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There are a dizzying number of pubs in London.
Indeed, we don’t which would make your head spin more – drinking in them all or trying to count them.
We’ve saved you a headache.
We reckon there are just over 3,500 public houses in the British capital.
However, just ten of the best have made it onto our list of must-visit London boozers below.
1. The French House
Not a boozer for Brexiteers, the French House, or the French as it is known to its friends, is a little bit of the continent in Dean Street, Soho.
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As you might expect, the pub takes its name from its association with our neighbours across the Channel.
During the second world war, the pub – then known as the York Minister – became a magnet for French expats living in London because it was known to serve wine, an uncommon tipple in Britain at the time.
Charles de Gaulle was the most famous Frenchman to patronise the place and it is suspected it was here that he penned his famous rallying cry in which he exhorted his countrymen to resist their Nazi occupiers.
The pub soon came to be known unofficially as the ‘French house’, but it was only in 1984 that it started to use the appellation officially.
Today, its Gallic origins can be felt in the healthy amount of grape-derived potables it stocks – there are thirty types of champagne on offer and a wine list that will satisfy the most fastidious oenophile.
Like the French, the pub has a contrarian streak – it only serves its ale in half-pint glasses and its website warns that no music is played, no television is screened, and mobile phone use is frowned upon.
This isn’t the biggest boozer you’ll encounter in London, but the place is cosy and the welcome friendly – and you might also find yourself being served by Madness frontman, Suggs.
Address:
49 Dean Street
Soho
London
W1D 5BG
Website: http://www.frenchhousesoho.com/
2. Old Shades
“The word ‘shades’,” a brass plaque in this Whitehall watering hole informs patrons, “refers to a wine vault, with a drinking bar, shaded by being either below ground or covered by an arcade.”
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The pub has kept true to its shady origins. The Old Shades is a long, narrow drinking hole that relies on a large cupola skylight to illuminate much of the main bar area.
Located in Westminster, just off tourist-heavy Trafalgar Square, the Old Shades attracts locals and out-of-towners in equal numbers.
The food menu is traditional British pub grub: pie and chips, fish and chips and a roast dinner on Sundays.
There is plenty of alcohol on tap and pump (the emphasis is on locally sourced beers and ciders) and an extensive wine list.
Mario the bartender will also keep you entertained with his magic tricks.
Address:
37Whitehall
London
SW1A 2BX
Website: https://www.oldshades.co.uk/
3. Churchill Arms
Hayfever sufferers take heed – or at least an antihistamine – when visiting this one. The Kensington-based public house has gone big with its flower display.
And by big we mean Hanging Gardens of Babylon big.
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In spring and summer, the exterior of this establishment teems with flora.
The display hasn’t just wowed passers-by and pub-goers – it has also won plaudits from the judges at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Inside, there is plenty of memorabilia pertaining to the pub’s namesake and you can even purchase a bottle of his favourite fizz – Pol Roger.
Oddly, there is also a sizeable collection of chamber pots, a Spitfire aeroplane and an assortment of Irish hurling equipment adorning the walls and ceiling.
The pub is owned by Fullers, meaning it has London Pride and Dark Start on pump. On keg you will find Peroni, Amstel and Ashai.
To add to the sense of eclecticism the pub has gone in for, it serves exclusively Thai cuisine.
Address:
119 Kensington Church Street
London
W8 7LN
Website: https://www.churchillarmskensington.co.uk/
4. Lord Clyde
If you’re looking for a taste of a traditional London boozer, look no further than the Lord Clyde in Southwark.
The pub is a real old-school, street corner London public house, complete with pub piano, open fireplaces and original gas lamp fixtures.
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The food menu keeps up the no-nonsense style and features traditional London fare, including pie and mash.
As far as the beer is concerned, there is a nice selection of ales, including three regulars: Fuller’s London Pride, Sharp’s Doom Bar, and Timothy Taylor Landlord.
For the non-beer drinker, there is also a good selection of gins and a cocktail menu.
Address:
27 Clennam Street
London
SE1 1ER
Website: https://www.greatukpubs.co.uk/lord-clyde-southwark
5. The Sugar Loaf
The Sugar Loaf in Cannon Street is another traditional ale house, this time in the heart of London’s financial district.
The Grade II-listed building is situated in what was once London’s sugar refining district, hence the name. You can’t miss it with its striking black and gold exterior.
