It has a bit of a rough history; the pub was once known at the Bucket of Blood because of the bare-fisted fighting that went on there. One of the upstairs rooms is named after the poet John Dryden who was nearly killed in 1679 when hired attackers ambushed him in the alley beside the pub.

It is housed in a creaky old building, with dark wood, low ceiling beams, and uneven floors. There are brass plaques on the walls in tribute to some of the bygone patrons of the pub.

There has been very little attempt at modernization to the decor or surroundings, aside from a TV playing whatever sports match is currently going on.

Despite the somewhat off the beaten path location on Rose Street, the Lamb and Flag is a well-known and popular destination for both locals and travellers.

The bar can get quite crowded, and there are often not enough tables or chairs to go around downstairs, but nobody seems to mind; they just crowd into every nook and cranny and carry on having a good time. Upstairs may often be less crowded, and is perhaps a good retreat if you’ve had enough of the downstairs camaraderie.

On nice days, there is an area of pavement that is usually roped off as a makeshift drinking and smoking area, too. Service is very friendly and there is a very pleasant ambiance to the pub.

The kitchen serves a good selection of ales and beers on tap and serves very good traditional pub food like Ploughman’s Lunch, Roast Dinner, and Yorkshire pudding.

If you are looking for City of London pubs that bring you a real taste of London in bygone days, the Lamb and Flag is an excellent choice.

Lamb & Flag

Address: 33 Rose Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9EB

Telephone: 020 7497 9504

Opening Times

Monday to Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 12noon-10.30pm

Photo courtesy: Ewan-M

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