The best pubs in London
Whether you’re after a perfectly poured pint, a polished dining room for a long lunch, or simply a comforting corner to settle into, this list of the best pubs in London delivers it all. Across the city, from Mayfair to Islington, the city's pub scene is wonderfully varied. You’ll find historic riverside inns with centuries of stories etched into their beams; neighbourhood haunts drawing locals for craft beers and generous Sunday roasts; and newer dining-focused spots where ambitious kitchens turn out dishes that would hold their own in any top restaurant. Some are off-the-beaten-path finds on quiet residential streets, others sit in the heart of London’s busier quarters, full of energy from the moment the doors open.
From drinking dens championing seasonal British cooking, places known for serious wine lists, and spots that lean into atmosphere with candlelit nooks, wood-panelled rooms, tiled counters or eye-catching modern art, we’ve got you covered. Here are the London pubs that stand out for all the right reasons.
The best pubs in London
Helen Cathcart1/41The Walmer Castle, Notting Hill
Set on the iconic Ledbury Road, the Walmer Castle - in one form or another - has been a fixture of Notting Hill since 1845. It recently reopened under the ownership of husband and wife team Jack and Poppy Greenall, publicans and proprietors of Chelsea's The Surprise, debuting a smart new look. Once a relatively ordinary pub, the Walmer Castle's interiors have been revamped by Isabella Worsley, one of House & Garden's ‘Rising Stars 2022’. The palette is refined and attractive, but relaxed. Described by the team as an ‘egalitarian meeting place where all are welcome’, patrons can expect all the cosiness of a proper pub, but with the slick service and food of an upscale restaurant. Come for lunch or dinner, and then take your glass of wine to sit nearer to the open fires that roar in each of the rooms. The kitchen is headed up by chef Georgios Loukas, who has curated a menu that's typical of a gastropub, but with unexpected twists here and there.
58 Ledbury Rd, London W11 2AJ | walmercaste-nottinghill.co.uk
2/41Pig and Butcher, Islington
The Pig and Butcher’s rustic farmhouse feel suits its reputation for proper hearty, yet elevated cooking, complemented by a list of around 60 bottled beers including local London IPAs and cask ales – plus a carefully curated wine list. A bright airy palette of soft woods and whitewashed walls set the tone for menus built around social dining and generous Sunday feasting. In-house butchery means the roasts are particularly satisfying, blushing beef with crisp, well-rendered fat, or pork with shattering crackling, all flanked by glossy vegetables and puffy Yorkshires. Weekdays bring nostalgic favourites like braised ox cheek or roast chicken with buttery greens. - Toyo Odetunde
80 Liverpool Road, London N1 0QD | pigandbutcher.com
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3/41Prospect of Whitby, Shadwell
Perched beside the Thames in Wapping, the Prospect of Whitby carries five centuries of history inside its weathered walls. Entering feels like stepping into a time capsule. Its original flagstone floor from the 1520s and nautical decor echo the pub’s storied past as a haunt of sailors, smugglers and sea rovers, with low ceilings and wood‑panelled corners adding to the historic atmosphere. Settle into a windowside seat, or on the small terrace to enjoy riverside vistas of trailing barges and pleasure craft gliding along as you sip on your go-to pint. - Toyo Odetunde
57 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SJ | prospect‑of‑whitby.co.uk
Dave Watts4/41The Hart, Marylebone
The Hart’s sprawling layout invites a lively hum. The upstairs dining room feels charmingly cocooned, its low ceilings and blond wooden panels contrasting with dark chocolate seating and a glowing fireplace. A reassuringly classic cocktail list (I recommend the negroni) sits alongside a thoughtful wine and beer offering. The menu leans comforting – sink into dishes like velvety pumpkin soup spiced with fennel and sage, crispy, succulent crab cakes or a fleshy fillet of hake nestled on herby creamed spinach. The banoffee pie may be the talk of the town, but the decadent bakewell tart with quince jam and custard is a quiet triumph. - Toyo Odetunde
56 Blandford St, London W1U 7JA | thehartw1.com
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5/41The Camberwell Arms, Camberwell
Combining the unpretentious charm of a neighbourhood joint, with refined, ambitious cooking, The Camberwell Arms has earned a reputation as one of South London’s favourite gastropubs. The famed scotch bonnet pork fat on toast is not to be missed – silky, spicy and richly savoury, complementing other seasonal plates ranging from slow-roasted lamb shoulder, bitter-leaf salads sharpened with anchovy, or glossy pies filled with deep, comforting flavour. Drawing regulars and newcomers, the space is welcoming with warm wood, soft light and the bustle of the open kitchen, an ideal setting for a mid-week pint or Sunday lunch alike.
