London pubs where time has stood still

Today, they are honoured by The Campaign for Real Ale, which is lobbying to safeguard important antique pub interiors.

Its experts have drawn up a list of the most unspoiled pubs in the UK - 18 of which are in London.

Paul Ainsworth, chairman of Camra's pub heritage group, said: "If you have a genuine historic pub interior, what's the point of revamping it into one that's no different from thousands of others?"

All the 188 pubs in the list, launched to coincide with Camra's Good Beer Guide 2007, have remained almost unchanged for at least 50 years.

London's top unspoiled pub is the The Salisbury, Green Lanes, Harringay. The Victorian former hotel boasts marble flagstones, intricate mosaics and a mahogany bar.

Meanwhile, The Lion in Teddington has been named Camra's greater London Pub of the Year. It goes through to the national pub of the year contest for which the finalists will be announced early next year.

The Good Beer Guide 2007 is available from Camra, priced £14.99. Order by calling 01727 867201 or online at www.camra.org.uk.

THE CAPITAL'S SURVIVING CHARACTERS

Central London

The Argyll Arms, Soho
Built in 1868 and remodelled in 1895; named after one of the Duke of Marlborough's generals.
The Old Mitre, Hatton Garden
Late 18th century pub on the site of the 16th century palace of the Bishop of Ely.
The Hand and Shears, Smithfield
Victorian pub with "remarkable" original features.
The Duke of York, Bloomsbury
Built in the Thirties, still has its original art deco red and black lino flooring.
The Cittie of York, Holborn
Twenties pub which is a "self-conscious romantic evocation of "olde Englande".

East London

The Eastbrook, Dagenham
Elegant suburban pub with panelled walls and stained glass. Old fashioned shellfish bar outside.
The Doctor Johnson, Ilford
An intact Thirties estate pub.

North London

The Salisbury, Harringay
Rebuilt in 1898,with mosaics and tiling in generous porches.
The Queen's Hotel, Crouch End
Opulent turn-of-the-century hotel/pub.
The Beehive, Tottenham
A mock Tudor pub, rebuilt in 1927, with panelling and original benches.

North-west London

The Case Is Altered, Eastcote
Remodelled in 1891; rustic Thirties refit.
The Castle, Harrow
Built in 1901, it retains a Thirties layout with separate rooms.
The Windermere, South Kenton
Red and black Dutch gabled exterior.

South-east London

The Old Red Lion, Kennington
Tudor-style pub, rebuilt in 1929.
South-west London
Fox and Pheasant, West Brompton
Formerly two cottages, the building was turned into a pub and refitted in 1930.

West London

The Hope and Anchor, Hammersmith
A Thirties Grade-II listed building with original features.
The Windsor Castle, Kensington
Refitted in 1933,with original timber dividing screens.
The Forester, West Ealing
Edwardian suburban corner pub built in 1909 for the Royal Brewery in Brentford.