Our Favourite London Pubs for a Pint

What can be more relaxing than a traditional English pint in one of London’s best pubs? The foam which rests on your lips, good conversation, maybe some nuts or pork scratchings. Sip it whether it’s a Guiness, an IPA or just your favourite lager. It’s a pastime which is just truly English. Given pubs seem to disappear every week, here’s our favourite London establishments for a tasty pint.

The Nag’s Head

Just a stone’s throw away from the busy streets of the shopping area of Knightsbridge, this reclusive little place will delight you with its historic allure. The view of cloistered frames, paraphenalia, tankards, curiosities and Adnams on tap, takes you back in time to feel the centuries-old vibe of public houses. With use of phones prohibited, this place masterfully retains its charm.

Address: 53 Kinnerton Street, London SW1X 8ED
Phone: 0207 226 3756
Nearest tube station: Knightsbridge

The Grenadier

With rich urban legends to soak up, The Grenadier offers an enigmatic appeal. Built in 1720, it was originally an officers’ mess for the Foot Guard regiment, which was turned into a pub in 1818. According to local lore, a ghost of a soldier, murdered over a game of cards, still haunts the place. Everyone from Madonna to the Duke of Wellington is lured to its magnificence.

Address: 18 Wilton Row, London SW1X 7NR
Phone: 0207 235 3074
Website: www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/grenadier-belgrave-square/c0800/
Nearest tube station: Hyde Park Corner

The French House Soho

With German origins, this place has had its share of political influence in both world wars. It was opened by Herr Schmidt, who was deported during the First World Wart. Later in the Second World War, members of the French Resistance, like General De Gaulle, held their meetings here. The French House has also been home to eminent writers and journalists, including illustrious bohemian clientele such as Jeffery Bernard and Suggs from the band Madness. It now retains its traditional appeal by serving alcohol in French measures. The distinct Gallic touch and ban on mobile phones and television make it a special sanctuary.

Address: 49 Dean Street, London W1D 5BG
Phone:  0207 437 2477/2799
Website: www.frenchhousesoho.com
Nearest tube station: Leicester Square

The Star Tavern

This is a warm, opulent and a welcoming place, serving the best selection of Fuller’s beer, in the grand, upscale district of Belgravia. It has had its share of famous frequenters, such as Peter O’Toole, Diana Dors and Alexander Korda, but is mostly known for its more notorious background. In the 20th century, the Great Train Robbers planned their 1963 raid in its lavish room upstairs. Their orchestrator Bruce Reynolds regularly pulled up in front in his ostentatious Aston Martin, fleshing out details of the heist.

Address: 6 Belgrave Mews West, London SW1X 8HT
Phone: 0207 235 3019
Website: www.star-tavern-belgravia.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Knightsbridge

The Dog and the Duck

Another place that fortifies the bond between writers and pubs, this place was a favourite of George Orwell. It has been listed as a Grade II pub for its extravagant and plush decor with ornate mirrors, in keeping with the Victorian theme. Having been rebuilt in 1897, this pub has more recently been frequented by the likes of John Constable and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and a visit from Madonna, who seems clearly to be an enthusiast of old English pubs.

Address: 18 Bateman Street, London W1D 3AJ
Phone:  0207 494 0697
Website: www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thedogandducksoholondon
Nearest tube station: Covent Garden

The Knights Templar

This building of high windows, wood panelling and chandeliers is in fact owned by Wetherspoons. Formally the Union Bank, the pub is now named after the famous order who met around Chancery Lane. Aside from the economic draw of Wetherspoons, there remains the wealth of standard classics and guest ales rotated regularly. Definitely try a circuit of Cittie of Yorke, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and The Knights Templar to combine real ales for under four pounds per pint with unusual historic interiors. By the end you may feel like a Lord and Nobleman but do make sure you leave when the lights come on.

Address: 95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT
Phone: 020 7831 2660  Website: https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs  Nearest tube station: Chancery Lane

The Cross Keys

This place earns its own distinct identity with delightful greenery at the doors and interiors with an exquisite collection of antiquities and memorabilia; even a napkin signed by none other than Elvis Presley! They have a function room available for special occasions, with its own bar looking out into beautiful Endell Street. This is a great place to get away from the daily humdrum of the city and is a common favourite with the locals of Covent Garden.

