Ye Olde Mitre, London
Not your typical backstreet tavern, this pub is more of a clandestine hideaway, renowned for being one of London's most elusive establishments, as well as one of its oldest, dating all the way back to 1546. Nestled amidst the diamond vendors of Hatton Garden, you'll need to navigate through a hidden entryway, effectively leaving the bustling City of London behind for what was once part of Cambridge, formerly belonging to the Bishop of Ely's palace.
Ye Olde Mitre likely served the bishop's servants, and the surrounding area functioned as an independent enclave akin to the Vatican. If people with less-than-honorable intentions wanted to avoid getting caught by the City of London police, they'd hide in the alley where the pub stands and then slip into the neighboring slums. Those very slums were the ones that Charles Dickens used as inspiration for Fagin's hideout in his book "Oliver Twist", where the old mentor taught young homeless boys how to pickpocket.
Inside the front bar, you'll find remnants of a distinctive cherry tree that once marked a boundary and is said to have witnessed Queen Elizabeth I dancing around it with Sir Christopher Hatton during a maypole celebration. Locals often migrate to the upstairs Bishop's Room or the cozy rear snug, and on pleasant days, patrons can enjoy their drinks outdoors, gathered around large beer barrels in the alley.
This establishment, closed on weekends, offers a selection of English tapas in the form of Scotch eggs, toasties, and sausage rolls, maintaining a traditional charm that includes having restroom facilities located outside.
Ye Olde Mitre likely served the bishop's servants, and the surrounding area functioned as an independent enclave akin to the Vatican. If people with less-than-honorable intentions wanted to avoid getting caught by the City of London police, they'd hide in the alley where the pub stands and then slip into the neighboring slums. Those very slums were the ones that Charles Dickens used as inspiration for Fagin's hideout in his book "Oliver Twist", where the old mentor taught young homeless boys how to pickpocket.
Inside the front bar, you'll find remnants of a distinctive cherry tree that once marked a boundary and is said to have witnessed Queen Elizabeth I dancing around it with Sir Christopher Hatton during a maypole celebration. Locals often migrate to the upstairs Bishop's Room or the cozy rear snug, and on pleasant days, patrons can enjoy their drinks outdoors, gathered around large beer barrels in the alley.
This establishment, closed on weekends, offers a selection of English tapas in the form of Scotch eggs, toasties, and sausage rolls, maintaining a traditional charm that includes having restroom facilities located outside.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Ye Olde Mitre on Map
Sight Name: Ye Olde Mitre
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Food/Drink
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Food/Drink
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Covent Garden Walking Tour
A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market – currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Shakespeare's London Walking Tour
Often called England's national poet or simply "the Bard", William Shakespeare is revered as one of, if not the greatest playwright this world has ever seen. The dramas, such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth are among the finest creations in the English language, translated into every major language and performed more often than those of any other author.... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Harry Potter Walking Tour I
The arrival of Harry Potter books, followed by tremendously successful Hollywood adaptation, has made London an even more popular destination now with the Harry Potter fans all over the world. The list of attractions in the city associated with Potter’s journeys includes both, newly-invented as well as some long-standing locations.
On Part I of the self-guided Happy Potter Walking Tour, you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
On Part I of the self-guided Happy Potter Walking Tour, you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Walk around Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's official residence, is a must-see for anyone visiting London, but so are the adjacent royal establishments that give a unique window into the royal way of life. On this self-guided walking tour, along with Buckingham Palace and its memorable fountain, you will visit the St. James's private royal residence, the wonderful Queen's Gallery, and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Beatles London Walking Tour
Perhaps one of the most famed and influential bands of all time, whose music has transcended generations, The Beatles continues to be a source of entertainment many decades after the group was formed (1960) and split up (1970).
"The Fab Four" – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – all came from Liverpool, but London was indeed their home-base. As the... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
"The Fab Four" – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – all came from Liverpool, but London was indeed their home-base. As the... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Jane Austen’s London
The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham’s elopement in “Pride & Prejudice.”
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
London Souvenirs: 20 Distinctively British Products for Travelers
Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...