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Location: 174 Queen Victoria Street

Nearest Tube (Underground) Station: Blackfriars

One of London's most bizarre pubs and a favourite of Sir John Betjeman, a much loved Poet Laureate, The Blackfriar is a fantasy of art nouveau decoration recalling the monks of the eponymous monastery that stood nearby. Jolly men of God guild the interior which is a riot of coloured marble, copper and dark floor boards.

Most people tend to stand and the place fills with dark suits in the early evening, but The Blackfriar is a perennial favourite for Londoners. Although fairly bare, a little snug at the rear provides a marble encased area with tables and chairs. Ensure you visit during the week as it remains firmly shut on weekends