Book excerpt: Pubs represent a history of London life that stretches across the centuries from the taverns that served Chaucer and Shakespeare to those frequented by Orwell and Dickens. From river pubs to theater pubs, Victorian gin palaces to medieval coaching houses, the pubs covered here have been chosen for their architecture and interiors, for having a role in local social history, or having once been frequented by the famous, infamous, and in some cases, ghostly. This guide includes details on hundreds of historical pubs in each area. There are practical tips and information on all the pubs featured, such as travel, opening hours, food and beer selections, as well as maps of all the main areas and listings of other attractions near every pub.