I knew about Simpson’s Tavern, now sadly all shuttered up, but not the George and Vulture, an astonishingly well-preserved and authentically Dickensian pub – well, it features in Pickwick Papers – so buried in the heart of the city that I had never seen it or been before. It is even open on a Saturday lunchtime although there were not many takers. I felt I should have known about it. I strongly recommend a visit before it too is shuttered up and scheduled for modernisation:-

Who’s yr mate? I see it’s already bin modernised to the extent it’s got cctv…
The publican ! Charles
Funny this! I went to the George & Vulture as a 21-year-old student on my very first visit to London in 1973. A friend had told me about it and I sought it out. I’ve been there a couple of times since we moved here and walked by it just last week. I’ll now have to go in again.
Maybe it’s in the guidebooks, but it didn’t feel touristy. Charles