Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Super cool, old, historical pub in a back alley! Steep staircases, creaky old wood rooms and a labyrinth of hallways leading to bars is a really unique setting for a pint. British pubs can be a bit of a weird setup where there is limited table service, you have to order at the bar and hope they bring you the right food. The prices were pretty steep and we didn't end up staying around for food. Worth the visit for sure!

Came here on a pub tour with my wife on our honeymoon, our tour guide chose fried white bait and Samuel Smith’s extra stout for us as the food and drink pairing for this leg of the tour. I love stouts, and this was one of the smoothest and creamiest stouts I’ve ever had. The white bait was one of the best pub snacks I’ve ever had. The old cellars are air conditioned as well, to boot—the perfect shelter from hot weather!

The history alone (Charles Dickens’ old haunt) is worth the visit, and the food doesn’t disappoint. The varied summer cocktail options were a nice surprise as well. The staff were lovely and inviting.

If you are in London, whether residing there or visiting, experiencing a traditional pub is an absolute must. Among the countless pubs scattered across the city, 'Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese' stands out as one of the most historic and genuinely old establishments. This pub boasts a remarkable history, with its origins dating back to 1538 when it was first established. Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, which devastated much of the city, the original structure was lost. However, the pub was commendably rebuilt around 1667 on the same site, resulting in the building that stands today. This rich history is palpable as you step inside. Visiting 'Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese' offers more than just a drink; it provides a tangible connection to London's past. The atmosphere within is wonderfully traditional and full of character, with its labyrinthine layout, low ceilings, and historic features. It's a place where you can truly soak in the ambiance of centuries gone by. Beyond the history and atmosphere, the pub naturally offers a selection of beers. Based on my personal experience, I would particularly recommend trying a Stout here. Enjoying a pint in such a historically significant and atmospheric setting is a unique pleasure. For its deep-rooted history, authentic character, and the simple pleasure of enjoying a good beer in a truly iconic London pub, visiting 'Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese' is highly recommended. It's an experience that captures a significant part of London's heritage.

Ye Olde Pub Crawl Gold Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is such a fun pub to visit. This was the second time we sought it out. This pub is hidden in an unobtrusive alleyway off a larger street in London. I needed my trusty Google Maps to show me the way! The pub is a Charles Dickens favourite and it is said he would sit beside the fire in the snug and write away with an ale at his side. Of course I loved the evocative picture this conjured up in my mind as I sat beside the very same fireplace and listened to the friendly banter from the bartender as fellow tourists popped in for a beverage in the fabled place. I love how this pub has multiple sections. Last time we visited our family had an enjoyable meal upstairs. This time we enjoyed the snug, imagining the people who would have sat there before us and the conversations they would have had. In search of more we discovered the cellar bar , with brickwork predating the Great Fire of London and where monks would have found their way through tunnels from a nearby abbey to receive their daily beer ration. This pub, in just two visits, has become a firm favourite, not just because of its immense history but also because the food is good and the staff are both engaging and deeply knowledgeable. This is a must visit pub if you want London at its finest.

Overall Im giving 5 stars. The food was 8/10. Our waitress gave off the vibe that she didn’t want to be there. This historic building is pretty awesome though. So many levels and different bar sections. Worth coming to for a burger, fish and chips or a drink

Disappointing. Food expensive and very average. Service adequate. Nothing special. I had steak pudding. Not much meat in the pie. £19.50 ish, then £5.50 for potatoes and another £5.50 if you want a vegetable. History but the pub is not nearly as quaint as I'd hoped

Really old quirky pub, bit touristic but still kept its charm. Staff super friendly. Lots of different levels to explore & drink in. Nice food menu with great tasty snacks. Great prices for a touristy place

This historic place ("known haunt of Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens and others") had only the bar menu when we went there, which didn't include the steak and kidney pie I wanted to try. But everything we had was great. You seat yourself in one of several maze-like rooms and order at the bar. We picked a room which was empty and had 2 large tables. Love that this place has stood for hundreds of years. I tried the Pork Pie with piccalilli and it was great. Piccalilli is a sweet, spicy pickle sauce that I first read about in a James Herriot story so I was curious to try it. Very tasty. Good authentic old English food -- I'll bet Dr. Johnson didn't have watercress salad with his pork pie but still. Had to climb a steep stairway of ancient wood to get to the toilet, so definitely not disabled accessible. But thoroughly enjoyable.