65 Camberwell Church Street, London, SE5 8TR | camberwellarms.co.uk
Helen Cathcart6/41The Audley, Mayfair
Situated in the heart of Mayfair, The Audley pulses with convivial energy. With its dark wooden panelling and grand analogue clock the busy pub has a traditional feel to it, with pops of colourful decor adding a contemporary finish. The deep mahogany-coloured bar hums with animated conversation and the clink of glasses, while the kitchen turns out comforting pub classics like a lengthy fillet of crunchy battered cod and crispy chips, or creamy mash and tender lamb sweetened with mint and beetroot. The bar offers all the usual pours, making it well-suited to a quick pint or homely evening meal alike. - Toyo Odetunde
41‑43 Mount Street, London W1K 2RX | theaudleypublichouse.com
Tolga Yilmaz7/41Harwood Arms, Fulham
At this handsome Fulham pub, coffee-coloured wooden panelling, soft, fluffy throws and plumed chandeliers evoke the inviting interiors of a countryside lodge. Diners are warmly welcomed with fudgy Guinness soda bread and whipped butter, followed by impressive acts celebrating English game – like crispy, jammy scotch eggs filled with juicy, seasoned venison, or expertly cooked rosy mallard with berries, rich jus and puréed beetroot. The cosy environs encourage you to stay for dessert or cheese. Thankfully the unexpected combination of a pear and almond tart with blue cheese and gingery black-pepper caramel offers the best of both worlds. - Toyo Odetunde
Walham Grove, London SW6 1QP | harwoodarms.com
Helen Cathcart8/41The Surprise, Chelsea
Tucked behind a candy-cane striped awning on a quiet residential street, The Surprise charms with a homely, eccentric warmth. Inside, vermillion-upholstered chairs, filled bookshelves and patterned wallpaper add comfort to the upstairs dining room feel, while flickering candles and a miscellany of paintings and sketches evoke a slightly bohemian mood. The wine list is well-considered – I go for a fragrant Beaujolais but you’ll also find classic pub pours. Hearty fare like succulent lamb chops with plush carrot purée and tender kale, or a decadently sticky pecan pie make for a pleasantly cosy evening. - Toyo Odetunde
6 Christchurch Terrace, London SW3 4AJ | thesurprise‑chelsea.co.uk
Justin De Souza9/41The Parakeet, Kentish Town
A short walk away from Kentish Town station, The Parakeet strikes an elegant balance between colourful modernity and classic pub tradition. Stained-glass windows and wood-panelled walls nod to its heritage, whilst contemporary artworks and stylish lighting lend it a lively, creative edge. The drinks list includes specialties like a fruit-forward plum margarita. The kitchen also impresses with innovations like a sweet-savoury hoisin duck tartlet, seared mackerel dressed with a sharp red-wine vinaigrette, or sumac-pureed potatoes, showcasing bold, globally inspired flavours. Save room for dessert, a custardy, jammy fig tart offers sticky sweetness, but the standout indulgence is the little square of beef-fat fudge: the best three pounds you’ll ever spend. - Toyo Odetunde
256 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2AA | theparakeetpub.com
10/41The Grazing Goat, Marylebone
When you step inside the elegant interior of The Grazing Goat, you’ll soon forget that the madness of Oxford Street is less than five minutes walk away. This is the perfect place to stop off amid a busy day of shopping, with airy and serene rooms decked out in pale wood and unobtrusive flower prints. The pub downstairs has a small terrace outside for sunny days, and upstairs is a restaurant focusing on British produce. Even further upstairs are some of the most comfortable bedrooms you’re likely to find in a London pub. The overall feel is that a stylish Cotswold pub has somehow found itself in central London, and frankly, it’s a perfect antidote if you’ve just been struggling through Selfridges.
