There are a massive number of bars in London to choose from. They cover a range of tastes so that no matter what type of pub, club, bar or restaurant you want to go to, there will be at least one in your local borough. There are naturally some areas with a higher concentration of a particular type of bar and some places with interesting and unusual features.
There are a number of champagne bars opening up all over the capital. They are a new and funky take on wine bars with the latest trendy centres taking over some very old and unusual buildings. They are all beautifully decorated with a fresh open look and a light airy atmosphere. There are many of them in London, opening up in all types of places, not just the usual bar areas, but also department stores and even train stations.
On an English Heritage front, it is also a saddening thought to find that many of our ancient and very original looking public houses are closing down at an alarming rate. It is also disappointing to see a nice, once popular focal point closing down in the face of bigger business, but it seems more so when it is something so old it should be protected. There are a number of pubs that have shut down in the last few years, with some of the older ones having been founded in 1685, 1720 and 1834. These centuries’ old centres deserve proper public support to try to keep them as they are a thriving centre of local information and socialisation.
London also boasts an impressive array of bars that have been made notorious by the criminal element, though not your every day criminal, the most well known. The Blind Beggar (White Chapel Road) was where Ronnie Kray shot a rival gang member, The Coleherne (Old Brompton Road) which has had no less than three serial killings counted amongst its regulars – Dennis Nilson, Colin Ireland and Michael Lupo and The Old Bank of England the former kitchens of which were once used by Miss Lovett – the girlfriend of Sweeny Todd. All of these and many others are scattered all over London.