We really enjoyed this place when we visited London. Down an alleyway off of Fleet Street, this pub offered Samuel Smith's beers which we found difficult to find in London. In fact dark beers in general, except for Guinness, were rare in London. This pub prides itself on the fact that it was rebuilt in 1667. Too bad the walls can't talk. I'm sure there are plenty of stories to tell. The food offered was very British. My husband chose the Scotch Egg and Pork Pie, but was surprised and disappointed that these items were served cold. I went with the Cheese Charcuterie board. It was very good!! Our favorite part of the evening was playing darts on the pubs dart boards. This was our favorite London pub.

A historical pub with authentic atmosphere. There are many rooms to sit in with a pint or to order food. Upon entering in December, it smelled incredible due to the real, wood-burning fireplace. Service was friendly and prompt, and the pints were cold. The bathrooms leave something to be desired, and be sure to mind your head on the way down. The low ceiling and narrow staircase could turn your whole night around.

Great beer on Fleet Street. While there are many options around the history alone should tempt you to visit. Have a pint and relax in one of the many places to sit and gather your energy while touring the area. The beer is very good, the food was standard. I had the steak and kidney suet which was fair but due to the atmosphere it was enjoyable. The service at the bar was great, at the table was mediocre. Overall worth a visit!

I am a fairly go-with-the-flow traveler but my one request on a recent trip to London was traditional Bangers & Mash - and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub knocked it out of the park for me! This is known as one of the most famous pubs in the world where many literary greats were frequent visitors: Mark Twain, W.B. Yeats and Charles Dickens (who even featured this spot in A Tale of Two Cities). *Side note - I sat in the exact spot that was Charles Dickens sat when he visited - I mean, how cool is that?! This place isn't the biggest so there may be a bit of a wait if you don't have a reservation - but fear not, the team does their absolute best to accommodate you without hesitation and luckily, we only waited about 3 minutes before a table opened up. From the hostess to the waiter to the person that brought the food to our table, service was stellar. I enjoyed that they allowed us to sit back and enjoy our meal while checking in every so often to be sure everything was to our liking and we were having a good experience. To the team here - Thank you for making our dinner her so special. Food wise, you will find your typical and traditional British fare but elevated to the next delicious level. We had been out and about exploring the city all day {meaning..eating small bites everywhere along the way}, so we opted to split an entree and it was the perfect amount of food and completely hit the spot! The Kentish hop Sausage Ring served with Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Onion Gravy and topped with Watercress is an absolute must! I would also suggest adding a side of the Buttered Carrots (Cause you know..veggies}! This was the perfect British meal and the perfect last meal in London! Highly recommended!

Old pub in London that we stopped in for a beer. Tiny bar area with a seating also in the back. Dark and a bit Cabo but it was charming

Review #18 of 2024!! yeeezzz Ok so I came here on a friends recommendation and after looking up the history of the place I was like, yes! It was hard for me to get here because it is way further out than the other "touristy" things in the city. It was dark when I got here and when I asked for a table they told me there was a special event and a lot of the rooms were already taken. They were able to sit me all the way upstairs in a corner table, literally. There was nobody there with me expect the waiters. Eventually more people started filling in the room but other than that it did not get crowded at all. The food is your traditional British cuisine. I order the fish and chips and they were average, nothing spectacular about it. The service was prompt and attentive. I mostly went for the history and the architecture and the atmosphere. Unfortunately there was not much of an atmosphere when I went so I was a little disappointed on that. Next time I honestly would not visit because it was just so far away on public transportation, the atmosphere was not there and the food was just meh at best.

