Most Unusual Pubs in England

Culture, Food, Top Tips

England is known the world over for its unique and often quirky pub culture. In this article, we look at some of the most unusual pubs that stand out from the rest as places to include on your England tour itinerary.

From the oldest pub in the country to the smallest, those with historic links with many featuring historic decor, unusual features, and eccentric collections. and even the first organic pub in the UK, lets’s take a look at some of the brilliantly English institutions in more detail.

The Nutshell in Bury St. Edmunds

One of the most unusual pubs in the country, and it is also the smallest pub in England, with a total floor space of just 15 square meters. Despite its tiny size, the Nutshell offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, with a small bar and a few tables where customers can enjoy a drink and chat with the friendly staff. The pub also serves a selection of beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as snacks and light meals.

Duke of Cambridge in Islington

The first organic pub in the country. The pub was founded in 1997 by Tony Bishop and Catherine Sedgwick, who wanted to create a sustainable and eco-friendly drinking establishment. As a result, the Duke of Cambridge serves only organic and sustainable food and drink, from locally-sourced beer and cider to free-range eggs and organic milk. The pub also offers a variety of events and activities, such as live music and wine tastings.

The Dog and Partridge in Derbyshire

The pub was originally a 17th-century coaching inn, but it has been converted into a train carriage, offering a unique and unusual drinking experience. The pub features a bar made from an old train carriage, with original features such as brass fittings and leather seats. The pub also offers a selection of beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as sandwiches and snacks.

The Old Fire Station in Oxford

The pub was originally a fire station, but it has been converted into a pub, featuring a bar made from an old fire engine and a beer garden in the old fire station yard. The pub also offers a variety of beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as a selection of pub grub, such as sandwiches and burgers. The Old Fire Station is also known for its live music events, with a variety of bands and musicians performing in the beer garden.

If you’d like a tour of Oxford before hitting the pub, or even one that includes it, check out our Day Trips from London page.

The Old Goat in Cornwall

Originally a 17th-century coaching inn, but it has been converted into a shop, featuring a bar made from a vintage caravan and a beer garden in the old goat shed. The pub offers a selection of beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as a variety of snacks and light meals. The Old Goat is also known for its beautiful location, with stunning views of the countryside and the sea.

The Mayflower in Rotherhithe

Dating back to the 16th century, The Mayflower is famous for being the place where the Pilgrims set sail for America in 1620, and it is named after the ship that carried them across the Atlantic. The Mayflower offers a variety of beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as a selection of pub grub, such as sandwiches and burgers. The pub is also known for its beautiful location, with stunning views of the River Thames and the city skyline.

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St. Albans

If you are looking for a pub with a unique and quirky atmosphere, the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St. Albans is a great place to visit. The pub is the oldest pub in England, dating back to the 8th century, and it is also home to a collection of over 200 taxidermied animals. The pub offers a variety of beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as a selection of pub grub, such as sandwiches and burgers. The Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is also known for its unique and eccentric decor, with stuffed animals, old photographs, and other oddities on display throughout the pub.

Plan Your Visit To An English Pub

England is a country with a rich and vibrant pub culture, offering a wide range of unique and unusual pubs to visit. From the smallest pub in England to the first organic pub in the country, there is something for everyone in England’s pub scene. Whether you are a beer aficionado or a lover of historic charm, there is a pub in England that is sure to delight and surprise you.

Do you want a custom tour of England that includes a couple of visits to some of these unusual England pubs? Get in touch with our team by filling out the form below for your complimentary itinerary and quote.

Email Us

Let us know your questions!

Call Free

+1 (619) 404-6091

Step 1:

Fill out the form with the destinations & wish-list for your perfect trip. Our specialists will be happy to provide additional ideas & inspiration for your vacation

Step 2:

You will then receive a tailor-made tour itinerary which can be revised an unlimited number of times to ensure total satisfaction and the perfect vacation in England

Step 3:

Your guide will meet you at the pre-arranged starting point. You can count on us for 24/7 in-country support and everything else necessary for a wonderful & seamless tour

Request An England Tour Itinerary

With decades of experience curating and delivering the best private tours of England, we believe there is no finer way to explore the centuries of riveting history and culture, magical castles and royal estates, and outstanding natural beauty of England’s green and pleasant land than with your certified guide.

Email Us

Let us know your questions!

Call Free

+1 (619) 404-6091

Excellent tour planning and execution of our ten day tour of England! I worked with Amy on a 10-day tour of England for me, my husband, and a High School senior from London to Liverpool and back. The entire experience was fantastic. From the start of the planning process through the trip itself, Amy was very responsive and accommodating. She worked with us every step of the way, and it was a perfect trip!!!

My husband and I took tours with Doug, one to the Cliffs of Dover and Leeds Castle and another to Stonehenge and Bath. Our driver and tour guide was great, very knowledgeable about our destinations, and he had anything you needed in his car, including internet service. I would use this company again for future European tours

Travel with no worries! We booked five different transfers in England, Wales, and Scotland. Each driver was on time, courteous, professionally representing the company. Marta was wonderful when I emailed to make additions or changes to our itinerary. This company made it possible to have a trip with excellent drivers and no worries about all our different travel destinations.

I don’t know that I can accurately capture how amazed, pleased, and thoroughly blown away I was after a week of hopping across Italy and England. What the company was able to accomplish with an itinerary and how Declan did value-added stops was nothing short of astonishing. Thanks to you and Declan, I didn’t just make a memory. I made new friends. On behalf of my family, a sincere and heartfelt ‘thank you.’

Amy took our desire to visit England and put together a fabulous itinerary for my wife and I. Private Tours England took care of all the details for the driver, Blue Badge guide and booked all accommodations. We wanted the hotels to be one-of-a-kind boutique-style hotels, and Amy delivered that in spades. The hotels were all fun with just the right amount of quirky personality. Well done!

We booked a tour for Ireland, Scotland, and England. We had a fantastic time! The local guides were great! Very knowledgeable about all the local history for all the places we saw! We toured the Cliffs of Moher and Dover, saw the Cotswolds, spent time in the Scottish Highlands, saw amazing castles and ruins. We arrived in London a few days before the Jubilee and got to see London in all its splendor.