The Open Guide to London: the free London guide

The Campaign For Real Ale organise a number of real ale festivals in and around the capital. The general format is a room in a town hall, with racking in place for the event, to house many barrels of beer.

On arrival, pay your entrance fee, pay a deposit for a glass (though you might want to keep the glass as a souvenir), and join the festival.

Note that drinks are not free; remember to bring enough cash before entering. Some festivals use tokens, requiring you to purchase sheets of tokens to exchange for beer. Excess tokens can be refunded on the way out.

Most connoisseurs and afficionados like to drink half pints, as you get to sample twice as many beers.