so indecisive I couldn’t possibly decide on one meal, I’d rather settle with the 6 individual courses that they serve to you at the 6 by Nico experience

you cannot beat the atmosphere at Camden market, grab some food and take a browse at the interesting stalls, then escape the wildness and go for a stroll the the beautiful neighbouring village of primrose hill

Thomas

Born and raised in Leeds up North, but have lived in London for well over a decade - pretty much all over the city!

Oooh, I’m a sucker for Street Food - get yourself to a Street Feast or Mercato Metropolitano for an abundance of vendors, refined menus, and tasty dishes.

Central London is beautiful, but if you need to temper your city break with some nature; head to Richmond Park in South West London and hang out with some wild deer - you’ll forget you’re even in the city.

David

Born and raised in South-East London, I've been tummy-rumbling my way around the city my whole life, and I fall in love with it more every year

London is strung through with hidden gems - just stroll off from the main drag and follow that beautiful nose of yours. But if you're lost? Try wine and cheese in the quintessential Le Beaujolais, or dine in the magic, bohemian world of Circolo Popolare

Laine

From South East London and have eaten my way through most neighbours here in my time!

Head to any of the Eat Tokyo branches around London for a delicious bento box and tofu!

ou can walk within Tower Bridge and look beneath your feet at the traffic passing below - it’s affordable, thrilling and you get a great view of the winding Thames.

London Old Docks – Historic Pub Tour