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This old-world establishment tucked up an alley looks much as it did in Charles Dickens’ day. In the heart of Covent Garden, it can get crowded – during the summer drinkers spill outside into the quiet alley. The 17th-century poet John Dryden was severely beaten up outside the pub which was known as the Bucket of Blood because of the bareknuckle fights held here.

This small, tiled premises is like a cosy front room in the heart of Soho. The Dog and Duck has a tiny bar, where you might bump into art students and designers, and a blackboard with the latest selection of beers from all corners of England.

In an alley off Fleet Street, this warren of rooms still seems as if it should have sawdust on the floors. Rebuilt in 1667, after the Great Fire of London, it was a favourite of Dr Johnson and other writers. Never too crowded, its intimate corners make a good meeting place, made cozier with fires in winter.

Built in 1676, this is the only galleried coaching inn left in London, and was taken over by the National Trust in 1937. You can enjoy the well-kept beers in its myriad old rooms, with lattice windows and wooden beams, or in the large courtyard.

Outside the George Inn

A delightful little pub with cubicles, a small bar and little more than the 18th-century coffee shop it once was. People come here to try out the full range of a rare but popular brewery, St Peter’s in Suffolk. Light meals are served at lunchtime.

This lovely 16th-century pub north of Hampstead Heath, with a large, attractive beer garden, is steeped in history and romance: the 18th-century highwayman Dick Turpin drank here, along with literary luminaries Keats, Shelley and Byron.

A character pub near Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell is a great find: a light and airy non-smoking area is coupled with O’Hanlon’s ales, brewed in the West Country, and a varied weekly menu, including Sunday lunches.

Built in the 1720s, with wooden floors and panelling, The Grapes has survived the modern development of Docklands, retaining its traditional charm and informal atmosphere. The back bar has an open fire for the winter months and a terrace by the Thames for the summer. The excellent upstairs restaurant is renowned for its fish dishes.

This large Victorian pub is popular, crowded and lively, with many coming here to eat the excellent, mainly Mediterranean, food. Portions are large and inexpensive, and can be washed down with a good selection of beer and wine.

Owned by the Freedom Brewing Company, Zebrano’s emphasis is on comfort with low wooden booths around cocktail tables. The bar brews its own beers and offers an extensive cocktail list as well as selling spirits by the bottle. The food menu features a variety of Asian-influenced dishes.