6 New Quebec St, London W1H 7RQ | cubitthouse.co.uk
11/41The Guinea Grill, Mayfair
A pub in two parts tucked down a side street off Grosvenor Square, this is part ultra-traditional boozer, part ultra-traditional trencherman’s paradise. At the compact front end, you’ll find a selection of Young’s ales and some of the best bar snacks in London, including chips fried in beef dripping and luscious scotch eggs. At the back, the restaurant, manned by reverential waiters in red waistcoats, takes beef very seriously, as it has done since 1952. Not much has changed since then, we reckon, but it’s all the better for it. Do book a table if you want to be in the restaurant, and note that, given the Mayfair location, you’ll be standing in Bruton Place with half of the city’s bankers if you come at 5pm on a weekday.
30 Bruton Pl, London W1J 6NL | theguinea.co.uk
12/41The Coach & Horses, Soho
Taking up the corner of Greek Street and Romilly Street in London’s once-sleazy Soho is a pub steeped in journalistic history. Much-frequented (and much-written-about) by the staff of Private Eye and the Spectator, it was also famous in the latter half of the 20th century for the presence of ‘London’s rudest landlord’ Norman Balon. Now run by Fuller’s, it may not be quite as colourful now as it was in the 1980s, but there’s still bags of atmosphere to be had, and alongside its neighbour The French House, it remains a Soho institution.
29 Greek St, London W1D 5DH | coachandhorsessoho.pub
13/41Lore of the Land, Fitzrovia
Lore of the Land, opened by movie director Guy Ritchie in 2019 under his ‘Gritchie’ brewery label, wears its traditional atmosphere with ease, and to step inside is to hide away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding streets. A traditional pub with unobtrusively appropriate interiors takes up the downstairs, serving Gritchie brews and delectable small plates. Non-beer drinkers are equally well catered to, with a strong selection of boutique spirits and a carefully chosen wine list. Upstairs is a sophisticated dining room with a menu that changes weekly. Far more than the relaxed neighbourhood pub it claims to be, Lore of the Land is a perfect destination for a memorable dinner, a lengthy weekend lunch, or a quick pint.
4 Conway St, London W1T 6BB | gritchiepubs.com
14/41Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
Fleet Street is of course the legendary seat of British journalism, and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is where that famously bibulous profession came to do its drinking. There has been a pub here since 1538 and the current building dates back to just after the Great Fire in 1666; it is notoriously dark and dim inside, with acres of wood panelling, open fireplaces, and portraits of the great and good who have graced the bar. These include such literary greats as P.G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and even Samuel Johnson back in the day. Now run by Samuel Smith’s the pub offers beer on draught and a resolutely traditional menu (although we note that hispi cabbage has found its way in recently).
145 Fleet St, London EC4A 2BP | ye-olde-cheshire-cheese.co.uk
15/41The Grenadier, Belgravia
Slightly hard to find, like many of the best pubs in central London, The Grenadier has a charming location down a cobbled mews not far from Hyde Park Corner. Built in the 18th century as an officers’ mess, it has always retained a strong association with the British military, and indeed is said to be haunted by the ghost of a subaltern beaten to death for cheating at cards. In his honour, the ceiling of the pub is plastered with banknotes pinned there by customers. There’s an excellent menu of pub classics (including a standout beef Wellington) as well as bar snacks like sausage rolls and scotch eggs. You’d be hard-pressed to find another pub more characterful.
18 Wilton Row, London SW1X 7NR | grenadierbelgravia.com
16/41The Draper’s Arms, Islington
In the quiet hinterland between Upper Street and Caledonian Road in Islington stands an archetype of what a modern London gastropub should be. Without a doubt one of the best pubs for food in the entire city, the menu delivers beautifully done twists on pub classics, a few on-trend helpings of offal (ox heart, bone marrow), cheeses from La Fromagerie and an extensive wine list. There’s plenty of craft beer on offer as well if you just want to come for a drink, and you’ll find a smart garden outside for sunny days.
44 Barnsbury St, London N1 1ER | thedrapersarms.com
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Key & Quill17/41The Brave, Islington
Unless you live locally, The Brave is perhaps not somewhere you'd just happen to pass by. Located in a quiet area between Dalston and Islington, the pub's menu is headed up by executive chef James Cochran, and takes inspiration from his Scottish and Caribbean heritage. Elegantly decked out with vintage framed prints, powder blue panelling and stained glass windows, the airy space is a stylish destination to pig out on moreish snacks and small plates such as beef nugget with cheese and pickles, or scallops with tikka masala sauce. Stop for a pint and a jerk chicken scotch egg, or stay for a leisurely three course meal - just make sure to leave room for the Jamaican ginger bread and banana ice cream.
