London pubs are some of the best watering holes in the world. They offer travelers a unique look at the city’s history and local culture – not to mention excellent cask ales and tasty comfort food. With more than 3,000 pub to choose from in London, finding a proper one can take time. Check out our list of the top 10 pubs in London.
Pubs exist for the every-person, literally. According to the Campaign for Real Ale, pubs, or public houses, are licensed to welcome the general public without requiring membership or residency. This open-door policy has allowed many pubs to stand the test of time. People of all backgrounds gather at the best pubs in London to eat, drink, socialize and watch football. Even dogs are welcomed with treats and water bowls.
History is in full view at many classic pubs in London. There are even a few operating pubs that date back to the 1600s when William Shakespeare roamed the Elizabethan streets of Southwark. Many pubs display old photographs of the building and neighborhood – relics that probably wouldn’t otherwise be on display. It’s these small details that provide context for a pub’s personality.
Pubs serve traditional ales, or cask-conditioned beers, like London Pride, Doom Bar and Proper Job. These unfiltered, unpasteurized beers are served from a cask without additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure. Real ale typically has an ABV of about 4% and is served out of a keg using a handpump.
Pubs also serve up traditional, easy-to-enjoy English meals like fish and chips, bangers and mash and savory pies. Sunday afternoons are a particularly great time to visit a pub in London since most offer a weekly roast menu. Meals of chicken, beef and lamb are served with gravy, potatoes, cabbage, root vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. It is like having Christmas dinner available every Sunday afternoon, which is particularly comforting during the colder winter months.
Sunday roast
There is no better time to visit a proper English pub than when the sun just starts to set for the day. This is the golden hour, before the dinner rush when locals sip lazily on unchilled pints of ale while flipping through the Evening Standard and snacking on sausage rolls. For great beer, historic buildings and charming locations, let the top 10 classic pubs in London guide you on an epic tour of the capital city.
Top 10 Classic Pubs in London
The Ladbroke Arms – Holland Park
Courtesy of the Ladbrook Arms
New to our list of top 10 classic pubs in London, the Ladbroke Arms is a traditional British pub with a reputation for serving excellent food and wine. Tucked away on a quiet side street near Holland Park, it’s probably one of the most charming pubs in Notting Hill, if not London. It is best to book a table in advance because it fills up quickly for both lunch and dinner. In addition to pub food classics, including scotch eggs and ale-battered halibut, the Ladbroke Arms serves up delicious seasonal dishes, such as tempura monkfish scampi, smoked chicken and Parma ham terrine and 28-day dry-aged ribeye steak. The terrace is the perfect spot for having a few pints with friends and family during the warm summer months. Don’t miss their Sunday roast featuring roasted turkey breast wrapped in bacon and beetroot vegan wellington.
The George – Southwark
Courtesy of the George
The George is located in Southwark on the south side of the River Thames. Dating from the seventeenth century, this Greene King public house is London’s last remaining galleried inn resulting in the building’s protection by the National Trust. The exterior of the George Inn was built in 1677 after it was destroyed by fire. According to local rumors, Charles Dickens visited the George when it was a coffee house. With plenty of outdoor seating, the George is a great place to unwind after a visit to Borough Market.
The Holy Tavern –Clerkenwell
The Holy Tavern, certainly one of the best classic pubs in London, is centrally located in the historic neighborhood of Clerkenwell near the Farringdon tube station. The pub has occupied several sites in the area since the fourteenth century, and the current building dates back to 1720. You can expect the Holy Tavern to get quite busy with the after-work crowds. The pub serves beer from St. Peter’s Brewery, a Suffolk-based operation known for using locally malted barley and Kentish hops to produce a range of classic English cask-conditioned ales. Don’t miss candlelit Tuesdays.
The Mayflower Pub – Rotherhithe
Courtesy of the Mayflower Pub
As one of London’s oldest pubs on the River Thames, the Mayflower is a true gem located in London’s Rotherhithe neighborhood. This part of the city has connections to the famous Mayflower ship in which the pub gets its name. According to the Mayflower pub, in July 1620, the Mayflower ship took on board 65 passengers from its London home port of Rotherhithe. Rumor has it that Captain Christopher Jones cunningly moored here to avoid paying taxes further down the river. The Mayflower journeyed onwards to Southampton for supplies, but after many delays, the journey was abandoned. Two months later, Captain Jones, along with 102 passengers and approximately 30 crew members, set sail from Plymouth on what William Bradford described as “a prosperous wind.” Today, this traditional English pub, with its quaint location and lovely views, offers patrons a chance to reflect on the passage to the “New World” over pints and food. The Mayflower even has a Descendants Book, upon request, so patrons can look up family connections to the original 1620 voyage. It is encouraged to share family stories and sign the book, so history can live on for future generations.