Kitchen closed between 3-5 when we went but otherwise an atmospheric pub with good beer. Lots of seating across several floors. Nice staff. Bathrooms did not smell good though :/

I love visiting landmarks in London and this pub was such a treat for me. The place is rich in history and filled with old photos of the bygone eras for visitors to view. To top it off our foods were also delicious. We had the fish and chips and the sausage with black pudding. The portions were just right and foods were made to order. The only thing I thought was not so great was the waiter who we tipped 5 quids for a takeaway box,took the money but didn't even bother to get the box for us.

My mom's a Brit and this was her first time coming back to England in a few years. It felt like a momentous trip and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese ended up being a highlight. We went by just to check it out and pass by but in need of nourishment we went in! There's definitely different sections of this place and they all add something fun. There's the regulars bar in the front, don't go there because that'd be rude, it's not for tourists, and that's a good thing, respect the space. There's a dining area with a roaring fire and then at least two other bar areas; one in the back and one downstairs. We went into the bar in the back and had a nice pint and a snack. We enjoyed it so much that we made it the place we had our last meal a few days later. The food was fantastic, the fish & chips I'd been craving and sticky toffee pudding that might have brought tears. The waitstaff was fantastic, they do a stellar job. Would highly recommend but would also suggest grabbing a reservation if you want dinner. We didn't have one and they so kindly managed to squeeze us in.

I was at a conference for work and co-workers, and some conference folk was looking for an English restaurant experience. My friend knew about h the Cheshire, so we went. I had such wonderful classic dishes like English pudding, spotted dick (I just like ordering it because it's a naughty word in the USA), and such good beer we were over the moon. I have been here twice now since the last time I was in London, I sought it out. I like when places do classic dishes and do them well/perfectly. Yes, the menu has some trendy things for everyone, but I want the olde London from films, and some tasty beef thing, with spuds in a perfect gravy, served by a polite English towne-server. Right governor! (No one ever calls me "Governor", Cap maybe) You get me, right? When you come to Boston or Maine, I will put on my best cap and give you a show, though you can't get thar from heeere!). Anyway, the atmosphere is a local place since I had to go down a little alley to get here. Everything is calm and sedate at the dinner hour, the way it should be. I felt like I could be anytime from the 1940s to today--many thanks to the owners for maintaining the "meilleur." Service was perfect for European service, a little more attentive, actually, but eventually, they just left us to our own and kept our drinks filled. A perfect end to a long day. I trundled to my boutique hotel feeling like Horace Rumpole.

What an absolutely quaint gem of a Pub. The food was fresh and delicious, and the service was kind and prompt. We were crunched for time, and our server made sure our food came out quickly. Treat yourself and stop in, even if only for a pint.

Great food and great service! This restaurant don't need reservations, you can just walk in. Waiters and bartenders are friendly and attentive

Hidden cute little pub. We had the fish of the day and it was quite tasty and serving was big enough for two people. Had the Rum Punch and it was really good! Definitely recommend this drink!

This place is full of tourists, but since we were tourists, we didn't care. The interior is old, dark, and kinda creepy, in a good way. We were able to get a table in the corner and enjoy the ambiance of an old pub in London.

Old to the point of ancient. No frills, no fuss no muss. Just dropped in for a pint in an old pub.

Worse dinning experience in London this week. We arrived at 6:30. The pub was slow not many tables / customers. We were seated and then the trouble began. The staff seemed confused and several were obviously not trained well. After extended period of time the server came to the table and asked if we were ready to order. We both ordered cocktails and were told that they didn't have "ice" so they couldn't make cocktails. So I ordered a beer and my wife just had water. We then tried to order fish and chips and ribeye steak and were told they were out of both!! So our meal consisted of a salad for my wife and a beer for me. There did not seem to be any concern for all the issues. A very poorly run restaurant. On the positive the beer was good and they had a nice fire going in the fireplace.

Another Yelper recommended the fish and chips here, saying that it's the best in London, so we had to go! Since Covid-19, only the downstairs dining area is open and it has limited seating. We did not have reservations, but a table opened up and the server offered it to us. Note that the address is Fleet Street, but the pub is actually accessed from Wine Office Court, a small footpath alley. Look for the sign on Fleet Street and turn in there. The lights were very dim but I got a good look at the beautiful old glass windows before the sun went behind the buildings. We ordered pints, Hubby of the house lager and a hard cider for me, both of which were cold and refreshing. Since Hubby dislikes peas, (mushy or otherwise!) he asked for a substitution and a green salad was offered. Interestingly enough, both plates came with the substitution. The fish is cod from the North Sea and was crispy and delicious. The chips were crunchy outside, and tasty. Neither of us had room for dessert with the portions that were served! There are other items on the menu that look tasty as well, and would require another visit.