340-342 Essex Road, London N1 3PB | thebravelondon.co.uk
18/41Southampton Arms, Kentish Town
Just a hop away from Hampstead Heath this is a tiny Victorian pub with a little garden that serves ‘Ale, cider and meat’ only from independent breweries. If you like a pork bap, playing the piano and the occasional sing-a-long this is the place for you. It’s often busy but the crowd is a lovely mix of young and old and all are welcome. Including dogs. And a cat called Mo who lives up the road but pops in often. There are no bookings so you'll have to take your chances.
139 Highgate Rd, London NW5 1LE | thesouthamptonarms.co.uk
Cintia Rezende19/41The Lion and Unicorn, Kentish Town
A great all-rounder, this friendly neighbourhood pub is nestled on one of Kentish Town's quieter streets. It has two very lovely gardens, making it a popular spot for summer refreshments, though the hearty winter food menu makes it a great place to warm up with a roast and a glass of red wine.
42-44 Gaisford St, London NW5 2ED | thelionandunicornnw5.co.uk
20/41Bull and Last, Highgate
This lovely pub on the edge of Hampstead Heath is so very popular you will need to plan ahead and book to secure a table. The decoration is understated, with wood panelling and a few bulls’ heads dotted around, and you’ll find a few highly covetable benches on the pavement outside. The food is classic, British and generous. Personal favourites are the fish and chips and the outstanding Sunday roasts. There are also seven guest bedrooms upstairs for anyone looking for a simple, stylish place to stay in this neck of the woods.
168 Highgate Rd, London NW5 1QS | thebullandlast.co.uk
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21/41The Baring, De Beauvoir
With its cream coloured walls and pared-back, mid-century interiors, The Baring would already be a lovely place to post up on a laid-back Sunday afternoon with friends. However, their Sunday roast made with sustainable, seasonal ingredients is what makes this unassuming pub a true North London destination where Sunday scaries all but vanish (especially after your first perfectly pulled pint of Guinness).
55 Baring St, London N1 3DS | thebaring.co.uk
kingsheadtheatrepub.co.uk22/41The King’s Head, Islington
A stone’s throw from the Almeida Theatre, The King’s Head Pub is Islington’s chosen watering hole of actors, stagehands and post-show revellers. A stone’s throw from the Almeida Theatre, the pub is the ideal spot to head for a pre- or post-theatre drink (or to put yourself in the vicinity of your favourite cast member). Should you feel peckish, The King’s Head serves a wide range of great nibbles, from charcuterie boards to toasted bagels. Great pints and good glasses of wine are always on deck, as well as creative spritzes and cocktails, many of them named for the pub’s most famous patrons. On Sundays, the King’s Head hosts a “fancy dress roast”, perfect for those with a penchant for the theatrical.
115 Upper St, London N1 1QN | kingsheadtheatrepub.co.uk
23/41The Tamil Prince, Islington
Hidden in the quiet, leafy streets between Kings Cross and Highbury & Islington, The Tamil Prince's setting is very much a pub, and a pub-like informality pervades the Indian restaurant which is the main reason you’d come. At the helm is Prince Durairaj, formerly of Malaysian favourite Roti King, who lends both his name and the cuisine of his childhood home in Tamil Nadu to the new venue. The vibe is cool but not obnoxiously so; the wood panelling of the interior has been painted an inviting deep blue, and feels stylish yet laid back. The same goes for the service, which is friendly and expert at the same time, and for the smart, concise menu.
115 Hemingford Rd, London N1 1BZ | thetamilprince.com
Benjamin John / Alamy Stock Photo24/41The Jamaica Wine House, The City
Another of those London pubs that’s extraordinarily hard to find, the Jamaica Wine House is hidden within a labyrinth of alleys in the centre of London’s banking district. The site was home to London’s first coffee house back in the 17th century and boasted Samuel Pepys as a customer, but its current incarnation is a Victorian boozer now run by Shepherd Neame. Open only from Monday to Friday, as the City quietens down considerably at weekends, this wood-panelled den is the place to come for cask ales, but you can also find a wine bar tucked away in the basement.