Address: 31 Endell Street, London WC2H 9BA
Phone: 0207 836 5185
Website: www.crosskeyscoventgarden.com
Nearest tube station: Covent Garden

Lamb & Flag

This well-known hangout spot attracts a large crowd despite being hidden down an alley. It has been established as Covent Garden’s most historic pub, and this alley was once notorious for being witness to violent bare-knuckle fighting. However, that wasn’t reason enough to stop remarkable people like Dickens and John Dryden from being there. In fact, Dryden was subject to an attempted murder, which is why an upper plush room, above the crowds, is named after him. Entertainment programmes are not a rarity here and the pub puts up delightful buntings for St. George’s day.

Address: 33 Rose Street, London WC2E 9EB
Phone: 0207 497 9504
Website: www.lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Covent Garden

The Seven Stars

When there are four centuries of history attached to a single place, it tends to get noticed. This is one of the few places to survive the Great Fire of London and this fact significantly adds to its pristine charm. You will find it right behind the Royal Courts of Justice. Even with the lunchtime and post-work crowds, its undisputed traditional charm is evident, serving an excellent and extensive range of real ales.

Address: 53-54 Carey Street, London WC2A 2JB
Phone: 0207 242 8521
Nearest tube station: Chancery Lane

Cittie of Yorke

This pub, with Grade II accreditation and a special recommendation from CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), has accolades enough to draw a multitude of people. However, when you add to this the marvellous high ceilings, long ostentatious bar, stashed vats in the corner of its grand bar, and a history that goes back to 1430 – you have a place that should be on your bucket list! It is a Sam Smith’s pub, offering a limited range of exquisite beers at a very good prices. The aesthetic is of a gothic castle as though filled with knights downing tankards, although this interior actually dates to the 1920s.

Address: 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BN
Phone: 0207 242 7670

The Lamb

This well-maintained, Victorian-style pub has played host to some of London’s most elite, like the Bloomsbury Set and even Dickens. It has a pristine interior from the era with a horseshoe-shaped varnished bar, a polyphon (predecessor of the gramophone) and is one of the few pubs that still has the “snob screens” in place. A part of the Young’s group, this pub has managed to snag a prize from English Heritage, which deems the pub as “an exceptional piece of Victoriana”.

Address: 94 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LZ
Phone: 0207 405 0713
Website: www.thelamblondon.com/
Nearest tube station: Russell Square

The Crown Tavern

Old English charm, subtle magnificence and its extensive range of beers are a few of the highlights of this lavish pub. It was a favourite of Lenin’s and he came here often before he went to Russia for matters concerning the Revolution. Some say he even met up with Stalin here once. However, more recently the critically acclaimed movie, Notes on a Scandal, starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, was shot here.

Address: 43 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0EG
Phone: 0207 253 4973
Website: www.thecrowntavernec1.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Barbican

Ye Olde Mitre

You will deserve a pint after hunting out this gem concealed in an alley off Ely Place, but it will be definitely worth the effort. A pub from the 1500s and rebuilt in 1772, it has its origins as a tavern that was for the servants of the Palace of the Bishop of Ely, technically making it a part of the Diocese of Ely, Cambridgeshire. Its clientele is rumoured to have included Elizabeth I, and a story goes that she danced around a cherry tree that is still here. This pub carefully retains its old charm with blatant disregard to technology like television and mobile phones.

Address: 1 Ely Place, London EC1N 6SJ  (Follow the sounds of merriment…)
Phone: 0207 405 4751
Website: www.yeoldemitreholborn.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Chancery Lane

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Another pub that is a part of the Sam Smith’s chain, and is so well known that it is almost a tourist location. It is large enough to manage the crowds it pulls and is magnificent enough to mesmerise them. The first pub rebuilt after the Great Fire of London, it has lured London’s most illustrious personalities, like Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens, to its age old meandering wooden interiors lined with sawdust. Moreover, it is light on your pocket with an exquisite old-world allure and strips you of mobile phone reception. Therefore you can soak in its lush ambience and enjoy your pint without disturbance.

Address: 145 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BU
Phone: 0207 353 6170
Nearest tube station: Chancery Lane

The Viaduct

A must-visit place for all the history buffs, this place was built around the same time as the nearby Holborn Viaduct, which is 1896. This pub sports a vast array of historic paintings, with extensive themes and marvellous glass etched artwork. This place is next to Old Bailey, which was the site of Newgate Prison once, giving rise to a popular urban myth that its beer cellars were once prison cells. It has an exquisite variety of Fuller’s Ale on tap. Try some of their house gin infusions, the scent of the juniper fills the room!