Don't waste your time or money, just 'Ye Olde Rude Staff'. Shame on you for being the rudest pub in London. We stopped by on Friday June 9th 2023 around 7:20pm. We were travelling with two children (13 & 18) and were immediately funneled down into the cellar bar. Just for full disclosure there were 10 or so customers outside drinking and smoking (which is fine) and there was a small group in the dining room on the main floor which is why I think everyone directed us downstairs. Once we got the the cellar we immediately turned around and went back upstairs to order. The bar downstairs was dank and it looked as though they wanted NO tourists there...and we were there to buy 3-pints and move about our way for the night. Anyway back to the review....I went back upstairs and asked the VERY RUDE BARTENDER to order at a side bar and he said I would have to go back downstairs and drink there. *When I pointed out that there were already patrons drinking & smoking outside and asked why we couldn't do the same the bartender looked puzzled that I immediately called him out. I just said 'forget it' because of their inexcusable rudeness. Of all the placed we visited from June 7-14, this establishment is the ONLY one where we encountered such rude employees, and I mean EVERYONE WHO WORKED THERE. Even though this place is highly rated, I would recommend everyone DEFINITELY skip and just avoid the rudeness and flippant attitude. Don't waste your time or money at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. Maybe change their name to 'Ye Olde Rude Staff'?

Tourist trap with long lines and horrible bartenders. The old bell across the road much better.

We came to the Ye Olde Chesire Cheese for a very special reason. My father wrote a budget guide book to Europe in 1963 and recommended it. So, my husband secretly brought the guide book with us, tracked down one of the only restuarants still in business and still serving the same items on the menu, and we found ourselves in a booth that my father most likely occupied while writing his guidebook in a still recovering, post-war London. I was thrilled to be part of the history of the pub, which hosted other literary figures such as Charles Dickens. We shared a pint or two, had bangers and mash, overheard a tour guide give some more interesting details about the past, and soaked up the incredible history of the place. It's a little strange that the staff are all Italian, but I guess that's modern day Britain.

The food wasn't good and neither was the service. Got the fish and every bite had bones in it. I also had to cut off the head.

Fabulous. I chose this pub for our first British meal. Did not disappoint. Every other meal since has been compared to this one . Sticky toffee pudding best.

The decor was dark and historical with a roaring fireplace, perfect for a cold rainy day in London. The bartender was a stoic unsmiling fellow who seemed annoyed to have patrons. Additionally it was very very touristy. While we were there, a family with a noisy toddler sat next to us and kept throwing his metal water bottle on the wooden floor. The parents were oblivious. So no, not an overly pleasant experience.

What an EPIC experience! You feel like you're right back in the 17th century. As a visitor from Texas, USA I've always envisioned an old style english pub/tavern with short ceilings, aged wood, and underground cellars from the movies and this was IT!! This is one of the oldest Pubs in the world and I would recommend traveling great distances to experience this. We ordered the fish and chips which was PHENOMENAL. Crispy, lightly battered and fried we were served an entire fish served on a bed of real steak cut english chips. Our waiter was responsive, helpful, and engaging.

The ambiance is more than 5 stars. The service was great and the food was well prepared. Traditional English dishes cooked well with high quality ingredients. We had the fish and chips and the grilled lamb, both of which were good. The sticky toffee pudding was amazing!!

Our local friend took us here on our first visit to London. She used to frequent this pub prior to COVID when she was working downtown daily. She brought us through all the different rooms and chatted with the bartender in the front room. This bar is from the 1600's and I loved being able to cheers my friends here! We had a few of the Samuel Smith beers from the cask and they were DELICIOUS! Would recommend for a pint!

