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When you visit London or anywhere in England you have to visit a pub. It is almost like an unwritten rule. It is also hard to not pass a pub during your visit to any cities in the whole of England, but why not make it a bit more of an experience.

There are a lot of pubs with history in the whole of London, such as The George Inn where Shakespeare and Dickens were known for having a pint.

I ventured a bit further out from central London and to a darker history of the city. The pub is Prospect of Whitby and has been running since 1520 and was a hangout spot for pirates and smugglers.

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The History of Prospect of Whitby

The pub was opened around 1520 and has since changed names a few times. The original name was The Pelican, but the pub got known as The Devil`s Tavern before receiving its current name Prospect of Whitby.

In the Wapping area, the residents used to make their living from the river as a fisherman, sailor or boat builders. There were also a lot of pirates, smugglers and thieves in this area, many whom ventured to this pub. Prospect of Whitby has also had visits from famous people, among them being Charles Dickens, Samuel Pepys, Frank Sinatra and Mohammed Ali.
One of the upstair rooms is even named Pepy`s Room and the window there has been marked as Princess Margaret`s favorite spot in the pub.

The Execution Dock is not far away and were where pirates and such used to be hanged. Outside the pub a lonely noose is still hanging today, but back in the day it used to be ten of them, just a bit further down the Thames.

How to get to Prospect of Whitby

By The Tube:
Wapping is the closest tube station and you can take the Windrush Line to get there.
Shadwell is the other tube station you can arrive at, it also has the Windrush Line as well as the DLR Line.

By Bus:
Bus D3 will take you to the closest stop of the pub, Shadwell Basin, which is almost right in front of Prospect of Whitby.
Bus number 15 is also an option, but it stops at Exmouth Estate and it is a 5 minutes walk to the pub from there.
Bus number 100 will take you to Wapping Station and from there it is about a ten minute walk to Prospect by Whitby.

These are the routes that I know of that you can arrive with, but maybe you have decided to take a stroll along the Thames and suddenly wind up at the bar.

Address of Prospect of Whitby:
57 Wapping Wall
Wapping
London
E1W 3SH

My Experience Dining at the Oldest Riverside Tavern in London

I have been wanting to come to Prospect of Whitby for almost a year and finally my chance came. My friend also decided to join and we ventured out of central London to have dinner at the pirate pub.

From the entrance it looks like an ordinary pub, but then you read the memorial plaque and you learn that it is the oldest river tavern in London. I knew this before I visited and now, so do you.

We came a bit before dinner time, so we got a very good seat by the window with a view of the noose. The table could easily hold six people, instead it was just two people sitting there.

For dinner I went traditional and got Fish and Chips which absolutely did not disapoint. I am not a beer person, but I noticed that Prospect of Whitby has their own beer! You should definitely try it while you are there, but I decided to order a cider as that was more of my mood that day. Next time I come, I will definitely have a pint of their beer.

When we arrived the tide was high, so the door out to where the noose is was closed, so we checked the view of it from the garden while waiting for the food. I ended up talking to a regular at the pub there and he had seen the tide reach all the way up to the rail. I have no clue how high it is, but a lot higher than you first would think.

The food was amazing and by the time we finished our dinner it was possible to go outside to the porch where the noose is. The cold November wind made it almost impossible to stay outside there, but I imagine it is a lovely breeze during the summer. Not during November, though!

The second floor was closed

For some reason the second floor was closed when I was there, but we were allowed upstairs, just to look. The regular had said I should ask, since they might let me go upstairs if I just wanted a picture or two. Make that ten in my case. And the staff was so kind and let us have a short peek at the second floor.

The building is old and as you walk upstairs a new plaque is becoming visible, stating that there has been ghosts seen at the pub. It also stated with how the Wapping area was back in the days, there is no wonder there are ghosts haunting the place.

If you want a good view of the noose, the roof is the spot! Of course, the porch downstairs as well, but here you can clearly see the waves crashing into the brick walls. It also must be a great place to enjoy your dinner or a pint in the summer.

At one point in history the second floor was also used for boxing matches. The building has definitly seen a lot over the centuries it has been standing.

Would I return?

I would definitly return, but in the summer. Just because I would like to sit outside and enjoy the weather and a nice breeze. I loved the table and view from the table I sat at this time and I would still probably seat myself there for dinner. Then get a pint of their beer and walk around, mingle or on a second mini photo tour.

I have been to many pubs in London and though this one is a bit far from the centre, if you enjoy this sort of history then it is absolutely worth it. If it is your first time in London and you do not want to travel far for a pub, which is understandable, then George Inn is also a great option. But Prospect of Whitby has easily become one of my favorites because of the kind staff and the history of the place.

What can you combine your visit with?

There is not a lot near the pub as far as sightseeing goes. I went to a small rat statue by the Shadwell Basin, but it is a short five minutes stop. So I would combine it with a tour of Tower of London.

I would start my day at Tower of London, then take bus number 100 to Wapping Station. From the bus stop it is a short walk of under 10 minutes to the pub and just under 30 minutes in total of a travel distance. I would sit down for a late lunch or early dinner here and maybe visit the rat statue if I felt like it.

I would then make my way back to the more central part of London for a walking tour. You can keep the theme of dark history throughout the day by going on either of these tours:

Jack the Ripper Walk: Take the bus D3 from Shadwell Basin, right by the pub, to Royal London Hospital and then about a 10 minute walk to St Marys Whitechapel Church Memorial. The journey will take about 30 minutes.

Haunted Ghost Walking Tour: Walk to Wapping Station and take The Tube to Whitechapel and change here for the Elizabeth Line and get off at Farringdon. Walk about 5 minutes to Charterhouse Square. The journey takes about 30 minutes.

Both of these tours starts rather late in the evening, so you can start your day late or visit Borough Market or visit the inside of Tower Bridge as well. If you go to Borough Market, George Inn is very close by and you can then visit another historical pub on the same day. The Sky Garden is also not far from Tower of London if you want a break from the darker history of London and just enjoy the view.

I would personally go for Tower of London and one of the walking tours. Maybe add Borough Market in the morning if it is open the day I am planning to go as well. If it is not, I would do Tower Bridge.

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