St Michael's Alley, London EC3V 9DS | jamaicawinehouse.co.uk
25/41The Viaduct Tavern, The City
If you’re in a tight spot with the law, the presence of this cosy Victorian pub just across from the Old Bailey will be distinctly welcome. The site was formerly home to the notorious Newgate Prison, where a range of colourful characters from Casanova to Oscar Wilde served sentences, and the pub, unsurprisingly, is reputed to be haunted. There’s a bit of Victoriana on display in the interiors, but its small scale and circular shape make it a comfortable place to settle in for a drink. The pub is now run by Fullers, with a very limited food menu, but you don’t come here to dine, you come to soak up the atmosphere.
126 Newgate St, London EC1A 7AA | viaducttavern.co.uk
Instagram/@thespurstowearms26/41The Spurstowe Arms, Dalston
The Spurstowe Arms is as Dalston-y as it gets: patrons swathed in Carhartt and Kawakubo, a gastropub menu with a locally sourced ingredients list and the smoky perfume of rolled tobacco. The pub is an excellent spot to grab a quick drink by candlelight or, in the warmer months, the neighbourhood’s best choice for outdoor drinking. Come early with a group of friends and post up at a covetable picnic table in the Spurstowe Arms’ lovely back garden, sipping on a well-made Negroni or cold beer under the garden’s twinkling fairy lights.
68 Greenwood Road, E8 1AB | spurstowearms.com
Instagram/@marksman_pub27/41Marksman Public House, Haggerston
Foodies native to London or simply visiting will want to make an especial trip to the Marksman Public House, the harbinger of the city’s gastropub boom. Set in a former Victorian pub, the Marksman serves excellent, elevated English food, from Maldon oysters to chicken and wild garlic pie. Of course, a pub is nothing without great drinks which, luckily, the Marksman has in spades. Peruse the pub’s excellent cocktail and wine menus or opt for one of the many great beers they have on draught. Should nothing strike your fancy, a friendly barman will shake up anything you desire (and it’ll likely be the best variation of it you’ve ever sipped).
254 Hackney Road, E2 7SJ | marksmanpublichouse.com
Instagram/@pubonthepark28/41Pub on the Park, London Fields
A traditional pub located on the upper green's edge of London Fields, the Pub on the Park is one of the city's ultimate outdoor watering holes. Laid back and unpretentious, guests can snag a picnic table and a few pints, enjoying the balmy spring weather and making friends with neighbouring groups. Sports fans and games lovers alike will enjoy catching a match on one of the large televisions or playing a round or two of boules round the back of the pub; those more interested in music will not want to miss the rotation of fun DJs who provide a diverse range of tunes throughout the weekend. Whether you're there to enjoy the weather, listen to a set or play a game with friends, know that an afternoon posted up at the Pub on the Park is not your average picnic. (Discover more great outdoor bars in London here).
19 Martello St, London E8 3PE | pubonthepark.com
TARAN WILKHU29/41The Carpenter's Arms, Chiswick
Do you dream of having a local pub where you can sit at a table by an open fire, read your paper uninterrupted by muzak, enjoy wine from a well-selected list and an excellent meal made from local produce, lit by warm and inviting lighting and with walls hung with idiosyncratic art? Just such a place is The Carpenter’s Arms in Chiswick, designed Tamsin Saunders of Home & Found. In the winter, the outdoor courtyard is covered and lit with candles and fairy lights, decorated with branches of spruce and trailing ivy to create a magical winter garden. There’s also a beautiful private dining room that’s high on our list of places to book for a special occasion.
91 Black Lion Ln, London W6 9BG | carpentersarms-w6.co.uk
David Cotsworth30/41The Princess Royal, Notting Hill
The Princess Royal is the latest from chef Ben Tish, of Norma in Fitzrovia, so the menu (Mediterranean classics made with British produce) is certainly a highlight. The crowd is distinctly west London; beautiful dogs lie at people’s feet, and everyone looks a little like Claudia Winkleman, or maybe her cousin. Potted plants flow lush and green over bare brick walls and the garden is by Jinny Blom. The Princess Royal is hardly a boozer, even before we browse a menu of gnocchi, bream and the like – don’t come here expecting to catch the North London derby on Sky Sports. It’s much more elevated than that, though we don’t doubt it’s great for a casual pint in its own right, either.