Address: 126 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AA
Phone: 0207 600 1863
Website: www.viaducttavern.co.uk
Nearest tube station: St. Paul’s

The Blackfriar

The elegant grandeur of this place is subject to wonder and awe, drawing a large number of people to it. It has extravagant and ostentatious interiors and a brilliant collection of religious themed art, which will make you marvel at its beauty. Originally inconspicuous and about to be demolished, this place was saved by John Betjeman, a poet laureate, who successfully campaigned to protect it.

Address: 174 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EG
Phone: 0207 236 5474
Website: www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theblackfriarblackfriarslondon
Nearest tube station: St. Paul’s

The George Inn

This is the only pub in London that is owned by the National Trust, and the city’s last remaining galleried inn. It is as quintessentially English as it gets, offering a stunning atmosphere and extensive outdoor seating as you sip on your pints. It is mentioned in Dickens’s Little Dorrit, due to its popularity. Originally a coffee house, it has come a long way witnessing the vibrant history of London. It was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1676 destroyed the original structure.

Address:  The George Inn Yard, 77 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NH
Phone: 0207 407 2056
Website: www.george-southwark.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Borough

The Cutty Sark

This idyllic spot is located in the heart of the busy and tourist-infested Greenwich. Although it can get crowded at times, it spans across three floors and has able staff who look after your needs. With its great authentic British food, a seat besides the bay window and a pint of a rich local beer, you will experience a calm brought on by the splendid scenic beauty of the riverside.

Address: 4-6 Ballast Quay, London SE10 9PD
Phone: 0208 858 3146
Website: www.cuttysarkse10.co.uk/
Nearest train station: Maze Hill

The Trafalgar Tavern

This quiet pub has all the elements that you need for a relaxing time, with a beautiful riverside location and elegant decor. It also has its share of eminent clientele, with Gladstone and Dickens both being regulars in the past. The pub also offers an extravagant ballroom for private dinners and a scrumptious menu of beautifully cooked British food.

Address: Park Row, London SE10 9NW
Phone: 0208 858 2909
Website: www.trafalgartavern.co.uk
Nearest DLR station: Cutty Sark

The Dove

Located right on the banks of the meandering Thames, this popular pub is one of the most sought after places to watch during the annual Boat Race. This pub has also been witness to many distinguished occasions and memorable dinners, like that of Charles II and his mistress Nell Gwynne. Along with a great selection of local and exotic beers and wines, you get a taste of fresh local ingredients, which is a major selling point of The Dove.

Address: 19 Upper Mall, London W6 9TA
Phone: 0208 748 9474
Website: www.dovehammersmith.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Ravenscourt Park

The Mayflower

Also besides the beautiful River Thames in Rotherhithe, this ancient pub served as a break point for the Pilgrim Fathers who emigrated to the United States. The time is turned back to the 16th century as you step in to the place, with cosy, wood panelled and candle-lit dining rooms that look upon the stunning expanse of the riverside. You can choose here from marvellous collection of real ales or wines, along with delectable dishes.

Address: 117 Rotherhithe Street, London SE16 4NF
Phone: 0207 237 4088
Website: www.themayflowerrotherhithe.com
Nearest tube station: Rotherhithe

The Queen’s Head

If you are a serious beer enthusiast and wish for a place to quench your thirst for experimentation, then this is the place to be. Following strict codes set up by CAMRA, it has cask pumps and keg line offering traditional as well as exotic ales. You can choose from Kernel’s Table Beer, Harviestoun’s Schiehallion lager, Siren’s Berliner sour, Thornbridge/Sierra Nevada collaboration, Twin Peaks and the list goes on. These great drinks are accompanied by a platter of simply delicious food, thus making it a favourite of many in London.

Address:  66 Acton Street, London WC1X 9NB
Phone: 0207 713 5772
Website: www.queensheadlondon.com
Nearest tube station: Kings Cross St Pancras

Holborn Whippet

Unlike the previous places, this quaint bar attracts its crowds with its simplistic decor and excellent value for money. The highlight of this place is not the decor or the history, but the dedication to serve excellent quality beer to customers while being light on the pockets. The chalkboard display behind the bar counter has a list of 15 draught beers, with tasting snippets for information. A lone good-humoured barman manages the crowd by himself with crisp efficiency.

