An excess of whisky and buckets of blood have defined the history of The Lamb & Flag. There has been a pub on the site since 1772 so this Covent Garden drinking hole definitely scores highly as one of London’s most historic pubs. If you add in the fact that Charles Dickens used to drink here then you can see why the establishment is firmly rooted in London’s drinking history. The pub was initially called The Coopers Arms and it became the Lamb & Flag in 1883. It also had a rather dubious nickname for a while - 'The Bucket of Blood.’ This was because the pub used to be used for bare knuckle prize fights in the early 19th century.The Lamb & Flag is by far Covent Garden’s oldest pub and has seen the area go through many changes. During Dickens’s time the writer would have found plenty to write about, as this was an insalubrious part of London, characterised by poverty and slums, violence and crime. In fact, some say it was completely unpoliced for a while because the police were to scared to venture there – a far cry from the way it is today. The alleyway that runs along beside the pub was the notorious spot where poet John Dryden was attacked in 1679 by men who had been hired by John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester. The two men had an ongoing conflict and it was this spot that Wilmot chose as the location to try and take the upper hand. The upstairs room of the pub is now called the Dryden Room as a nod to the famous customer who almost met his sticky end nearby. There are two centuries worth of caricatures and cuttings plastered on the walls here, which are worth browsing for those with an interest in the pub and the area - they really add to the sense of history.In the present day there are no slums or bare knuckle fights to speak of at the Lamb & Flag. Instead, you can admire the architecture and parts of the building that date back to the 17th and 19th centuries, try the extensive whisky collection and dive into the menu of pub favourites. This is a great pub to stop off at if you’re shopping in Covent Garden or on your way to a show.Lamb & Flag33 Rose StreetCovent GardenLondonWC2E 9EB Opening hoursMonday – Thursday 11:00 – 23:00Friday - Saturday: 11:00 – 23:30Sunday: 12:00 – 22:30Food? YesTube: Leicester Square