Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in City of London, Westminster

The place is old and looks nice. You don't have to go too far downstairs or near the bathroom. The smell isn't very pleasant. We arrived and the kitchen had closed, so no peanuts, no chips, no bread, nothing. All they could offer us was a mediocre beer. It wasn't a pleasant experience.

Very nice place with a great atmosphere

We didn't eat but WOW what a unique place brimming with history and books and crannies to explore. Staff was great and menu looked wonderful. Would like to come back for food.

Historic old pub over a number of floors. Really low ceilings on difficult stairs and not suited to elderly people.

Worst London Pub. Service was awful. Food was awful. Disaster:(

This place is *old*! Rebuilt in 1667! They have a really interesting house-made cola. What fun!

This was the last bar as part of our Pub Tour. So full of ambiance and history!

Today we brought our tourist friends to this old beautiful pub. And we regretted it very much. When we entered, a red-haired woman working in front of a mirror welcomed us and called out loud to us saying "Hey" to order. Also when we entered she was make up front of mirror !! I have lived in England for 6 years and I have never met such a rude employee before. I invite her to be a little more polite.

This place is a must! It's been in its present form since 1667!!! We went at around 4 pm and it was not very busy, there are many floors, each floor has its own bar, it's pretty cool, the place is charming and old, just want you want from an English Pub!

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.

A bit of a classic pub on the tourist trail with a quirky setup. Lots of little rooms to navigate which gives the place lots of authenticity and character. I was not impressed with the apricot beer bottle ("touristically priced" at £8.6) and the place felt cold. Probably worth seeing once.

What a waste of money. Rude uninterested staff, slow and poor service. Staff dropped lid into the mayonnaise then just handed us the small dish......we left it, exceedingly unhygienic. Had to ask for cutlery!!!We felt like we were a pain for being there. 5 of us ordered food and all was terrible ! £20 for a burger that was tasteless, hard and disgusting (I'm sure the burger fast food chains offer better burgers). Chips were over salted making them inedible - no doubt designed to make you drink more. Alcohol prices were extortionate and choice limited.....wine being red or white ! Definitely a tourist trap and they were being fleeced for sure. Would certainly say - go elsewhere !!!

Historic pub in the heart of The City. Go downstairs and take it all in.

Interesting place. Reputedly one of the oldest pubs in London. It was definitely not your TGI Fridays. The dim lighting and old wood paneled walls, tables, and chairs were quaint and charming. They have a small dining room but the bar area extended down a few floors. It was like a warren of little alcoves and rooms with tables and benches. The food was good. I got the chicken schnitzel. The anchovy butter added a nice flavor to it and didn’t overpower the breaded chicken. My wife got the fish and chips and said it was the best so far on our trip. The drinks were cold and refreshing. If you want to try a place where you close your eyes and imagine yourself 300 years ago in a smoky, noisy tavern with bar maids and trenchers of food then this is the place for you. If TGI Fridays is more your speed you might want to skip it.

Such a brilliant place with so much history, fantastic service and superb food! Thank you x

Best place in London so far. Loved it.

A fascinating tour around this pub with Lachlan Andrews, a guide from Liquid History Tours *****

Such a great spot. A different bar at each level gives a little bit of a different selection for everyone. Loved the history behind it and they have done a great job preserving it.

Excellent pub. The rooms are quite small inside, so I can get warm in summer. But they have great beers and food. It's also a historic pub so has interesting interior details

Had a really nice time when a group of us popped in for lunch. I had the fish and chips and the fish was just hanging off the end of the plate it was huge. Drinks were nice and they had a large selection. The only thing that makes me give four instead of five stars, is there was a (I'm assuming) manager walking around with his cup of tea in a 'boss' mug - but when he drank from it all the customers could clearly see a middle finger being stuck up at us! I found that quite strange from public-facing management. I wouldn't go back again just because there are so many other pubs in London, but if you like old and historic pubs this is definitely worth a visit.

Oldest pub in London. Very cozy.

A great historic Pub, and really the atmosphere is what youre there for. We dipped our heads into the Cellar bar and pulled up some seats at the Cheshire Bar. Fish and Chips were solid and so was a pint of their Taddy Lager. I'd make it a requisite stop if I was back in the area, if you like a more atmospheric and intimate bar and want a solid pint to share with some friends.

