The Holy Tavern

Long known as the Jerusalem Tavern and now The Holy Tavern, this Clerkenwell pub is one of the cosiest pieces of cosplay you can experience in London. Although it appears to be a wooden drinking den that’s served pints since ye olde times, the topsy-turvy space—full of nooks and crannies, ups and downs, dealmakers and drunkards—was fitted to look this way in the mid-'90s. Although the building itself has been around since the 1700s. Whatever your views on ‘authenticity’, this is a legendary London drinking establishment. From lunchtime onwards, office workers knock back ales and come evening things spill outside. If you’re looking for a full 18th-century experience, come by on Tuesdays in winter. It’s when the tavern is lit only by candlelight. A word of advice: watch your step.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch