The Best Pubs in London

Welcome to London's most Christmassy pub, a historic building from 1750 dripping in flowers and crammed with memorabilia. This famous watering hole was frequented by Churchill's grandparents and serves real ales alongside authentic Thai cuisine from a kitchen that has been wowing guests for over 35 years.

The Harp is an award winning Fuller's pub and a blissfully traditional place known for great beer and good old conversation. It is also well known for traditional ciders and perries from all around the country, making it a great example of a traditional British ale house. This historic, dog friendly pub welcomes walk ins and offers a well stocked bar with everything from modern craft beers to cask classics.

Howl at the Moon is an independent neighbourhood pub in Hoxton that doesn’t take itself too seriously, serving proper food and booze seriously well. You can enjoy great beers on tap, seriously good tacos and nachos from Thrift Taco, and catch all the action of your favourite rugby teams on a large screen TV with a banging audio system. On weekends, you can drink creamy Guinness and cracking craft beers while tapping your feet to live trad sessions with fiddle, bodhrán, and tin whistle, and furry friends are welcome with open paws.

This pub is a true all rounder, offering a ground floor pub for casual drinks, a first floor restaurant with a set lunch and à la carte dinner, and a rooftop that reopens in April for food and drinks. It serves a Sunday roast lunch in both the pub and restaurant, and the rooftop has its own separate menu on Sundays. The ground floor pub is dog friendly, and the rooftop can accommodate small, well-behaved pooches. With a new workers lunch from 12pm, it is a versatile spot for any occasion.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a Grade II listed pub and chop house on the Campaign for Real Ale's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. As a chop house, it serves the best cuts of meat and its signature dish, the Ye Olde Steak & Kidney Pudding, with all beers brewed by Samuel Smith's in Tadcaster. The pub features beautifully preserved historic function rooms including the Chop Room, Williams Room, Snug Bar, Cellar Bar, Cheshire Bar, and Johnson Bar, making it the perfect venue for celebrations.

The Euston Tap has been pouring great beer since 2010 and serves the freshest beer known to humanity. They offer a rotating range of cask and keg from the best UK breweries with a heavy dose of German and Czech beers. In early 2021, a much expanded beer garden opened, creating seating space for more than 100 people. With 18 kegs and 5 casks on tap, it’s a brilliant spot for a novel outdoor pint.

The Anglesea Arms is a beautiful, traditional pub on the same street where Charles Dickens once resided, dating back to 1712. It is featured as one of the best pubs in London and boasts an award winning reputation for excellent food and drinks, having earned 1 AA Rosette for culinary excellence in 2019 and 2020. The pub is dog friendly, offers functions and wifi, and its outdoor seating is a fantastic spot to enjoy a superb pork chop or a Sunday roast. With friendly staff and a popular cask ale selection, it is a must visit that is so well loved you should book a table in advance.

The Old Red Cow is an independent pub full of character and charm, serving proper British pub food like fish and chips, hearty pies, and classic Sunday roasts alongside a brilliant range of local beers. It features a cosy downstairs bar overlooking Smithfield market and a lively upstairs space for gatherings and private events. The pub is wheelchair accessible, open seven days a week, and is proudly featured in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2025 for its excellent beer selection.

Welcome to the Ship Tavern, a classic British ale house and dining room celebrating an incredible 475 years of history. Nestled on the edge of serene Lincoln’s Inn Fields, this pub serves quality home-cooked British pub fare sourced from local markets alongside quaffable real ales. The main bar charms with stripped oak floors and snug booths, offering six cask marque certified real ales, global lagers, gins, and an extensive wine list. Throughout the day, you can enjoy classic British counter snacks like pork pies, scotch eggs, and cockles and mussels. Every visit here is a journey through time and a celebration of the finest British hospitality.

The Blackfriar is a true gem, a historic pub that feels like stepping into a beautifully carved treasure chest. Its interior is famously decorated with quirky, almost religious themed woodwork and brass, creating a wonderfully unique backdrop for a pint. The beer is excellent, and the service is genuinely welcoming, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely lunch or a scenic drink. Grab a seat outside if the weather is fine, or simply order at the bar and soak in the character of this special place.