Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
Right by the platform at Kew Gardens station (the only London tube platform with its own pub), this lovingly restored Victorian yellow-brick boozer is…
Must-see nightlife in London
The West End
This intimate basement bar has DJs, comedy, drag-king cabaret, burlesque, live music and party nights, all in addition to a generally friendly and…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
A charming cast has taken over this cosy corner pub, transforming it into one of London's most legendary queer cabaret venues. Order a Twink in Pink or a…
Notting Hill & West London
This Fuller's pub, quietly located along Edwardes Sq, is a lovely place for a pint of ale or some satisfying food. Out the front in warmer weather, there…
Kensington & Hyde Park
Just around the corner from the Royal Albert Hall is this blue-grey-painted godsend. Located in an adorable cobbled-mews setting off bustling Queen’s Gate…
Notting Hill & West London
Carefully choreographed randomness is the order of the day in this sizeable Fulham establishment, which has a large indoor drinking and seating space …
London
Formerly the Bank of New Zealand, this magnificent Grade II–listed building has reincarnated as a whimsical mock Victorian-era trading outpost stuffed…
The West End
Pendant bar lights, bright clutter, graffitied walls and raucous atmosphere give a New York vibe to this snug basement saloon just north of Oxford St. If…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Black leather, bevelled mirror tiles and a copper wall gleam with candlelight in this darkly glamorous basement bar below the eponymous steak restaurant…
London
The 'Jampot' does double duty as a historic wood-lined pub with a basement wine bar. It stands on the site of London's first coffee house (1652),…
London
Built in 1875 on the site of a Dominican monastery (hence the name and the corpulent chap above the door), this much-loved pub was famously saved from…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
A delightfully cosy historic pub with an extensive beer selection, tucked away in a backstreet off Hatton Garden, Ye Olde Mitre was originally built in…
North London
A gorgeous, boutique pub – if there is such a thing – with a winning formula of snazzy decor (wooden floors, designer wallpaper, soft furnishings and…
North London
This friendly pub features film-themed posters and paraphernalia, and serves a decent variety of craft beer, ale and cider. The Sunday roasts are superb…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
This lively, spacious bar serves reasonably priced drinks and impressive food – take on the Wimbledon Whopper burger if you fancy a challenge. The staff…
Notting Hill & West London
The Prince Alfred is a handsome pub in the upmarket neighbourhood of Maida Vale. Its original Victorian decor is intact – complete with ‘snob screens’…
London
This well-hidden bar, on a seemingly forgotten alleyway off pedestrian-only Bow Lane, has some 600 whiskies, 400 rums and 400 gins. Don't worry about a…
London
Opened in 1869, the Viaduct Tavern is one of the only remaining Victorian gin palaces in the City, with etched glass panes, blood-red embossed vines…
Notting Hill & West London
For those traipsing Portobello Rd this is a good bolt-hole, named after the bon vivant founder of the AA (Automobile Association, not Alcoholics Anonymous…
The West End
Encouraging hedonism since 1979, when it opened on the site of a former roller disco, this perennially popular mixed/gay bar under the Charing Cross…
London
With its grand wooden staircase and painted ceilings edged with gold-coloured crown moulding, this pub, part of the Fuller's chain, is still every bit as…
The West End
Inaugurated in 1723, this storied pub has refreshed scholars from the British Museum's Reading Room including Karl Marx, George Orwell, Sir Arthur Conan…
London
Growing from the roots of the newly opened Garden at 120 one floor up, this 14th-floor jungle bar has no outside space but is planted with more than 2500…
North London
Dating from 1585, this historic tavern has more character than a West End musical. It was supposedly highwayman Dick Turpin’s hang-out between robberies,…
The West End
This stunner of an art-deco bar (cocktails £17) offers gorgeous views, especially of the Thames, South Bank and Trafalgar Sq, from the open-air terrace on…
The West End
Make this the first stop on your crawl because there’s no way you’ll make it down (or up) the stairs (not much more than a ladder) after a few drinks. It…
The West End
Tricked up to look like a disused Underground station, Cahoots is a retro cocktail bar channelling the spirit of London during WWII and its aftermath…
London
The first gin distillery to be opened in the City for nearly 200 years, this small-batch micro-distillery has brought back the art of 'mother's ruin'. Sip…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Hope you packed your explorer's hat, because the Gibson will take you on an adventure. The cocktail menu hops through the calendar month by month, and you…
Notting Hill & West London
Craft-beer specialist Brew Dog has over 40 beers on tap – from its brewery in Scotland as well as guest beers from far and wide. These include the heady…
North London
This specialist drinking spot inhabits a monumental stone structure on the approach to Euston station. Craft-beer devotees can choose between 15 cask ales…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
This riverside pub trumpets a lineage dating back to Tudor days, although the building you drink in today is 18th century. Henry VIII is said to have…
North London
England's most famous winery, Kent-based Chapel Down, has branched into distilling spirits and what better place to start than with gin? Here it’s made…
North London
Also known as 'the bar with no name', this tiny establishment may be nothing much to look at, but it has a stellar reputation for its cocktails (£11). The…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
This historic Young’s boozer south of Cannizaro Park, just off Wimbledon Common, is brim-full of character, with flagstone floors, open fires and a cosy…
Experimental Cocktail Club Chinatown
The West End
Deliberately obscure in its nondescript location, the ECC is a sensational cocktail bar behind an unmarked, faded-grey door in Chinatown. Soft lighting,…
London
The unpronounceable Gobpsy takes its speakeasy status seriously. There's no signage at street level, so be ready to duck into a totally ordinary working…
Notting Hill & West London
On the roof of Olympia London carpark and part of Olympia's costly regeneration, the vast expanse of (cashless) Pergola goes for a rustic-chic look of…
The West End
The gorgeous ground-floor saloon of this Sam Smith's pub, dating from 1872, boasts pressed-tin ceilings, handsome tiling, etched mirrors and 'snob screens…
London
The ubiquitous but delicious Scottish brewery recently opened this new outpost half-buried under an office block steps from the Tower of London. The 33…
