If you’re going to London because you love history, or because you love great literature, or even because you love the idea of frequenting one of England’s great, old pubs Ye Old Cheshire Cheese will fill the bill. Parked in the middle of Medieval London, in an area that was home or hangout for many of the giants of English literature, you can almost feel the weight of history at this famous pub. The current pub was rebuilt after the Great Fire in 1666. (Pubs predate restaurants, so the oldest pubs are older than the oldest restaurants.) You can pop into the bar for a pint of the excellent private-label cider or beer, or you can eat in the ancient, creaky, wood-paneled dining room that hosted Charles Dickens, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and myriad other literary greats. The food can, on occasion be overcooked, but most of the time it ranges from good to outstanding — classic English fare that rejoices the heart of Anglophiles, historians and lit majors (or, in the case of the dessert called spotted dick, reduces small boys to hysterics). Good starters include duck and port paté or goat cheese and avocado gratin. Lamb chops, steak and kidney pie, or roast beef are suitably British selections, with bubble-and-squeak (truly classic British dish of cabbage and potatoes mixed together and pan fried) on the side. And if you do decide to try spotted dick, you’ll find yourself enjoying a classic steamed pudding dotted with currants.