The Cross KeysCovent Garden

The Cross Keys has traded from a Grade II listed corner building on Endell Street since the street was cut through in 1848 to relieve traffic around Covent Garden. Inside, the walls and ceiling all but disappear under decades of accumulated bric-a-brac: brass instruments, chamber pots, photographs and stage memorabilia, much of it left by past landlords rather than curated for effect. Hanging baskets and climbing plants cover most of the exterior, making it one of the more photographed pub fronts in the area, though the interior keeps a quieter pace than its Piazza neighbours. It remains an independent free house rather than part of a managed pub company, pouring a rotating cask ale alongside the usual lagers and serving pub food including pies and sandwiches at lunchtime.