Occupying a prime location opposite the Houses of Parliament, St. Stephen’s Tavern is part of the Hall & Woodhouse estate, selling their first-rate cask-conditioned ales. The interior and exterior have beautiful, ornate fittings, matching the originals from its early days in the Victorian era. There is also a staircase lined with political images and portraits, a mezzanine, and of course, an excellent view. It is another pub with a division bell, hardly surprising as this is Parliament’s local. It seems to get more than its fair share of political types—Members of Parliament, civil servants, etc.—and it’s possible to get a feel of the political establishment by listening to some of the conversations around you.