A rabbit-warren of an oak-pannelled Dickensian London pub. Little rooms around every corner. We attended a private event in an upstairs room and were well looked after with food. Only Samuel Smith alcohol available (as is normal in a Samuel Smith pub) and the prices are pretty high, even for London (lager £8.30/pt).

As an American visiting London, I’ve never been treated with more disrespect. The staff were rude and clearly treated anyone without an English accent differently. We asked the bartender if we could play music from our phone since none was playing — he said yes. After 20 minutes, a different worker came over, rudely told us to turn it off, and then went behind our backs asking the bartender if it was “better now,” clearly mocking us. It was obvious we were treated poorly just because we were American, even though we were polite, respectful, and giving them our business. To top it off, urine and feces were leaking from the ceiling directly onto us — confirmed by a worker. One of the most disgusting and disrespectful experiences I’ve ever had.

What a unique and historic pub! Hidden away down an alley, it is easy to walk past (as I have many times!). The pub is a warren of atmospheric bars, rooms, cellars and nooks. It feels like stepping back in time but with excellent food and ales. Staff are friendly and even do tours of the various areas if asked - it’s a bit of a warren! A real must see/experience when in London.

My 100 year old grandad has been telling me about this place for several years, as he used to drink here, heavily, after work back in the day. A warm welcome and great atmosphere.

I think this pub is definitely worth seeing and experiencing. The atmosphere is unforgettable. The staff is friendly and the service is fast. Our family, 4 people were able to eat on Saturday night without a table reservation. We tried our luck and the wonderfully nice Doorman took us in to eat at the risk of conflict. Sometimes in life there is luck and now we had it. Next time, we will of course reserve a table in advance. We men in the family ate the traditional steak-kidney-pudding portions and it was heavenly delicious! It's good that internal organs are still used as food, (and very delicious too), somewhere in the world. In my home country, their use has unfortunately decreased. Excellent price-quality ratio. The sanitary facilities were clean and adequate at the end of the stairs on the upper floor. If, on your trip to London, you want to experience the atmosphere of centuries ago, or even the hotter atmosphere of Middle Earth, then come here! Even once in your life

A public house institution, famous for age, style & character. The ancient public tavern is vast, a tardis past the small, medieval Fleet Street frontage. The are a myriad of rooms, upstairs & down, round corners, there's a place for everyone & this is a place where life has been lived many times. Small bars in secretive rooms, shadowed hideaways & light bright rooms. This is simple, medieval through to Georgian unobtrusive, workers pub. The alley entry sets the scene with a grate over the extremely worn stone step. Grand workers fireplaces crackle on of the ground floor with a plethora of seating from pews to perches, antique cushioned benches, studded padded perimeter seating, stools etc al. This is a London pub mecca for tourists, particularly of the American variety. The team are plentiful for a popular attraction & well versed in pleasant, helpful, polite guidance on how to get the best of the tavern & what's right for you. Samuel Smiths do an excellent as always retention of heritage & this has a simplistic measure of understated elegance of loved age, speaking hundreds of years of confident purpose.

Came to chat to a friend. Ordered nothing. enjoyed my time.

The bar itself is great and the atmosphere is exactly what you’d want out of a pub as historic as this one. Unfortunately the bar tender we interacted with (red dyed hair) was incredibly nasty to my girlfriend and my friends girlfriend while my friend and i searched for a table. She (the waitress/bar tender) asked for their food order as the kitchen would close soon, then demanded they hurry up as they were not sure what to order. After ordering, my wife and her friend went to the bathroom. During this time the bartender came with our food and commented “oh, theyre not even here” and when we explained that our girlfriends were in the bathroom, she noted “serves them right”. What is that supposed to mean? I’m not sure, you tell me. This was all over a cheeseplate which ironically did not include the bar’s namesake cheese, the cheshire, as they had no more. They waitress told us we’d get a discount then charged us full price. Quite the experience truly. Assuming the rest of the staff is nicer, which they were, the bar itself was fine. Questionable quality control on the staff though.

Can't comment as I did not enter the premises. The history of the place intrigued me with the list of the monarchy outside

The actual pub was very atmospheric and charming On the day of our visit which was Easter Saturday half of the menu was not available including the signature meals of Barnsley chop and the steak and kidney pudding We orders three starters and five main meals I ordered a pot of tea which was only half full when it arrived no milk when I asked for milk I was given a small jug of hot milk ! Our mains arrived before the starters ! And I said oh we ordered starters and the waitress they are coming And then shortly afterwards our starters arrived So we ended up with our starter and main meal together Which we found rather strange We complained to the manager who didn’t seem very perturbed about this he did apologise but offered no discount On checking the bill we had been charged for three starters when we only received two and a side which we did not order On paying the rather hefty bill my husband asked for the service charge to be taken off ! All in all I would not go back to this pub nor would I recommend it to anyone Poor service I felt the manager did not deal with our complaint effectively

Awesome beer and great history!

