George Inn (pub visited by Dickens and Shakespeare), London

If you're yearning for an immersive experience that transports you back to 17th century England while enjoying all the modern conveniences of the 21st century, you should consider a visit to the George Inn. Nestled within a charming cobbled courtyard not far from Southwark Cathedral, this three-story establishment holds the distinction of being the last surviving galleried coaching inn in all of England. Today, it is under the stewardship of the National Trust and serves as a pub and restaurant.

Constructed in the year 1676, the George Inn once served as the endpoint for coaches arriving in London from the South of England. Its distinctive crooked gallery on the first floor, originally used as lodgings for weary travelers, has been transformed into a restaurant that offers picturesque views of the courtyard. On the ground floor, you'll discover a pub comprising a series of interconnected rooms, each adorned with oak-beamed ceilings, whitewashed walls, lattice windows, and comfortable seating areas.

The Old Bar, formerly a waiting room, and the Middle Bar, once a coffee room, were frequented by literary figures like Charles Dickens, who even mentioned the inn in his work "Little Dorrit". It is also rumored that Shakespeare may have visited the pub, although certainly not during the same era as Dickens. During the winter months, the inn serves mulled wine, and the open fireplaces, now housing energy-efficient wood stoves, provide a cozy warmth. In the summertime, you can relax at one of the long wooden tables in the courtyard, taking in the charmingly crooked galleries adorned with vibrant flower baskets that offset the white railings and historic walls of this remarkable building.