Claims of great antiquity are as common as £7 pints in London pubs (and only slightly more welcome). Every pub, it can sometimes seem, has a tall tale to tell – which would be funny were it not ...

The area has abundant park-like squares filled with trees. Numerous restaurants and pubs were nearby, as well as two Tube stations just a couple of blocks from our hotel near Russell Square.

If you ask us, there's no better way to celebrate running 26.2 miles than with (more) carbs and a crisp pint. And luckily, there are numerous pubs are just a short hobble from the London Marathon ...