London Bridge. After a walk across London Bridge (with a nice view of Tower Bridge) I arrived at The George, a truly iconic London pub. Through a narrow entrance off of Borough High Street you enter London's last remaining galleried coaching inn. Established in 1542 and rebuilt in 1677 after a fire, this was a vital stopping point on the route from Canterbury and London (until 1750 London Bridge was the only way across the Thames), offering food, shelter, and stabling for travelers and their horses. It was originally called The George and Dragon. Being on the outside of the City with its sometimes puritanical regulations on drinking, gambling, whoring, and acting, it became a very popular location for travelers looking for a good time, and for traders who didn't want to pay to toll to cross London Bridge.

The pub has strong literary ties, and although there is no evidence that William Shakespeare was a visitor at the inn, it's proximity to the Globe Theatre and the fact that the courtyard was used for performances certainly makes it a possibility. Charles Dickens was a regular patron and mentioned the George in his novel Little Dorrit. In 1874 the Great Northern Railway used the inn as a depot, and in 1937 it was sold to the National Trust who has tenanted it to Green King. When Winston Churchill visited he was allowed to bring his own port, and in 1953 princess Margaret dined here with the Bishop of Southwark. More recently visitors have included Madonna and Beyonce.

The building is partly timber framed, and the ground floor is divided into several connecting bars (upstairs is a restaurant). Outdoor in the court yard is a large beer garden. I ordered a George Inn Ale (how could I not?) and sat outside and just soaked it all in. Definitely on my London top 10, it is a must if you visit.