The Beer Lover's Four Perfect Days in London

By Owen Ogletree

London, England makes for a superb first trip to Europe - everyone speaks our language (mostly), the tube makes for easy transportation around the city, hundreds of hotels offer decent rates, and, most importantly, the beer and pubs are delightful. 

In a classic London pub, always order at the bar and be sure to focus on the hand-pulled, cask ale taps that pour cask-conditioned "real ale." These beers are naturally carbonated, unfiltered, unpasteurized products served without artificial carbon dioxide gas. Expect a subtle, elegant pint served at a cool cellar temperature of 50-55 degrees F with smooth, soft, light carbonation. Contrary to rumor, English cask ale should NEVER be flat and warm.

In terms of UK cask styles, look for malty English bitters, hoppy golden ales, chocolately dark milds, and black porters and stouts. Even though most English cask ales rank as lower alcohol, session-able beers in the 3-5% alcohol range, it's usually wise to order half pints - especially on an extended pub crawl. 

Kegged craft beer will also be on offer in many London pubs, and these differ from classic cask ale in their higher level of artificial carbon dioxide gas and thorough filtration and pasteurization. 

Day 1 - Central London

After getting through customs, make your way to the airport's train station to head to your hotel to drop off bags. Resist the intense urge to take a nap, as you'll have far too much to see and do this day.

Purchase a one-day, unlimited tube (underground/subway) pass at any station and proceed to the Westminster stop. As you emerge from the station at the Bridge Street exit, Big Ben will be the massive structure across the street, with the River Thames and London Eye to the left and Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey to the right.

After visiting one or more of these touristy must-see spots, pop into the St. Stephens Tavern (10 Bridge Street, Westminster, SW1A 2JR - next to Westminster station) to sample their range of Badger cask ales and nosh a meat pie or fish & chips. If the bar is full, ask if the upstairs dining room is open.

Walk north on Whitehall Road past 10 Downing Street and the Horse Guards Parade toward Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery. If you must see the outside of crowded Buckingham Palace, take a detour west through St. James park. Make time for a pint at Wetherspoon's beautiful Lord Moon of the Mall pub near Trafalgar Square. 

After getting pooped on by pigeons in Trafalgar Square and sticking your head into the National Gallery, walk through the theater district for a mouth-watering cask ale or two at The Harp (47 Chandos Place, WC2N 4HS).

Jump on the tube for Euston station where you'll find these top cask ale pubs just a few steps away...

• Doric Arch, 1 Eversholt Street, Euston Square, NW1 1DN. Classic railway pub.
• Euston Tap, 190 Euston Road, NW1 2EF. Craft beer pub in an old railway observation tower.
• Mabel's Tavern, 9 Mabledon Pl, London WC1H 9AZ. 

When satiated with real ale, pop into Nando's restaurant near Doric Arch and the Euston Station entrance for spicy peri peri chicken and chips.

Day 2 - South of the Thames

Walking from London Bridge tube station, arrive at the amazing Borough Market around 10-11 am (closed Sundays) and try not to drool at the expansive selection of cheeses, meats, desserts and street food. Be sure to nibble outstanding cheese samples at Neal's Yard Dairy store. After a grazing lunch in the market, hit up these pub favorites for a variety of half

pints...

• Market Porter, 9 Stoney Street, SE1 9AA.
• The Rake, 14a Winchester Walk, Borough Market, SE1 9AG.
• The Wheatsheaf, 24 Southwark Street, SE1 1TY. Try the refreshing Young's Bitter.
• Barrowboy & Banker, 8 Borough High Street, SE1 9QQ. Handsome Fuller's pub housed in an old bank building.
• The George, 75-77 Borough High St, London SE1 1NH. This old coaching inn has a number of interesting bars and rooms down the length of the historic building. 
• The Royal Oak, 44 Tabard Street, SE1 4JU. Taste the entire range of Harvey's historic cask ales here.
• While in the area, fit in a quick visit to the fascinating recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT).

Day 3 - Cheery Chiswick

Book an afternoon tour in advance at the iconic Fullers Brewery in the London neighborhood of Chiswick. Exit the Turnham Green station on the District Line for the easy walk to Fullers. Before the tour, have a pint and savory meat or mushroom pie at the Mawson Arms brewery tap, which is also the meeting spot for your tour. 

The Fullers tour concludes with a grand tasting in the brewery's Hock Cellar museum and tap.

After the brewery visit, walk east along the north bank of the Thames (toward Hammersmith tube station) for a scenic, evening river pub romp that includes...

• Old Ship, 25 Upper Mall, W6 9TD.
• The Dove, 19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TA.
• The Salutation, 154 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0QU.
• Andover Arms, 57 Aldensley Road, Hammersmith, W6 0DL.
• The Blue Anchor, 13 Lower Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9DJ.
• The Hop Poles, 17-19 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 9HR.
• The Swan, 46 Hammersmith Broadway, W6 0DZ.

Day 4 - Museum, Meals & More Ale

After a full morning of taking in the sights at the massive British Museum (near Russell Square tube stop), head across the street to the Museum Tavern (49 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3BA) for a pint of rich, malty Theakston Old Peculier.

Now walk east into the Holborn area to sample pub grub and ales at these glorious locales...

• Holborn Whippet, 25-29 Sicilian Avenue, WC1A 2QH. Inspired pub fare.
• Princess Louise, 208 High Holborn, WC1V 7EP. Ornate Victorian pub with Sam Smith's classic Brewery Bitter on cask.
• Penderel's Oak, 283-288 High Holborn, WC1V 7HP. Part of the massive Wetherspoon pub chain, this place offers a variety of cask ales and inexpensive food choices.
• Ye Old Mitre, 1 Ely Place, EC1N 6SJ. Historic pub tucked down a tiny alley.
• The Craft Beer Company, 82 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TR. Features craft kegs alongside casks.
• Jerusalem Tavern, 55 Britton Street, EC1M 5UQ. Rare London outlet for casks ales from St. Peter's Brewery.

Saturday BONUS Brewery Day

If you love adventure and a good walk, use an entire Saturday afternoon to explore London's new "Brewery Mile" - a stretch of old, elevated train tracks with a number of young, craft nano-breweries housed underneath or nearby. These breweries seem inspired by American craft beers, and all have tasting rooms open only on Saturdays.

Bermondsey is the closest tube stop...

• Partizan Brewing Co. - 11am-5pm
• Southwark Brewing has outstanding house cask ales
• Brew by Numbers - 10am-5pm
• Fourpure - 11am-5pm
• Anspach & Hobday (Bullfinch) - 11am-6pm
• Several other beer spots have opened along the length of the mile. Keep your eyes open. 

There you have it - four or five beery days in London - all set up in an easy-to-follow schedule. Plan a trip soon, and email Owen your feedback. Cheers!