The best thing about a house party on a Saturday is couch surfers and residents gathering on hungover Sunday and engaging in good chats over copious mugs of tea. The topics of conversation? Anything from the previous night’s housewarming gifts (out of a skip), to is cat the opposite of dog? and of course, best places to go in London.

Gordon’s on Villiers Street was mentioned as a favourite London institution and after visiting the George Inn, pre-party, on Saturday night - I’d put it in the same cateogry. This is just one of those pubs that oozes England and history out of every floorboard and beam - but not in a Shakespeare gift-shop tea towel kind of way.

Tucked away down a little alley off Borough High Street the outside is overflowing with tables perfect for summer drinking. I was attending a party and a room had been hired, so I ducked in to find a glorious little space with beams and wood and tables, a darling little hatch which serves as a bar and plenty of smiley party goers. Friendly staff completed the package - the next sunny day there is I’ll be back, and hopefully outside drinking Pimm’s! There I go, being English again…

Hidden down an alley, not far from London Bridge tube station and Borough Market, the George Inn claims to be the last London 16th-century balconied coaching inn.

What it certainly is, is an old, wooden, multi-roomed pub. Plenty of real ales on tap, including one brewed just for them. There are nooks and crannies everywhere, from stools to tables to benches. There’s a dining room upstairs, and some function rooms. The kitchen serves a good menu.

There are lots of picnic tables in the cobbled courtyard for outside drinking when the weather is good. The men’s toilet is in a small outbuilding across the courtyard.

The George Inn is often very busy, and if the weather’s not good enough to allow people to spill outside you’re likely to find yourself standing. Still, despite being in a busy part of town its location down the alley separates it from traffic and noise. It’s definitely worth a visit.

Hard to find if you haven’t been there before but well worth it. This gorgeous pub is only ruined by the hideous buildings which have sprung up around the courtyard.
Get an outside spot and just look at the historic exterior or cosy up in the quiet side bar where there’s a gas fire burning in winter.
Slightly odd that you can’t buy wine by the glass but even more excuse to dispense with restraint and just buy the bottle.

Amongst the oldest pubs in town, this place has the reputable names of none other than Dickens and Shakespeare on its score of former patrons and carries the mood and atmosphere of old London with dignity.

Set around a large courtyard just off Borough High Street, this is a three storey building with balconies that were for performances in the courtyard back in the older times.

Amazing real ales and fantastic atmosphere, the slightly hidden aspect of the place keeps the clientele interesting and has managed to gather an unusual group of regulars. My son is one of them.

Really good place to sit outside in the summer, far removed from the noise of Borough.

Can`t recommend enough, but keep your eyes along Borough High Street if you have any hopes of finding it.

This Inn was apparently frequented by Charles Dickens. It is said that he even managed to publicise one of his books-The Little Dorrit in the pub.