Half the menu was not available. The shrimps plate were way to cooked.

Very good experience in one of the oldest pubs in London

Great pub. Cozy, good beer, AND gluten-free options

The place is cool. The list of successive monarchs is a cool reminder of the winds of time. The staff member that helped us was… interesting. He seemed… distracted. It’s much what I imagine trying to get Edgar Allan Poe to pour you a pint would be like.

Food was boring. Sauce not spicy enough. You could count the pieces of meat in the kidney suet pudding on one hand.

Great olde time pub!! Awesome atmosphere

We wished we hadn't eaten before coming to the pub. Great selection of cask ale. Unique history. You feel like you've gone back in time. Most patrons ordered the burger. It looked amazing.

A must see when in London. All bars claim to take you back in time. This one really feels the part

We didn't eat, it does look like they have lovely food. It is a lovely atmosphere, a great spot and they are so nice and warm. I came here almost 5 years ago and I didn't remember where it was, now that I found it, I will be sure not to wait another 5 to come back.

What an awesome experience grabbing a few pints here. Cannot recommend this place enough, especially the cellar area 👨🏻‍🍳💋

We had such a lovely time at this restaurant from the first interaction! Damien helped us when we couldn’t find our luggage storage location- it really saved us! We spent the day sightseeing and we came back for our sunday roast reservation - every bite was divine! After lunch, Damien gave a group of us a tour and history of the restaurant, so cool and informative. Highly recommend supporting this business!

Lovely place food pricey amd they got the order wrong

More character than the Cheshire cat! I was smiling ear to ear after my visit too: excellent beer, darts, a warm welcome. The variety of rooms and their historical character is really something special

Typical old English pub with an old world feel. We were there as a small group of tourists to end the evening and felt really comfortable there!

A beautiful pub, helpful staff, and they also showed us the underground, where there used to be a prison long ago.

Unfortunately we were completely ignored and waved away. Too bad. Very nice historical location, but it's all pointless if the waiter sees us but doesn't pay any attention to us.

Very cozy, traditional pub. We really enjoyed it here. Absolute recommendation. If you weren't there, you missed something in London

We came here with no reservation and the host did his very best to get us seated. Thankfully there was a free table upstairs so we weren't required to wait long. The food is traditional British pub food, and I ate a wonderful lamb chop. The building itself is beautiful and sitting in the panelled rooms feels like stepping back in time. Many thanks for a lovely meal and enjoyable dining experience, made possible by the excellent staff.

Had a late lunch here today with my partner and a friend. The steak and kidney pudding was quite heavy on the gravy content and quite light on the meat content and appeared to only have one piece of kidney in it, as far as my friend eating it could surmise. My pork tomahawk chop was all bone, a bit overcooked/dry, and the actual amount of meat on it was disappointing, especially for £26.50 (bearing in mind side dishes do not come with that, but cost extra). My partner had the sausage and mash, and that, apparently, was quite good. The food took quite a long time to arrive after we ordered and the pub was not that busy. All in all, for £117 for the three of us, including the service charge, we’ve had much better for the same, or even less money elsewhere.

LOVELY beer and awesome history pub… but the staff all look like they want to top themselves. Pay them more? Be nicer to them? Something isn’t right.

Quirky pub with underground rooms. Beer is nothing special but definitely an interesting pub to visit.

Staff were fine, decor was charmingly old, but pub felt like it was not well cared for and maintained. Menus were sticky and light bulbs blown. Food and soft drinks were truly awful. They tasted cheap, bland and (badly) mass manufactured, like school dinners. However the prices were exorbitant given how bad the quality of the food was. It’s a shame as with a good head chef, a bit of TLC, and a switched on Manager it could be outstanding given its heritage and bones. Instead the owners seemed to have settled for keeping costs as low as possible and the prices as high as they can get away with, presumably to make money as a tourist trap.

Nice old classic pub good for a pint or two with a mate

Food was lovely. Very interesting old pub.

Historic building experience with cheap beer, good pub grub and friendly staff. Not to be missed!