The Churchill Arms–Kensington
The Churchill Arms, a Fuller’s Pub, has an interesting combination of sights, smells and tastes. On one hand, it offers a traditional English pub experience, and on the other, it offers Thai food from a bustling back kitchen. The smell of curry can be a bit disorienting at a pub that pays tribute to one of Britain’s most influential leaders. Built in 1750, the exterior of the building is covered in colorful flowers during the summer and twinkling Christmas trees in the winter. According to the pub, Winston Churchill’s grandparents were regular visitors in the 1800s, which eventually led to the renaming of the pub after World War II. Now, the interior of the pub is dedicated to Churchill’s legacy with historical memorabilia covering the ceiling and walls.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese – City of London
If these walls could talk? Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a legend of its kind. It has served as the backdrop for more than 300 hundred years of alcohol-infused tomfoolery. Rebuilt after London’s Great Fire, it is a fully functioning ghost pub that dates back to 1667. The pub is known for having once hosted literary giants like Charles Dickens, G.K. Chesterton and Mark Twain. It’s one of the few pubs in London within a website, which is quite fitting considering its long history. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is centrally located with a Fleet Street address, a location famous for print media. In its twentieth century heyday, Fleet Street was home to the nation’s biggest newspapers, such as the Daily Telegraph and the Times. It’s not hard to imagine some of the city’s most distinguished journalists unwinding with a pint at Ye Olde after scrambling to meet a print deadline.
The Blackfriar Pub – City of London
Courtesy of the Blackfriar Pub
A list of the top 10 classic pubs in London would not be complete with a mention of the Blackfriar Pub located near St. Paul’s Cathedral and the River Thames. It’s a Nicholson’s Pub and Restaurant built in 1875 on the site of a Dominican friary. According to the pub, the building is a historic, Art Nouveau Grade II masterpiece. The Blackfriar was designed by architect H. Fuller-Clark and artist Henry Poole, both proponents of the progressive arts and craft movement of the time. Visitors can still find Poole’s original jolly friars around the pub in the form of sculptures, mosaics and reliefs.
Elephant and Castle Pub – Elephant and Castle
Courtesy of Elephant and Castle Pub
Elephant and Castle, the pub that basically named its neighborhood, has been around, in one form or another, since 1765. Originally located in the middle of the Elephant and Castle roundabout, the pub was popular among coach travelers passing through the area. Over time, the pub had been updated multiple times. The current building dates from 1966 as the result of a neighborhood transformation following the Blitz.
According to the pub, the modern-day Elephant and Castle made waves again in the early nineties when it became known for its connection with the neighboring club, Ministry of Sound. Elephant and Castle had become a popular after-party spot for club-goers on Sunday mornings. Well-known DJs Matt Jam Lamont, Mickey Simms and Justin Cantor would gather at Elephant and Castle making it ground zero for the UK Garage music scene.
This pub feels especially lively on Fridays and Saturdays when it is licensed to operate until 2 am, and the large basement provides ample space for a DJ and dancing. The crowd feels local and energetic partly due to the pub’s proximity to London’s South Bank University. It also offers an outdoor terrace and daily food service from noon until 10 pm, except for Sundays when the food is served until 8 pm.
CASK Pub & Kitchen – Pimlico
Courtesy of CASK Pub & Kitchen
CASK Pub & Kitchen was opened in 2009 by Pimlico local Martin Hayes. With 10 cask ales, 15 keg lines and more than 300 bottled options, this pub is known for its extensive beer selection. CASK also operates as a seller, so patrons can take the good stuff home. From rare cask to imported craft, their range of beer is impressive for any pub in Europe. Don’t miss the live music every Sunday from 4:30 pm.
The Grapes – Limehouse
Courtesy of the Grapes
Built in 1583, the Grapes, originally named the Bunch of Grapes, is located on the River Thames in the Limehouse neighborhood. Today, it’s owned by actor Sir Ian McKellen. Fans of Lord of the Rings will appreciate getting a glimpse of Gandalf’s staff proudly displayed behind the bar. In addition to its film paraphernalia, this pub has deep literary roots. According to the Grapes, a young Charles Dickens would visit his godfather in Limehouse and continued to frequent the neighborhood throughout his life. The Grapes appears, scarcely disguised, in the opening chapter of his novel titled Our Mutual Friend. A complete set of Dickens’ work can be found in the pub’s back parlor. Other notable writers, such as Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle, were said to have frequented the Grapes. Notable artists, such as Francis Bacon and Edward Wolfe, lived on the same street, so it seems likely that they would have also stopped by the pub to wet their whistles.
If you enjoyed Top 10 Pubs in London, check out other Europe-inspired travel articles.
If pubs aren’t your scene, check out the best London hotels for afternoon tea.
