Aldgate, London. Dating back to 1593 and the oldest licensed public house in the City of London, it is one of the few timber framed buildings to survive the Great Fire of London in 1666, which stopped just 50 yards away. The name refers to the traditional symbols of a tavern - hoops for barrels and grapes for wine. The interior fulfills all your expectations of an old pub - low ceilings, dark beams and wood paneling, brick walls, leaded light windows and off-kilter floors (over the years the building has tilted sideways by 18 inches). A set of 13th century tunnels used by smugglers were said to lead under the pub to the Tower of London and the Thames. A wonderful place to sit and enjoy a Timothy Taylor's Landlord Classic Pale Ale.