London’s Shortest Pub Crawl Challenge Revealed
The article explores the “utterly trivial” yet engaging challenge of identifying London's shortest four-pub crawl. This unique quest is governed by six specific rules: the crawl must include four distinct pubs (not bars, and not split halves of the same business), measured doorway-to-doorway along walkable routes using Google Maps. The goal is to stimulate thought and discover compact clusters of drinking establishments.
While the article doesn't explicitly detail “benefits” or “risks” of pub crawling, the challenge itself offers the intellectual satisfaction of solving a geographical puzzle and the enjoyment of exploring London's diverse pub landscape. The “benefits” lie in uncovering historic and characterful venues, especially those described as “stone-cold classics,” which enrich the experience beyond mere distance. No specific risks associated with participating in such a crawl are mentioned, other than perhaps the subjective nature of what constitutes a “pub” versus a “bar.”
Three primary contenders for the shortest route are presented. The current record holder is in **Whitehall (north)**, measuring a mere 63 metres. This route includes Walker's and The Horse and Guardsman (formerly The Lord Moon of the Mall), though these are noted as being “a bit touristy.” A close second, at 64 metres, is the **Fleet Street (east)** crawl, considered “the better pub crawl.” It features historic gems like The Old Bell, The Crown and Sugarloaf (a stripped-back boozer), The Punch (once connected to the Sugarloaf), and The Albion. Finally, a **Soho (east)** route comes in at 96 metres, encompassing well-known West End pubs such as the Coach and Horses, Three Greyhounds, Spice of Life, and The Cambridge, demonstrating that even in dense areas, achieving sub-100-meter crawls is challenging. The article invites readers to use Google Maps to find their own shortest routes.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/drink/what-s-london-s-shortest-pub-crawl)
