4 Historic Riverside Pubs in London

Centuries of stories along the Thames — from Wapping to Hammersmith.

London Streets

The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping

This Wapping institution lays claim to the site of the oldest riverside tavern, dating from around 1520. Known as the Devil's Tavern in the 17th century and rebuilt after an 18th-century fire, it still keeps its flagstone floors and old Thames-side character.

The Mayflower, Rotherhithe

At 117 Rotherhithe Street, the Mayflower stands on the site of the older Shippe pub — from where the Mayflower ship departed for the New World in July 1620. The present building is largely 20th-century, so the story here is the site, not the bricks.

The Dove, Hammersmith

A Grade II-listed gem at 19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, dating from the early 18th century. Its small front bar has a Guinness-record association, and its guestbook of regulars includes Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway and Dylan Thomas.

The Grapes, Limehouse

This Grade II-listed Thames-side pub at 76 Narrow Street, Limehouse, dates from the 1720s and stands on a pub site traced to 1583. Its riverside veranda and Dickens connection make it one of the river's most atmospheric stops.

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