London is home to a large number of delightful traditional pubs. Visit London, the official visitor guide for London, picks five of the very best.

Cittie of York
A unique pub, the Cittie of York is a Grade II listed building full of nooks and crannies. Step into the dark, panelled front bar and make your way through to the rear of the pub. There's a great hall with a high pitched roof and the large wine vats by the entrance reportedly hold up to 1,000 gallons each! Take note of the fire in the middle of the room, which has no chimney. Instead, its flue is diverted underground and out of a pipe on the wall.

Contact details: 22 High Holborn, Holborn, London, WC1V 6BN, 44 (0)20 7242 7670

Dog and Duck
This Grade II listed building is in the heart of Soho. The well-preserved Victorian interior of the Dog and Duck provides all the atmosphere you would expect of an English pub. A wide range of guest ales is available. Tiles and mirrors line the ornate interior and there is a small bar upstairs - good for people-watching in the street below.

Contact details: 18 Bateman St, Soho, London, W1D 3AJ, 44 (0)20 7494 0697

The Eagle
The Eagle is a traditional-looking pub still retaining many original features. Choose from a range of premium lagers and specialist beers including Kuppers Kolsch and Strawberry Fruli and tasty dishes such as 8oz Aberdeen Angus burger in a bun with cheddar and wedges. It has a lovely beer garden too, with climbing ivy sweeping the outside walls. It even makes an appearance in the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes The Weasel".

Contact details: 2 Shepherdess Walk, St Luke's, London, N1 7LB, 44 (0)20 7553 7681

The George Inn
The only remaining galleried coaching inn in London, the George in Borough now belongs to the National Trust. The pub can be traced back to 1542, although it is probable that an inn stood on that spot even earlier. Whilst in London, Shakespeare lived and worked in Southwark. It is therefore believed likely that he would have been one of its patrons. He may even have played there. There are four bars downstairs with a restaurant serving traditional food upstairs. In the winter, snuggle up in the cosy bar area and enjoy the outside sun in the summer.

Contact details: 77 Borough High Street, Borough, London, SE1 1NH, 44 (0)20 7407 2056

Gordon's Wine Bar
Just round the corner from Charing Cross, Gordon's is reported to be London's oldest wine bar. Something of a London institution, it's packed full of atmosphere. No wine aficionado should miss it. Duck into the darkened cellar, lit only by candles in old wine bottles, and you step back to Victorian times. The bar sells a wide selection of wines from around the world. It also offers port and sherry decanted from barrels above the bar. Traditional pub grub is also available and there is outside seating in the summer.

Contact details: 47 Villiers St, Srand, London, WC2N 6NE, 44 (0)20 7930 1408

For more information about London and what it has to offer, visit www.visitlondon.com.

The article London's top five traditional pubs originally appeared on 999 Today