Ahh who doesn't love an olde cheese? While the name doesn't bring forth a necessarily pleasant picture, I promise this pub isn't stinky or moldy (as far as I could tell). However, it is incredibly old and so very interesting! With several sitting areas across multiple levels, you could visit on numerous occasions and feel like you're in a different place each time. My husband and I drank in the basement area and ate in the restaurant room. Both were very different and interesting. I'd give the food a solid "meh", with very slow service. But the ambiance more than made up for this! And it seems as though many others agree, as the pub was quite popular, especially among tourists (ew). Nonetheless, I'd highly recommend a visit.

History of the building was cool. Be careful at the lower bar.. they charged double charged me for drinks. Spoke with them about it and had to it and had to explain multiple times what happen. Would give zero stars if I could. Plenty of better pubs in the area.

Really fun old pub. Food was very good and the atmosphere was even better. Great way to skip the rain and enjoy London.

This historic pub is THE standard for a classic old pub in London! We grabbed a table in one of the cellars (3 levels!) and it was like going back in time. If you want to drink where Charles Dickens, GK Chesterton, Dr. Johnson, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain drank, you found your spot! Sam Smith beers hit the spot!

Most memorable pub visit during our time in London! Lovely service and you just cannot beat the vibe. This pub has been around quite some time (one on Location since early 1500s and this one was rebuilt here after a fire in 1666) and has attracted famous folks like Dickens, Tennyson, Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! I'm all about a vibe, so having lunch, a beverage and taking some time to sit and look at our afternoon plans in such an old and historic place was perfection on a random weekday during our vacation.

Fantastic historical bar. Be sure to go downstairs. The beer was great and the ambiance even better. So glad we took the time to go here.

This place is AMAZING! A friend and I were in the UK for the weekend and she stated that a colleague of hers recommended this place. I am so happy we went! I'm a huge lover of seafood, and the fish was delicious! Even the tartar sauce (which I always avoid) was super tasty! The hostess was extremely kind and super knowledgeable about the history of the building and more than happy to answer any questions we had. She showed us some important spots in the building and told us that we were more than welcome to explore downstairs where it looked very much like a catacomb! I would love to go back here the next time I'm on that side of the ocean!

Thought it would be fun to try this place based on its history. They opened a little late for when we wanted to eat and we're disorganized in getting us seated. We walked out once and came back after finding nothing else in the immediate area to our liking. Food was OK but nothing special. Service was limited but ambiance was really great in this 400+ year old pub.

Dark. Dingy. Nooks and crannies. Loved being here and navigating my way around this space! Food was tasty!

There is magic inside this pub. You know this as an American when you see Londoners enter all starry-eyed. You can feel the history in each well-worn booth and every nook, cranny and bar. Food ranges from traditional pub grub to well-executed chop house (get the sirloin). It's a Samuel Smith pub so beer will be traditional. Very chill atmosphere, even with occasional waves of tourists wandering through. We were walk-ins for dinner, and though it feels like reservations are recommended, they graciously fit us in. Atmosphere was so inviting, we stayed and drank after dinner and soaked in the history. Cannot recommend highly enough.

This is 10 stars if possible! A must stop British pub experience that you cannot miss. And of course, be certain to order their fish & chips to go with your classic ale. Staff is great and the atmosphere is exactly what you'd want in an authentic local pub. This is a must do!

I decided to go to this pub because it was recommended to me as the oldest bar in London, and who could miss that?! This place was tucked away in a little alley, but was fairly easy to find. The decor inside really speaks to the history of the pub, and I loved that! I like that despite how much time has passed, you can still see remnants of how the place used to be. If you walked around, you can even see old photos of the place. We grabbed a couple of drinks and tried out the food. Food was decent, we got the bangers and mash and the baitfish. They had a nice selection of beers as well. I always appreciate a pub that offers fruit beers and ciders for those that can't drink IPA and stouts. This is a cool place to check out, especially for a tourist like me!