Epic pub oldest in the city. Highly recommend

Beautiful old pub with lovely nooks and craneys. There are a lot of steps if you want to head down to the lower levels to be mindful for accessibility. There’s a darts board for entertainment. London city prices re pints 2 for £15.70. Unfortunately the rudest lady served me that I’ve never been so shocked in a pub before. Whilst I was waiting in line I heard her make rude remarks about a customer in front of me. There were issues with paying by phone and by card which she blamed me for and made snide remarks, trying to embarrass me in front of the other punters when it was absolutely not my fault. Hope the rest of the staff can give her some training - she’s in desperate need of it

It is super hidden down an alley but worth the effort. I ate the Sausage ring and it was yummy unfortunately because I was jetlagged from flying from the USA I couldn't finish my meal and was unable to take my leftovers with me.

The pub definitely has a historic feel to it. I think that it's actually a bit overwhelming because it's hard to imagine/relate anything beyond 150 years, and this place has over twice that since it's restoration. The cellar bar is even older going back to the 13th century when it was a monastery! I wasn't able to have a proper dining experience because they were very busy, but the cellar bar had a decent enough burger. I was disappointed with the fries being store like shoestring (given that London has such good chips!) Decent selection of ales/lager. Would recommend for the historic aspect alone. 4/5 for uniqueness!

Incomparable ambience in the catacombs. A London pub with a long history. If you're lucky and ask, you can tell yourself the story of Polly the parrot or the history of the pub. Went there every evening during our stay in London... for me the best pub in London

Lovely pub just off Fleet Street, with loads of history and loads of floors.

Truly a phenomenal public house, steeped in endless history and off the beaten tourist track. We booked a table for ten for lunch, Damion made us feel most welcome, and told us all the brilliant history of this London gem and Pavan who served our lunch catered to every need and is so kind and attentive. Definitely recommend a visit, you will not be disappointed!

Food was OUTSTANDING! I ordered the "Chip Shop Platter" basically it was Fish & chips with a fried sausage, bread, and a brown gravy! It was SO GOOD! I would definitely recommend!

Went in for a pint and something to eat, it was busy so just had the pint. Interesting old pub with plenty of old world charm. May re visit when quieter.

Good atmosphere and facility. The food was OK. What bothered us was no prices for beer. Only the menu card with description, without prices. It was a bad surprise when paying 🫠 and the table could be cleaner. It stuck...

Went there for lunch. Food decent but not brilliant. Sited where it is, food is City prices. We like subdued lighting but it was extremely low. Night vision goggles might be useful there

Super nice! We stopped to have a quick beer and eat some chips (which unfortunately we didn't eat because the kitchen was closed). So be careful: kitchen opens at 5. It is possible to eat typical English foods, either as single dishes, or to be divided between 2 (there is the option of taking "tasting" dishes for two people). Very suggestive environment full of rooms where you can sit, just like a classic English pub that you see in old films. Beautiful Definitely go and see the lower floor.

A spectacular step back into history - for the atmosphere and the surroundings - but a very much present foothold in current times with the beer selection and the attention to service. Pity we live more than 3800mi away or this would definitely be our regular!

Excellent beers and the fish and chips were very good. The attention is the best.

Menu's say food available all day ... But was informed the kitchen didn't open until 5pm. The atmosphere is amazing and cider was solid.

I don't know if we were unlucky, but it didn't go well at all. We arrived and they couldn't find our reservation, they made us sit anyway, but from there we had endless waits to order and then for the dishes. High prices. The atmosphere is nice but it's not worth the wait or the price of the dinner.

Visited for the second time and my experience was tihis time really poor. Not even that busy, but bartender was unable to take a food order in 5 minutes of standing alone at the bar and focused on chatting to some probable friends of his. Tables were not cleaned in 20 minutes of sitting in a dirty one. I presume the place was heavily understaffed on a Saturday, or just poorly run at the time. Shame, the first visit was much better and thus 3 stars overall.

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.

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.

Food looks amazing including the steak and kidney pudding. I did not eat but this is an excellent pub serving Sam Smith's beers. I sat in the deep cellar

A place full of history! An honor to be able to be here

Terrible service. The crumpet was stale. The waitress got our order wrong and we waited an hour and a half for our food because they forgot to put our order through. I normally don't mind that sort of thing but I found the whole experience uncomfortable and the staff not very welcoming

Amazing little gem. Me and my dad were visiting all quirky pubs in London and stumbled upon this place. Amazing atmosphere, a maze where we ended up in the back room which was cosy and served some great Stout! Served by the amazing Leslie, we really couldn’t have received better service from anywhere else. We really enjoyed this place and will be coming back for sure!