Address: 25-29 Sicilian Avenue, London WC1A 2QH
Phone: 0203 137 9937
Website: www.holbornwhippet.com
Nearest tube station: Holborn

The Lyric Soho

Victorian charm never ceases to draw people to a place, with typical paraphenalia, elegant fireplaces and wood panelling this pub offers a nostalgic old world feeling. Known for its latest and well stocked bar collection, which is regularly updated, you are in for a new experience every time you visit. Moreover, being located in the heart of Theaterland, it has been rewarded with a loyal clientele.

Address: 37 Great Windmill Street, London W1D 7LU
Phone: 0207 434 0604
Website: www.lyricsoho.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Piccadilly Circus

Euston Tap

The popularity of this pub is evident from the crowd that frequents this place. Next to Euston train station, this pub came as a blessing for commuters, slowly increasing its glory. You will find outstanding ales from northern breweries like Thornbridge, Magic Rock, Summer Wine and Marble, along with 28 cask and keg lines and 150 bottles. Their composed, efficient and well-informed staff handle the crowd gracefully.

Address: 190 Euston Road, London NW1 2EF
Phone: 0203 137 8837
Website: www.eustontap.com
Nearest tube station: Euston Square

The Harp

A pleasant decor with marvellous glass-stained windows that stare out into the picturesque street enable a quiet and peaceful time and meaningful conversations with a pint of excellent beer. This is in contrast to the nearby Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, which are usually teeming with tourists. It is a former CAMRA pub that serves cask and keg ales from London breweries like Sambrooks, Twickenham Ales and other upstart beers that go easy on your pocket.

Address: 47 Chandos Place, London WC2N 4HS
Phone: 0207 836 0291
Website: www.harpcoventgarden.com
Nearest tube station: Leicester Square

The Draft House

Not your typical pub, but they do take their beer very seriously. It has snug, dark and comfortable interiors that let you enjoy your pint. Their well-informed staff take care of the crowds with effortless efficiency, while offering valuable suggestions and tips. They have imports that match up to Britain’s best breweries, like Rogue, Odell’s, Flying Dog and Mikkeller. Moreover, on your visit you have one discount cask beer a day.

Address: 43 Goodge Street, London W1T 1TA
Phone: 0207 323 9361
Website: www.drafthouse.co.uk
Nearest tube station: Goodge Street

Craft Beer Co.

A beer enthusiast’s paradise, this bar is drop dead serious when it comes to serving customers with good quality beer. They have 37 beers on draught, 300 in the fridge and their house favourites are Thornbridge’s Chiron and Magic Rock’s 7.4% IPA hop-bomb, Cannonball. Nobody has tasted all of these in pint glasses.This goes to show the gravity of this establishment. They arrange mini events within the bar like beer launches, meet the brewers, beer festivals, etc. With excellent beer, it offers elegant ambience with highly ornate mirrored ceilings and polished wood panelling.

Address: 82 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TR
Phone: 0207 404 7049
Website: www.thecraftbeerco.com
Nearest tube station: Chancery Lane

Old Red Cow

If sophisticated ambience, dark polished furnishings and soft music beating in the background is what you need to enjoy your pint, then this suave pub next to the city is the place to be. It offers a short but smart selection of beer, carefully compiled to offer excellent quality beer to its customers. In addition, they are a four cask and 10-tap establishment which features the best of Britain’s brews.

Address: 71-72 Long Lane, London EC1A 9EJ
Phone: 0207 726 2595
Website: theoldredcow.com
Nearest tube station: Barbican

The Exmouth Arms

Retaining its opulent green glazed brick design and sophisticated interior, this pub is down to business when it comes to serving excellent beer. They a have a rare selection of bottled beer menu that is exclusive as well as hard to find, some examples of these are Stone’s Old Guardian, Thornbridge’s Bracia, and  a 10% honey beer brewed to an Iron Age recipe. Their thirteen keg and four cask pumps circulate outstanding beer while offering versatility in taste. Ordering a pint is a pleasure.

Address: 23 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QL
Phone: 0203 551 4772
Website: www.exmoutharms.com
Nearest tube station: Farringdon

The post Our Favourite London Pubs for a Pint appeared first on Felix Magazine.