If you have ever wondered how much the pubs have influenced British culture, this is the time to discover it. This tour will take you to know Covent Garden, once a complex and dangerous scenario of prostitution, scandals and violence; but now converted into an elegant and beautiful neighbourhood, where you will discover five historical pubs to experience a part of the London spirit and taste the traditional “ales” -British beers different from a lager, a stout or a porter- in unequalled environments. Here you will understand how pub’s life has shaped the countries identity.

From no one else than the great William Shakespeare you will learn about those “ale houses” of the so-called Golden Age. According to Shakespeare’s plays, these taverns were important centres of social life, enjoyment and entertainment in the XVI century.

You can NOT miss the story about the Commonwealth of England, a republican period that plunged the city into an intolerable climate under a puritan system. Here you will hear from Oliver Cromwell, and how during the eleven years of his leadership the doors of theatres and pubs were closed, a grey period that is still remembered with contempt in the city. He even cancelled Christmas a year! You will also learn how those puritan times were too much for Londoners so after Cromwell died the monarchy was restored and started an unprecedented period of lust and licentiousness, under the reign of Charles II. In those times, precisely, was built the pub in where you will enjoy this story, having a proper ale.

Walking through the fancy and sophisticated Covent Garden, you wouldn’t believe this was a place of brawls, murders, prostitution and vice. Touring this heart of London’s West End we visit four historical pubs, where you can try the traditional ales or beers, only to fully understand Queen Victoria when she stated: “Give my people plenty of beer, good beer, and cheap beer, and you will have no revolution among them”.