47 Hereford Rd, London W2 5AH | cubitthouse.co.uk
31/41The Pelican, Ladbroke Grove
In some form or another, the pub on the corner of All Saints Road has been a local’s haunt since 1872. Its latest iteration is The Pelican, a smart neighbourhood gastropub with food worth travelling for. With an interiors overhaul led by Studio Squire, what was once a slightly shabby boozer is now a pared back, cosy establishment. That’s not to say that the charm has been knocked out of it, there’s still a ‘proper pub’ vibe about the place, there are just fewer unidentifiable stains on the seats. There’s a St John-esque menu, with good, fresh produce, cooked without fuss. It’s not the cheapest in the area–the food will cost you around £30 per head for a full meal, but it’s well worth it.
45 All Saints Road, W11 1HE | thepelicanw11.com
churchillarmskensington.co.uk32/41Churchill Arms, Kensington
You’ll likely recognise the Churchill Arms from Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, or really any social media platform–their Instagram bio reads ‘London’s most instagrammable pub’ for a reason. In summer, the exterior of the pub is bedecked with nearly £30,000 in flowers, made up of 100 flower pots, 42 hanging baskets, and 48 window boxes. Come Christmas, the whole building is covered in Christmas trees.
Inside you’ll find a shrine to Churchill himself, whose grandparents used to frequent the spot (hence the name). Think kitschy portraits, union jacks, and various bits of fake WW2 memorabilia. However, keep walking and you will stumble across a completely different setting. Deep inside the pub, there’s a Thai restaurant. Set in an indoor garden, where lanterns hang from the ceiling and plants climb the walls, you’ll feel totally transported. To really make the most of the Churchill Arms, grab a pint and sit in the ‘pub’ section of the establishment, then move through to the restaurant for dinner.
119 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LN | churchillarmskensington.co.uk
33/41The Dove, Hammersmith
For a tiny historical pub, riverside pub The Dove packs a bevy of famous credentials. The poet James Thomson composed the familiar strains of ‘Rule Britannia’ here. Charles II romanced and dined his mistress Nell Gwynne here. And in the famous novel ‘The Water Gypsies’, author A P Herbert features it under a cheeky pseudonym; ‘The Pigeons’. William Morris lived next door. It's utterly charming both in summer on the two terraces facing Barnes bridge or in winter, with cosy corners, a roaring fire and low wooden beams on the ceilings.
The Dove, 19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, London, W6 9TA | https://www.dovehammersmith.co.uk
thecowlondon.com34/41The Cow, Westbourne Park
It’s a rare, and wonderful, moment when you stumble across a pub that walks the line between gastro and traditional with such flair. In a country where pubs must choose one form or the other, The Cow is a shining example of doing both well. Housed in a higgledy-piggledy building that dates from around 1800, the downstairs is dark and slightly cavernous (two prerequisites for a more trad pub). It’s booths and stools and sticky cardboard coasters that feel like they might have been on the table since it opened in 1995. Upstairs, in the dining room, it’s light and airy. Red benches line the walls, alongside large mirrors, surrealist imagery and tables set with white paper tablecloths. The cuisine is fresh and laidback, with an emphasis on excellent seafood. Of course, you need to order The Cow Special– six jersey rock oysters and a pint of Guinness.
89 Westbourne Park Rd, London W2 5QH | thecowlondon.com
35/41Skehan's, Nunhead
The shining turquoise jewel in South East’s crown (and no real secret). A proper boozer with pool, sports and live music. The traditional Irish pub boasts lit fireplaces in the winter and a sprawling multi-layered pub garden all year round. Its stellar Thai restaurant, Chai’s Garden, sits somewhat surreal amongst the maze of garden-hideaways out the back. You can spend Monday nights listening to fiddle groups rehearsing, Thursdays watching live bands, Fridays hiding from karaoke out the back and New Years elbowing your way through to the bar, always surrounded by the varied cast of locals; faces that change but roles that remain the same.
1 Kitto Rd, London SE14 5SN | skehans.com
36/41The Herne Tavern, Peckham Rye
The unassuming red-brick exterior of this sweet little pub does not do justice to its vast, bountiful back garden. Though the inside is charming with its stained-glass windows and dark wooden bar, and would definitely be a great setting for a glass of red wine on a cosy winter’s night, the appeal during the warmer months is in the winding gardens which seat plenty of people. There’s even a large tented corner for unforeseen bouts of rain. Perfect for families, dates, birthdays, you name it. They do a great Aperol spritz and an even better fish burger.
