Why go: A London institution that’s been around for 200 years. Serving craft beers, food with a cheeseburger they’re known for. We have a history of strong and varied kitchen residencies. Where Four Legs, Belly Ldn and Tiella came before, the excellent Rake now resides (from Wednesday to Sunday).
Location: Islington Map
Address: 4 Compton Ave, London N1 2XD
Why go: Nestled on the banks of the River Thames at Ballast Quay, The Cutty Sark has been a beloved institution for over 200 years, offering top-notch seasonal dishes made from premium British ingredients, complemented by exquisite wines from around the world and real ales
Address: 4-6 Ballast Quay, Greenwich
Why go: A Victorian corner pub with food at our heart. Unpretentious, thoughtfully combined flavours inspired by the Mediterranean make up our chalkboard menus. Conversation is at the heart of our atmosphere, a place to meet, drink great wine and share food on large wooden tables. As normal we operate on a walk in basis. We suggest you come a little earlier and we will do our best to find you a table.
Address: 113 Southgate Road
Why go: A neighbourhood gastropub with a classic British menu with a French twist. More of a food destination than a casual drinking spot though the courtyard is a great place to sit and enjoy a drink.
Location: Islington Map
Address: 44 Barnsbury Street, Islington
Why go: The Dublin Castle is a pub and live music venue in Camden Town, London. It gained prominence as a venue in the late 1970s after the band Madness established a live reputation there. Subsequently, it was an important venue in the early stages of several bands' careers and contributed to the Britpop musical genre. Amy Winehouse was a regular visitor to the pub.
Location: Camden Map
Address: Parkway, Camden
Why go: A small quiet pub on a pretty street in Kensington especially good for sitting outside. As a British brand with a heritage of 150+ years, we pride ourselves on our position as purveyors of perfect pints and unbeatable pies, with tempting dishes on our British pub classic menus.
Location: Kensington Map
Address: 40 Holland Street, Kensington
Why go: One of the cutest and oldest pubs in London. The Grenadier is a tiny hidden gem on a mews street in Belgraviabut a world away from the nearby flashy department stores. There’s a few tables outside in summer.
Location: Belgravia Map
Address: Wilton Row, London
Why go: Located on the corner of Chiltern Street and Blandford Street, The Hart is a neighbourhood pub and dining room celebrating British farmers with real focus on bringing back the weekday pub lunch. The Hart takes its name from the Hart family, who ran a pub on this very site in the 1840s.
Location: Marylebone Map
Address: 56 Blandford Street
Why go: Everybody who was anybody passed through these doors in the 'Seventies and 'Eighties: The Clash, The Cure, The Jam, The Police, Dire Straits, The Specials, The Stranglers, The Damned, Dr Feelgood, X-Ray Specs, Eurythmics, Elvis Costello and Madness to name just a few! U2 (famously in front of 8 people) and Joy Division (tragic frontman Ian Curtis having his first epileptic fit as he returned home from the gig), both had their debut London shows here!! The venue gained such a high reputation that The Front Row Festival in 1977 (which featured XTC, Shakin’ Stevens and Tom Robinson) was recorded and released as a live double album by Warner, reaching No. 28 in the UK Album Charts. The Stranglers, Elvis Costello and The Saints also recorded live albums here, and Madness shot their music video to "One Step Beyond" in the place. The venue bar even inspired a song – Splodgenessabounds' cult hit 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Please' - apparently an ode to the futility trying to get served at the Hope! It reached No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart. The legendary independent label Stiff Records was founded here.
Location: Islington Map
Address: Upper Street, Islington
Type: Known for food
Why go: Owned by film producer Guy Ritchie and used in the film The Gentleman. Seasonal sharing plates, pints and premium spirits in a classic setting housing a pub since 1829.
Location: Marylebone Map
Address: Conway Street
Why go: Welcome to The May Fair Bar, a dining and drinking experience set by the iconic Berkeley Square in Mayfair. Recently transformed with a new look and spirit, The May Fair Bar welcomes you for breakfast, lunch, night bites and all-day cocktails, accompanied by the occasional live music performance befitting the elegant location
Location: Mayfair Map
Address: Berkeley Street, Mayfair
Why go: A Fitzrovia institution since 1730, the Newman Arms is a pub built on proper pints, legendary pies, and a touch of indulgence. From a perfectly pulled pint to a glass of Pol Roger Champagne — or even a classic Black Velvet — you’ll find something to suit every mood.
Location: Bloomsbury Map
Address: 23 Rathbone Street, W1T 1NG
Why go: We believe that a good pub should be the cornerstone of any local community. All Saints Road has seen significant change over the past century, and The Pelican has been witness to it all. Focusing on local producers, who use sustainable production methods, is what we are all about. We understand the importance of carefully selecting our suppliers and evaluating how these decisions impact our footprint. We work with Paddock Farm and Whittington Lodge Farm who promote biodiversity and centre around regenerative farming.
