Located close to Chancery Lane Tube Station, one of London's hubs for mainline trains out of the city, Ye Olde Mitre Tavern hides itself from life in Ely Court, a little courtyard at the end of where two alleyways meet. It sits off Hatton Garden, a street whose every shop is a jewellers of some sort, except for one other building: a Barclays Bank.

The pub itself, dating back to 1546, is fronted by a beautiful oaken façade with segmented square panes. Several old wooden barrels, now used as ornate flower pots, stand guard outside the entrance. Stooping to step inside and you're greeted with dark wooded furnishings throughout, thick, rich carpeting, fireplaces, pewter mugs hanging from the rafters, and a bar with fistfuls of real ale taps. They're renowned for their ales here, making it into several guide books and websites in the past. To accompany these pintfuls of quality, the guys at the Mitre supply home-made bar snacks. Food is served weekdays from 11:30 - 21:30.

The Mitre harbours some interesting historical ties with Queen Elizabeth I. Local legend tells of her dancing the maypole around a tree whose trunk is preserved in the corner of the pub. Also, the Mitre was originally built for the Bishop of Cambridge and his servants in 1547. The Bishop had a palace next door and both the pub and palace were considered Cambridgeshire property. As such, London's police force had no right to operate within the boundaries of the Bishop's property. Robbers caught onto this idea and began seeking out the Mitre as a safe haven from our boys in blue every time they were on the run.

We don't think there'd be a better place to seek sanctuary. The Mitre is a brilliantly-kept secret with a regular, lively clientèle, great real ales and food, and tucked away from the rest of the tourist magnets.

Opening times: Monday - Friday 11:00 - 23:00 Closed on weekends and Bank Holidays