2 Forest Hill Rd, London SE22 0RR | theherne.co.uk
37/41The Ivy House, Nunhead
When this historic pub was slated for demolition in 2013, a group of local residents took the chance to band together and save it, making it London’s first cooperatively owned pub. It’s now a successful community hub, not only offering a wide range of drinks from craft and cask beers to cocktails, but also pizzas, Sunday roasts, and, brilliantly, weekly live events, including pub quizzes, theatre, comedy and live music. It feels like a traditional boozer but there’s an amazing stage for performances, and for those who feel that a community is nothing without a good pub, it’s the perfect place to be.
40 Stuart Rd, London SE15 3BE | ivyhousenunhead.com
38/41Canton Arms, Stockwell
Situated on the main drag that runs down from Vauxhall through Stockwell to Brixton, the Canton Arms is likely a familiar sight to many south Londoners. Pleasantly rustic in feel with many of the traits of a traditional boozer (you can get a wide range of beers on cask), it also comes with a highly rated gastropub menu, available in the dining room at the back. The food is Modern British with some Mediterranean elements, and the menu changes seasonally. Reservations are strongly recommended as this is a firm local favourite and you’re likely to be disappointed without one.
177 S Lambeth Rd, London SW8 1XP | cantonarms.com
Eden Breitz / Alamy Stock Photo39/41The White Cross
As you venture into south-west London, the meandering River Thames is a near constant presence, and one of the most popular pubs on its banks is surely The White Cross, whose riverside terrace is a great destination for warm weather drinks, not to mention a beautiful place to watch the sun set. Yes, it occasionally floods at high tide, but that’s just part of the fun. Run by Young’s, it’s a quintessential English pub experience, with decent food (including a weekend oyster shack), cask ales, a serviceable wine list, and big screens for sports. Come on a rugby day to experience it at its finest (and most crowded).
Riverside House, Water Ln, Richmond TW9 1NR | thewhitecrossrichmond.com
Simon Turner / Alamy Stock Photo40/41The Crooked Billet & The Hand in Hand, Wimbledon Village
A brisk uphill walk from Wimbledon station gets you to the idyllic Wimbledon Village, with horses trotting along the high street and green spaces galore (from Wimbledon Common to the lovely Cannizzaro Park). It’s here you’ll also find two quintessentially British pubs side by side: The Crooked Billet and The Hand in Hand. The two Young’s pubs overlook a pretty green triangle where deckchairs and alfresco tables filled with the well-heeled locals and their dogs come post-walks. Come here on summer Fridays and you may even see the local Morris Dancers to their own trotting as well as the iconic ‘golden cycling man of Wimbledon’ stopping for a pint.
The Crooked Billet: 15 Crooked Billet, London SW19 4RQ | thecrookedbilletwimbledon.com
The Hand in Hand: 6 Crooked Billet, Wimbledon Common, London SW19 4RQ | thehandinhandwimbledon.co.uk
Courtesy of The Trafalgar41/41The Trafalgar, Chelsea
When The Trafalgar opened in October 2025 after a huge transformation, it became the first new pub on the King’s Road in more than a century. Inside, the atmosphere is warm and sociable–great for relaxed catch-ups and livelier evenings. Downstairs is set up for live entertainment (including a monthly comedy night) and positions the Trafalgar as both a friendly local and a ticket-worthy venue.
The interiors have a fun and charming kind of grandeur with 16-foot ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and bespoke wallcoverings by Adam Ellis which reference the pub’s famous namesake. The dining area is separated from the main bar area and creates the impression of eating in a standalone restaurant.
The menu offers generous servings of traditional pub classics with thoughtful twists and strong vegetarian options. Highlights include Irish oxtail croquettes with a bovril mayonnaise, and rich, comforting desserts such as the sticky toffee pudding and vegan apple and blackberry crumble. The Trafalgar strikes a great balance: sociable and vibrant, honouring its iconic location without feeling stuck in the past, and signalling its ambition to become a true hub of Chelsea community.
224-226 King's Rd, London SW3 5UA | thetrafalgarchelsea.com