We went on a Friday night and to our surprise it was completely empty! Maybe like only 8 or 10 other people.. the place is very large (basement level, middle level, and upstairs) so this made it feel very lonely. The atmosphere was cute and it really brings you back into history, but since it was so lonely we ended up leaving early because it kinda felt creepy and haunted! Lol We think it would've been a little more fun with more people around. It's worth a visit, and steps you back into history. (Hopefully you come when there's more people!) I am giving it 5 stars because although we only stayed for about 20 minutes, the bartender was nice enough to hotspot his internet for us to get an uber back to the hotel! We're from California so we were pretty much stranded and confused. If it wasnt for him we probably would've gotten lost or used an expensive cab.. so thank you :)

We were told to go to this place it looked amazing and I'm sure it's awesome. We did not realize that no one in this area serves dinner after 9pm. We travelled over 30 minutes to find out we couldn't eat in this town after 9pm on a Friday night!‍

Came in for dinner and a pint and both were amazing. Service was very kind and attentive. The building is historic and lovely. The food and pint were so good! Definitely recommend to anyone wanting a good meal.

We enjoyed the food. The service was good and the atmosphere had some cool vibes. The prices were reasonable. We would come back here.

More of a drinking establishment, IMHO. I thought it was ok, but the rest of my party wasn't impressed.

Massive size many levels, many rooms and several bars to explore Good selection of local brews Excellent sausage and mash with onion gravy Go today.

Horrible service, rude staff, very disappointed. Go for a drink and the history, nothing more. It may look charming, but the service doesn't respect it nor it's history

What I love about London is how much of a time capsule this city can be. It's such an interesting city to explore. One of my buddies from film school told me about Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese long ago so finally on this past business trip, I dragged my co-worker there just to find out it is closed on Sundays. Ugh! We ended up in the same neighborhood a different night with 45 minutes before closing and decided to check it out. Love that this place was 'rebuilt' in the mid-1600's after a fire but has been a pub since then. They have a sign out front that tells of all reigns of royalty this pub has seen (to date!) and walking inside, you begin to feel a time warp slowly sucking you in and you head down the stairs, deeper into yester-century. No one I asked knew why this was called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese as it has nothing to do with dairy products, but the place was super cool! We were first in what I think (?) was the deepest part of the bar, but it was pretty loud with another group of people being there so we climbed up one level and found a spot to drink in peace. We had a really light wheat beer there that suited us and had two pints of that (within 45 minutes) so we were pretty happy walking out of there. Certainly a must to visit this pub when in the area.

Wow! What a find!! A friend back home told me not to miss this unique restaurant. We climbed down several flights of stairs into the catacombs of an old monastery and ordered a Snake Bite. It's a full bar with everything from roasted nuts to hardy dinner options available. Signs posted everywhere ask patrons to put away their mobile devices and instead enjoys conversations... an amazingly novel suggestion I wish happened more often.

I was so excited to try this place out after discovering it on Yelp looking for historical pubs and traditional British food. It is located right off the famous Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd!) down a narrow alley way. It feels like traveling back in time the minute you arrive -- it is nearly 400 years old and while it definitely feels that old, the history within the walls truly makes it a gem of a place to dine and have a few pints. Upon entry, there's a dining room to the left which offers sit-down service and includes more "meal-like" offerings - think Sunday Roast. If you go down the narrow, creaky stairs you'll hit their "pub" area which has all the traditional pub offerings and extensive Samuel Smith beers on taps and a full bar. Like many pubs in London, you do have to order your food and drinks at the bar. Signs are posted throughout asking patrons to but their phones away and enjoy good conversation which is something you don't see too often. The prices are great, especially for such a historical establishment that could take advantage of the tourist attraction aspect of it. I am taking 1 star off however for the service. The first waiter I had interacted with was one of the rudest people I've dealt with in the service industry. When I had asked him a question about the history of the bar he made a snide comment to look it up and walked away. I decided I was not going to spend the rest of my time being waited on by him so told him we'd dine downstairs in the pub area and he said "good, but you can't come back in until you finish your water bottle." Why was it okay to have a water bottle from outside up until this point?? After that, I was worried this would turn out to be a disappointment seeing as excited I was but everything after that point met all my expectations. This should be on everyone's list when looking for a historical gem of a pub in London!