Finally found it. Amazing re the history. Had a whiskey whilst there. The staff were amazing and incredibly welcoming.

I was refused service at 22.45. I wanted a quick pint, 15 minutes before closing. But the staff were keen to clear up. Plenty of time to drink it before official closing. Rating purely because of that.

A very fun place for grabbing a pint and some food, steeped in history back to the 1300s. Although the building was built one year after the Great London Fire of 1666, the cellar was originally a monastery dating back to circa 1300. Don’t miss the story of Polly the Parrot, a trained parrot who would mimic and curse customers which became so beloved that over 200 newspapers and the BBC ran her obituary when she passed. (She now sits stuffed above the bar). Many of the great “literati” spent time here as well: Dickens, Chesterton, and Twain to name a few. As to the service, we inadvertently made a reservation for the Essex location, some 30 miles away. Although it was busy, Damian the Host was able to accommodate us, helping us out in a pinch and as we were leaving gave us a brief tour of the property. Very welcoming and much appreciated. Don’t miss.

Loved this Pub, great atmosphere inside.

It was good ..... nice old world atmosphere...... you coukd almost smell the Great Fire of London smoldering around you.

This pub really is so cool. The history, the atmosphere is all so incredible. I will say that we did go to this pub on Saint Patrick’s day which was on a Monday, so I’m not sure if that had anything to do with it, but they were completely out of a lot of items by 5:30pm no fish and chips, no lamb, and no pork chop. The food we did order was really good, but part of the reason we went there was for the fish and chips. Even though the atmosphere was great and the food was tasty this was by far the worst service we had in all of London. I’ve truly never had a server be more rude. She was short with us from the get go. I wish we knew her name because she either hates her job or just hated us. We were a larger group and had a few kiddos with us, but we had a reservation, were patient, and the youngest kid in our group was 10 and they really weren’t rowdy at all. Our waitress seemed annoyed by our general existence. Based on the service alone I would never come back here.

Damn everything about this place sucks. Took my mum and grandma in on a Monday afternoon - thought it was going to be an old school English pub but not at all. even at that time the place was fairly busy but absolutely lacking in ambiance; guy at the bar hating his life, no music, ghostly quiet, no atmosphere just absolute wake / church after mass vibes; women’s toilets are absolutely filthy with used pads spilling out of bins; the cherry on the cake though were pigs in blankets we had ordered - £8.70 for 5 tiny, worst quality possible sausages stuck on a stick barely wrapped in bacon, it was so depressing and honestly offensive - you can get much better quality and price in a freaking wetherspoons 😭 AVOID by all means, i wish we could cancel our money spent in this disaster of an establishment

While the atmosphere is nice, the staff are great, it's a little pricey for what it is 👀

4 quid for a half-pint, you have to duck to get through the corridors, we asked for smoking area and they directed us to a bench in the street. not a welcoming place.

Lovely historical place with great interior and atmosphere but very touristy. Food was average and toilets were untidy :( I’d say it’s overpriced.

Long on atmosphere and ale. It's pub food but decent enough. Worth a visit.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is bc I think the choice of drinks at Sam Smith pubs is not to my liking. An absolutely amazing place to check out- a must even. The staff is always welcoming and knowledgeable.

Super old pub from 1600s. Awesome vibe and beer

They must have had a bad night. Waited for a table booked at 7pm for 20 minutes. Finally got a table upstairs. Waited for the waiter to come for some time. To find out that out of the 2 veggie options, only the salad was available. Very filling indeed. We left w/o eating. Sad because the location ans the house are cool.

People here is so nice and glad to answer all your questions. You won’t just have a nice beer (the recipe from Germany and maybe better than Germany beer☺️) and also look around this old history house❤️

Absolutely great staff. Especially the manager in the suit who was very friendly and told us all about the history of the pub. The food is lovely! I’d definitely recommend to anyone who loves a bit of history and british pubs!!

One of my favorite spots in London. An old tavern with different hidden rooms. The food was really good, the atmosphere amazing. The staff were really nice and supportive. The chessboard was spectacular and the beers great. A must in London

Great ambience and history welcoming staff. I enjoyed my time there

Tutto veramente buono! The owner is really nice and happy to share several historical notions about this piace! Highly recommend