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It is owned by Nicholson’s and its cask ale reflects the fact: Nicholson’s Pale Ale, brewed by St Austell Brewery in Cornwall, is a permanent fixture on its beer menu.
There is also a nice selection of European beers and a gin palace, which, the pub’s website promises, features a gin for every palate.
Address:
65 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 5AA
Website: https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/london/thesugarloafcannonstreet
6. Wenlock Arms
There has been a watering hole on this site in Hackney since Queen Victoria was a girl, and the current occupant has recently achieved regal status itself among real ale aficionados thanks to its fine selection of cask beers.
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And it is not just punters who are fans of its beer.
The folk at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have named it North London Pub of the Year four times, most recently in 2017.
The beer menu boasts a mighty ten cask ales, ten keg beers and a good selection of real ciders.
The food, though, is basic, consisting of bar snacks, pies, tuna melts and baked camembert.
Address:
26 Wenlock Road
London
N1 7TA
Website: http://wenlockarms.com/
7. Craft Beer Co
This is another drinking hole for the beer connoisseur.
The Craft Beer Company operates seven sites across London, each serving up an extensive range of beers, both foreign and domestic.
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We think the Hammersmith branch has the most interesting decor of the seven and its beer selection doesn’t disappoint either.
There are 20 keg lines, six cask ales and over 50 bottled and canned beers on the menu.
The pub’s owners have scoured the planet in assembling the beer lineup, so it is safe to say there’s a tipple for every tastebud.
Address:
17-18 The Broadway
Hammersmith
W6 9YD
Website: https://www.thecraftbeerco.com/hammersmith
8. King Charles I
This Islington-based pub prides itself on being one of London’s last remaining proper locals – a ‘community-owned backstreet boozer’ is how the owners describe it on its website.
Pub 6, The King Charles I. London pub royalty. #kingscross #londonpubs pic.twitter.com/C4WNyi5TyY
— London Pub Map (@LondonPubMap) November 18, 2023
The pub was destined to close its doors in 2015, but was saved by regulars, and is now fully community-owned. It was awarded Asset of Community Value status in 2021.
It is handily located just around the corner from King’s Cross train station.
The bar area consists of just one main room and its dimensions might cause an estate agent to describe it as ‘bijou’ or ‘cosy’.
Visitors are greeted by a roaring open fire, an even more roaring jukebox and wood-panelled walls that feature some interesting taxidermy.
The beer – four ales and three lagers on tap – is reasonably priced for London.
Food isn’t served but restaurants can be found within staggering distance of the alehouse and snacks can be bought at the bar.
Address:
55-57 Northdown Street
London
N1 9BL
Website: https://kingcharles1st.co.uk/
9. The Dove
The Dove in Hammersmith is another pub housed in a Grade II listed building.
Its front bar is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest in the UK.
There has been some kind of public house on the site since the early 17th century, which means it has a few tales to tell.
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Most notably, the Merry Monarch himself, Charles II, brought his mistress, Nell Gwynn, here for a tryst and the poet James Thomson is believed to have penned his famous ditty, Rule Britannia, in the bar.
Nestled along the banks of the Thames, the pub has a terrace that allows drinkers to take in views of the river.
It is another Fuller’s pub so expect London Pride on cask. It also serves a range of guest beers and classic cocktails.
Its wine list is lengthy and sports a wonderful selection of grape varieties and vintages, many of them sourced from growers who produce wines exclusively for the pub.
Address:
19 Upper Mall
Hammersmith
W6 9TA
Website: https://www.dovehammersmith.co.uk/
10. Bread and Roses
A pub in which to plot the overthrow of the patriarchy or maybe just a place to throw back a few, the Bread & Roses is an award-winning free house in Clapham.
It takes its name from the women’s suffrage slogan and is the only UK-based public house owned by a trade union – the Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council (BWTUC).
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The beer menu includes locally sourced tipples such as To the Pub from Camden Town Brewery and Brixton Atlantic APA.
The pub hosts regular live music, theatre, and open-mic comedy.
Address:
68 Clapham Manor Street
London,
SW4 6DZ
Website: https://breadandrosespub.co.uk/
So, whether you’re visiting London’s top places as a tourist or thinking of moving here, the above listed pubs are not to be missed!
Share your secret London pub tips with our audience by getting in touch with us!
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