Location: Notting Hill Map
Address: 45 All Saints Road
Why go: Tucked long Old Church Street, this place is an absolute local favourite for a reason. Think farm to fork seasonal menus, fresh oysters, wines from their own Sussex vineyard and the kind of warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to come back
Location: Chelsea Map
Address: 35 Old Church Street
Why go: Built in 1520, our historic pub the Prospect of Whitby is the oldest riverside tavern in the country. Sat in Wapping, on the edge of the Thames and surrounded by dockland areas, it's the perfect place to rest, in a family-friendly atmosphere. All sorts of people from sailors to British movie stars, have tread over our original 400-year-old stone floor, and now you're one of them. Take in views of the water from our rooftop seating area or beer garden as you sip away on our selection of beers.
Address: 57 Wapping Wall, Wapping
Why go: Celebrating 475 Years of History at The Ship Tavern Welcome to The Ship Tavern Ale House & Dining Room Join us in commemorating our remarkable 475-year journey as The Ship Tavern, a classic British ale house, and dining room nestled on the edge of the serene Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Since 1549, The Ship has woven itself into the fabric of Holborn’s rich history. For the past 23 years, the Evans family and our dedicated team have proudly steered the course, returning to the essence of what makes a great British pub truly special – serving quality home-cooked British pub fare sourced from local markets, complemented by quaffable real ales, and drinks offering.
Address: 12 Gate Street, Holborn
Why go: The Spurstowe Arms is an avant-garde pub that serves Modern European and classic Brit dishes. Of course, we recommend their Sunday Roast but also suggest that you visit them for a Margarita on the rocks or a Bellini Spritz on their gorgeous terrace. This pub is well known for its “Dough in Hands Pizza” and a local institution which fills up very quickly.
Address: 68 Greenwood Road
Why go: Traditional neighbourhood pub open 7 days a week & set in a restored Victorian building.
Location: Mayfair Map
Address: Mount Street, Mayfair
Why go: The Blue Stoops is a pub in Kensington masterminded by Jamie Allsopp, who revived his family’s heritage brewing brand in 2021 and has been going from strength to strength ever since. This venture is the latest part of the brand’s almost 300-year history which includes the invention of the IPA by Jamie’s family seven generations ago.
Location: Kensington Map
Address: 127-129 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LP
Why go: Dripping in flowers and crammed with memorabilia, The Churchill Arms is one of London’s most recognisable and famous watering holes. Built in 1750, the pub was frequented by Churchill’s grandparents and is known for serving real ales and authentic Thai cuisine.
Location: Kensington Map
Address: Kensington Church Street London
Type: ["Known for food"]
Why go: Reputed for serving the best pint of Guinness in London. If you don’t book you may find a queue to get in. The Devonshire is your classic London pub — warm, welcoming, open to all, serving up homemade bar food from our in-house butcher and bakery, and of course a perfect pint of Guinness.
Location: Soho Map
Address: Denman Street, Soho
Why go: Tucked above a casual café on Portobello Road, The Fat Badger offers a refined interpretation of the British gastropub. Once accessible by invitation only, it has since opened its doors to the wider public, revealing a dining space that balances understated charm with a quietly confident culinary approach. Set across two floors, the restaurant combines wood-panelled interiors, candlelit tables and considered design details to create a space that feels both relaxed and discreetly elegant.
Location: Notting Hill Map
Why go: Popular 18th-century pub serving a menu of classic bar food, plus keg beers & cocktails.
Location: Marylebone Map
Address: 55 Great Portland Street
Type: ["Known for food"]
Why go: Sister pub to The Devonshire and home to Crisp Pizza
Location: Mayfair Map
Address: 24 North Audley St London W1
Why go: The Old Bank is one of the most stunning pub interiors in the City of London. The pub resides in the old Law Court’s branch of the previous Bank of England which operated from 1888 to 1975. The location is also famously directly between Sweeney Todd’s barber shop and Mrs Lovett’s pie shop!
Address: Fleet Street
Why go: The Trafalgar was built on the site of the long-established Old George Tavern, whose landlord Charles Hart continued at the helm of the Trafalgar until his death in 1863. In 1865, the London, Windsor and Greenwich Hotels Company was formed to unite the ownership of the Trafalgar, Ship and Yacht taverns and in 1896 George Damiral, former mariner and local confectioner took it on as the Trafalgar Hotel, running a sweet manufactory in the basement. The Trafalgar closed in 1915 and variously became an institute for aged merchant seamen, a working men’s club and a centre for the unemployed. It was saved from demolition in 1937 by being converted into flats for the navy and did not reopen as a public house until 1965, when its old interior was gutted and lavishly remodelled by craftsmen from Pinewood Studios giving every appearance of 1960s film set.
Address: Park Row, Greenwich
Type: ["London oldest pubs"]
Why go: Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, with cellars potentially dating to a 13th-century monastery; a classic Dickensian haunt.
Location: City of London Map
Why go: The original Zuma is renowned as one of the best Japanese restaurants in the capital embracing the rich culinary heritage of Japanese cuisine with contemporary dishes, inspired by the founder’s many years spent eating + drinking after work in traditional Tokyo izakayas, this is where the story began…
Location: Knightsbridge Map
Address: Raphael Street