The British have made some immense contributions to civilization, but none greater than the local pub. Filled with warm welcomes, tasty beverages 'pulled' straight from the barrel, hearty meals, a lathering of character, and just as many characters, the "local" is the country's great social equalizer. Lord or layman, Royal or road worker, step through the doors of a traditional English pub and we're all just another parched soul in search of a liquid assisted break from the stresses of the outside world.
With all this good must come some bad, and British licensing laws ensure they play their part by restricting opening hours. However times have changed recently and many bars and pubs have been given the opportunity to be open longer. Most pubs have opted for an extra 30 minutes Monday to Thursday taking the time to 11.30pm and an extra hour on Friday and Saturdays taking it to midnight. A lot the larger more central London bars have opted for even longer hours and there are a few that are open 24 hours!
Depending on your point of view, there is another good or bad trend occurring throughout London pub life. Over the past few years many of the traditional pubs have been on the end of extreme and occasionally obscene makeovers, into flashy, clean, sparkling Gastro pubs catering to an up-market clientele. However, it is possible to still find time-honored, cozy, and colorful watering holes if you know where to look. Possibly the most important thing to know when you come to England or planning a London Vacation is how to order a beer.
Flowing from the tap, the nectar of the Gods is available in two handy glass sizes - a pint and a half-pint that should be referred to as a "pint" or a "half" respectively, when ordering draught beer. The mighty pint is equivalent to 0.6 of a liter, while a half is a more restrained 0.3 of a liter. For information on the serious business of pub life, see our Pub Etiquette section.
The city is now a plethora of chain pubs and bars, each offering their own particular vibe. The competition to become the 'in' place in town has led to vast sums of money being spent on décor and entertainment. In return, you have a huge selection of revamped American-style bars, offering music to fit the desired mood, and bar staff inviting tips for serving bottled beer and fancy named designer cocktails that would have Oliver Reed swaying in his grave.
With almost 4000 pubs and bars to choose from, it's only right you do some extensive first hand research to see which best suit your personal taste.
