Is any trip to England or Ireland complete without stepping into a pub and ordering a pint? Here are our picks for the best non-touristy, traditional pubs throughout the United Kingdom.
LONDON
The White Hart
The oldest licensed pub in London and popular celebrity haunt, this tavern offers a mix of classic traditional pub and vibrant, modern nightlife.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
This pub has survived 15 monarchs and houses a labyrinth of passages and staircases connecting a number of bars and dining rooms. It is said to have served literary figures from Twain and Tennyson to Dickens.
The Old Bank of England
Named after the bank that traded here for 87 years, this pub also lies between the sites of the Sweeney Todd barbershop (the “Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and the pie shop owned by his mistress). The tunnels and vaults below this building are said to be where their victims were butchered.
DUBLIN
The Norseman
The oldest pub in Temple Bar, this is a craft beer and whiskey house that prides itself on quality.
O’Donoghue’s Bar
The sound of music penetrates the walls of this traditional, Irish music pub.
The Confession Box
The name might seem curious, but when you consider the size of this cozy pub and its proximity to the neoclassical grandeur of St. Mary’s, the title makes more sense. Voted the best pint in Dublin, this pub is best-known for its pints of Guinness.
BELFAST
The Crown Liquor Saloon
A Victorian gin palace situated in Northern Ireland, this popular pub’s interior is lit by gas lights.
McHughs Bar
Dating back to 1711, McHughs is the oldest surviving building in Belfast. This pub boasts live music most days: Everything from folk music to local alternative bands.
KILLARNEY
Courtney’s Bar
This pub has been operating since the late 1800s (under the same family) and offers a wide selection of Irish whiskeys.
The Killarney Brewing Company
Here, travellers can find one of Ireland’s most exciting new craft breweries and taprooms. Beers are named after local myths and legends.
Interested in visiting some of these off the beaten bath pubs and beyond?
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