Home of London’s oldest restaurant Rules given to National Trust

Rules, which has a well-preserved interior, has welcomed generations of high profile figures including Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin, David Bowie, Liza Minnelli and Harrison Ford.

King Edward VII used to meet his mistress, actress Lillie Langtry, in a corner on the second floor, where drapes were created to shield them from prying eyes. A secret private door allowed them to disappear through to a room upstairs.

It was also favourite spot for poet John Betjeman, who once gave an impassioned speech in defence of the restaurant when it was under threat of redevelopment.

Writer Graham Greene was known to enjoy birthday meals there and featured it in his novel The End Of The Affair.