The Pub is a central figure in British life and community. London has thousands of pubs, catering to the city’s beer and wine-thirsty crowds.

Peter Haydon, author of "The English Pub - A History", explains that the tradition of having a pint or a drink at the local pub dates back to the Roman times. Romans set up ‘tabernae’ (what we now know as taverns) that served food and wine in all their towns and villages.

After the Romans left, the next waves of invaders brought with them similar traditions of drinking at a local ‘alehouse’. Drinking ale was part of everyday life, as ales were easy and safe to drink, in contrast to the water supply which was ever more contaminated by growing urban centers. It is this tradition that we inherit today.

The name for “pub” is actually an abbreviation of “public house” dating from the Victorian area. As time went by, pubs became evermore an integrated and crucial part of society. Mark Girouard, author of “Victorian Pubs” explains that travelers many times depended on pubs for lodging and food, and they also became a place for “friends to meet, and business people to negotiate.”

Today, London pubs fill up at lunch time and dinner, where people go for a quick after-work pint, some food, or simply to relax.

London pubs are world famous, for their history and ‘pub culture’. In many areas the local publican, or bartender, is a well known figure in the community. For many people the pub is a home away from home, where they come with friends and have a good time.

Current legislation has transformed pubs from the traditional seedy drinking den to a more family-oriented environment, with many making the transition to smoke-free environments. A law has recently been passed that decreed that all pubs must be completely smoke-free by 2007.

Pubs usually close at 11 o’clock PM, a tradition that dates back to the First World War, when factory workers were banned from going to pubs past 11 because of the dangerous nature of their work the next morning. However, a recent law gives pubs owners’ the possibility to apply for a late license that allows them to open past mid-night.

London ’s pubs are packed with history and intrigue; many are featured or mentioned in famous works of literature. Some notable examples are: the Tabard, in Southwark (now the George Inn) where Chaucer began his Canterbury Tales; the Dove, were King Charles II secretly met with his mistress; and the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, quoted by writers like Thackeray, Dickens (in A Tale Of Two Cities), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Chesterton and Bellos.