London has thousands of pubs; from modern establishments honouring the city's flourishing real ale and craft beer scene, to ancient public houses that haven't changed since the last century. Choosing where to enjoy your favourite tipple can be a tough choice in this pub-loving city. Don't worry, we've done all the hard drinking for you and come up with our list of the top ten pubs in London. Let us know if you agree with our selection and any of your favourites we've missed. Home to Essex Street Brewing Company, this is London's most central micro-brewery and the place to come for a proper local ale in the city. Because the brewery is in the middle of the bar your pint will travel all of about 15ft to reach your glass, and there are always two ales brewed in-house plus three guest ales. Quality is a top priority so you won't get a bad pint, and an entire evening can be spent happily supping the session ale brewed in-house, a smooth red-tinged tipple called Temp-Ale. Opening hours: Mon–Wed: 12pm–11pm, Thur: 12pm-11:30pm, Fri & Sat: 12pm–12am, Sun: 12pm-10pm

Feel the weight of history at this ancient boozer, standing here on this narrow laneway since 1546. best dessert wine under 30Henry VIII got married next door and his daughter, Elizabeth I is said to have danced in the cherry tree at the door with Sir Christopher Hatton. where can i buy ginger wineThis is a Fuller's pub so there's always London Pride on tap, but real ales from all over are often available, especially during the three annual beer festivals. wine and beer marketPork pies and Scotch eggs are served too, but no chips - the friendly staff will recommend a toasted sandwich instead.best red wine texas Nearest station: Farringdon or Chancery Lanewine of fire america

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am–11pm, Sat & Sun closedbest type of glass for wine tasting Londoners have been drinking here since the sixteenth century and although the view out over the Thames from the riverside terrace may have changed a bit over the years, the bar barely has, still featuring stained glass windows, wooden bench seating and candlelight. The four guest ales change regularly and there's always the malty Mayflower Scurvy and hoppy Darkstar Hophead on tap too. Not to mention plenty of lagers and a full menu of classic pub grub, such as sausage and mash and pie of the day. Nearest station: Rotherhithe or Canada Water Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11am–11pm, Sun 12pm–10.30pm Once the wartime workplace of Charles de Gaulle and a favoured haunt of both Dylan Thomas and Francis Bacon, this Gallic pub in the heart of Soho still pulls in the showbiz big names. Don't expect autograph books and selfies though, this is a traditionally low-key pub, with a 'no music and no mobile phones' rule.

Let the conversation flow instead, along with a few glasses of French Chablis, Picpoul de Pinet or Fleurie. Opening hours: Mon–Sat 12pm–11pm, Sun 12pm–10.30pmCheck out our guide to London's best skyscraper restaurants for a really memorable meal. A bar covered with beer mats and pump clips hints at what this pub does best - real ale. There's a choice of ten hand pumps, with an ever-rotating range of beers, and although perpetually packed the staff somehow always get you served speedily and with a minimum of fuss. Seats here are hot property but there's plenty of space on the pavements outside, and the 'no music' rule means the hum of conversation is the only noise. Head upstairs if you want a quieter drink. Nearest station: Charing Cross or Leicester Square Opening hours: Mon-Thur 10.30am-11.30pm, Fri & Sat 10.30am-12am, Sun 12pm-10.30pm Never fear missing your train again, the Parcel Yard redefines the station pub and may just tempt you to take the next train, or the one after that.

Historic railway memorabilia and a 'glamorous age of steam' theme runs throughout the decor, while the beer (and whisky) selection provides plenty of choice. There's a decent food menu too - it's another Fuller's pub - served both in the main bar downstairs and upstairs in the more restaurant-style dining room. There are views of the platforms and screens with live departures information for those waiting for a train, but don't expect a waiting room style environment, plenty of Londoners drink here with no intention of travelling. Where: inside Kings Cross station Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-10.30pm This proper East End boozer is the place to come for a Cockney knees-up. All gold chintz and cabaret style red lighting, this may not be the place for the best pint or the smiliest service, but it sure is the spot for a good old-fashioned sing-a-long or an impromptu spin around the makeshift dancefloor. You're out east here but this is no hipster hangout, this is one for the regulars.

There's nowhere more fun for a night on the tiles though - and no neighbours within singing distance to be disturbed by the raucous shenanigans you may well become a part of. Opening hours: Mon-Thur 12pm-12am, Fri & Sat 12pm-2am, Sun 12pm–1am Farringdon's media types love the Betsey, and there's almost always live music here, in the basement or upstairs in the acoustic room. You'll find Shepherd Neame's Spitfire and Bishops Finger ales on tap, as well as pitchers of Bloody Marys and a fine whisky selection. Despite its popularity there somehow always seems to be a seat to be had in the bar, and even if you've never heard of the bands taking to the stage, it's worth sticking around - the pub's events team really knows its stuff when it comes to music. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-11pm, Sat 6pm-11pm, Sun closed There's nowhere quite like Churchill's, a flower-covered pub that somehow manages to pull some of the best pints in London, as well as serving fiery and very good value Thai food in the conservatory-style restaurant area, which drips with plants.

The bar itself is covered in Churchill related memorabilia (his grandparents used to drink here) and jammed with tiny tables that tend to prompt random conversation with total strangers. A friendlier atmosphere would be hard to find, and there's always well-kept London Pride on tap. Where: 119 Kensington Church Street Nearest station: Notting Hill Gate Opening hours: Mon-Wed 11am-11pm, Thur-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 12pm-10.30pm Ok, so this is really a wine bar - but it's an unmissable one, and London's oldest. For 125 years Gordon's has been serving not only a wide-ranging wine list packed with premier varieties but also more than 20 cheeses. Order a board-full along with a glass or bottle of wine from an Old World staple or even Macedonia, India or Lebanon and take a seat in the candle-lit tunnel beneath cobbled Villiers Street. This is a family affair, owned and run by the Gordon family since 1890, only serving wine and refusing to change even one little bit since its opening.