If you happen to find yourself wandering down Cloth Fair, a tiny street near Smithfield Market, you might want to keep an eye out for one of London’s most extraordinary yet overlooked buildings.
Numbers 41 to 42 on the narrow road are home to the city’s oldest surviving house – a four-bedroom townhouse built between 1597 and 1614.
What makes the home truly impressive is how much it has survived over the years.
During the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed over 70,000 homes, a high brick wall at the property helped protect it from the flames.
It also survived the Second English Civil War, though the same couldn’t be said for its builder, Henry Rich, a Royalist who was captured and executed at Westminster.
Over the centuries, the building has had many uses and been home to a variety of ambitious owners.
Its first tenant, William Chapman, ran an alehouse on the ground floor. Later, it became a wool draper, a tobacconist, and a cutlery factory, before being sold in the 1920s and converted into a private home.
The house narrowly avoided demolition in 1929, when city plans to modernise housing put it at risk.
Located on Cloth Fair, a tiny street in the City of London, is the capital’s oldest surviving house – a four-bedroom townhouse built between 1597 and 1614
But, once again, it survived – and even made it through the Blitz, when 1.7 million buildings in London were damaged.
Today, 41–42 Cloth Fair remains a private home, quietly tucked away on a street that carries centuries of history.
If you plan to visit the house and want to make your London trip go further, it might be worth stopping by Flat Iron Square’s Yuletide Yard, where the The Jingle Bells Inn has been dubbed the world’s tiniest pub.
The small venue consists of festive green walls adorned with decorations – from big bows to Christmas garlands.
With a few wooden barstools and Camden Town Brewery pours on tap, the pub only has enough space for a few people inside at once.
Others hoping to experience the festive spot have to spill outside into the Yuletide Yard, which has been transformed with lights and trees.
The Jingle Bells Inn will only be open until December 22, however, and visitors must book 45-minute slots.
The Yard will be full of festive entertainment this season, with a Christmas Karaoke and even Michael Bublé tribute nights.
Located in Flat Iron Square’s Yuletide Yard in London, The Jingle Bells Inn has been dubbed the world’s tiniest pub
A Santa Speed Dating Quiz will also be held on November 25 and December 2.
Street food vendors will also be dotted around, including Dough, who will be serving pork and fennel sausage pizza with shredded Brussel sprouts.
Meanwhile, Opa will offer a Christmas wrap with all the trimmings, and Flock will be serving up chicken tenders with potato rosti, cranberry sauce and picked red cabbage.
Several other venues have previously claimed the title of being the world’s smallest pub, including The Signal Box Inn in Cleethorpes.
