Best Pubs in London by Area

Today I want to share my guide to finding the best pubs in London by area with you. The UK capital is packed with fun places to eat and drink. From classic boozers to cozy corners and big beer gardens, London has a pub for every style and preference. I’ve written a lot of area-by-area guides about my favorite watering holes in the city, and today I want to pull them all together in one blog post. Read on for my list. I’ve included a map, too.

Best Pubs in London by Area

I love London’s pub culture. I’ve been going to the city’s watering holes since I moved here, and I’ve spent a lot of time in them with friends over the years. From winter afternoons over Sunday roast in Hampstead to summer evenings in the city’s beer gardens, I’ve gained a good knowledge of London pubs. Today I want to impart it to you.

Whether you’re seeking classic English drinks or traditional English dishes, pubs with cozy corners or ones with outdoor terraces, there’s a place in London for you.

If you’re interested in finding a pub you can call home-away-from-home, check out my post about the best pubs with rooms in London. It will help you find the perfect one for your travel style and preferences. You can see a range of other options and book one here, too.

If you want to take a tour to see the best pubs in one particular part of London, I recommend going on my free self-guided City of London pub walk. It will take you around the historic heart of the UK capital and let you pop into a number of unique watering holes along the route.

You can also take a guided tour. If you’re looking for a good one, you can explore options and book one here. These walks are great ways to see the city’s pubs with an experienced local.

Whatever way you choose to visit them, I hope my guide helps you find the best ones for you. There are so many great pubs in London, and going to them is a great way to get a feel for the culture of the city.

Hampstead

I’ll start my list with Hampstead pubs. Up in north London, this village-like neighborhood is packed with great places to eat and drink. From classic taverns to haunted inns, Hampstead has a pub for everyone.

I lived in the neighborhood for years, and I spent a lot of time with friends in the local pubs. We enjoyed summer days in the beer gardens at The Garden Gate and The Roebuck, and winter evenings playing board games at The Wells and doing pub quizzes at The Flask.

And that’s to say nothing of the days we ate Sunday roast at The Holly Bush and chased ghosts in The Spaniards Inn. Suffice it to say I got to be a bit of an expert.

If you want my top picks, check out my blog post about the best pubs in Hampstead. It has the details of all my favorites. You can also follow the route of my free self-guided Hampstead walk, which will take you past a lot of them.

And if you need a few days to give each one its due, there are great places to stay in the area. My top pick is La Gaffe. This affordable family-run hotel is in an amazing location near the tube station on Heath Street.

If you prefer an apartment rental, Oak & Poppy is just the thing. It’s a beautiful property right in the heart of the neighborhood. You can also see other options and book one here.

Notting Hill

I’ve spent a lot of time with friends in the local pubs in Notting Hill over the years. It’s one of my favorite things to do in the neighborhood.

We’ve enjoyed summer afternoons in the beer garden at The Sun In Splendour, and winter evenings holed up at The Cow and eating comfort food at The Duke of Wellington (which featured in the opening scenes of the movie Notting Hill).

Which is to say nothing of the days we whiled away as we ate Sunday roast at pubs on Portobello Road or sat upstairs sipping classic British cocktails at The Oak.

If you want to see my top picks, check out my blog post about the best pubs in Notting Hill. It has the names and a map of the locations of all my go-to spots. You can also follow the route of my free self-guided Notting Hill walk, which will take you by many of them.

And if you want to stay in the area while you’re exploring the local pubs, there are great places to base yourself in Notting Hill. From local hotels to apartment rentals and B&Bs, the area has no shortage of spots to call home-away-from-home.

My top pick is the Portobello Hotel. This boutique bolthole is one of my top picks for unique hotels in London. It features interiors that channel the bohemian spirit of the area. You can book a room here. You can also see other options and book one here.

Covent Garden

Next on my list is Covent Garden. I’ve been coming to this famous part of central London since I moved to the UK, and I’ve spent a lot of time with friends in the local pubs here. It’s one of my go-to things to do in the area.

We’ve spent warm afternoons outside The Lamb & Flag, and cold evenings nestled at the Crown & Anchor. Which is to say nothing of the nights we’ve enjoyed eating poutine at the Maple Leaf, one of my favorite international pubs in London.

If you want to see all my favorites, you can take a look at my blog post about the best pubs in Covent Garden. From historic watering holes with connections to Charles Dickens to modern ones known for their cocktails, there’s something for everyone here.

While each pub on my list is worth a special trip, you can see a number of them in one go on my free self-guided Covent Garden walk. It’s a fun way to explore the area and enjoy food and drink, too. If you prefer a guided tour, this one is just the thing.

And if you need a few days to give each one its due, there are great places to stay in the area. My top pick is the St Martin’s Lane hotel. It’s in an amazing location near some of London’s top attractions, and it has great style. You can see a range of others and book one here as well.

Victoria

Next on my list is Victoria. I used to live in this part of central London, and there are some great pubs dotted throughout the area. From small ones tucked away on side streets to famous pubs near the train station, there are a lot to choose from.

One of the best things about pubs in Victoria is that so many of them are hidden away out of sight of the crowds around Buckingham Palace. If you know where to look, you can easily find good ones.

I’ve enjoyed spending time with friends in the pubs here on all kinds of occasions. From historic numbers like The Albert to pint-size gems like The Cask & Glass, we’ve covered a range of local watering holes.

If you want to see all my favorites, you can take a look at my blog post about the best pubs in Victoria. It will show you the names and locations of my top picks.

If you want to base yourself in the area while you’re exploring the pubs, there are great places to stay in Victoria. You can see a range of options and book one here.

My top pick is The Resident. Right around the corner from Buckingham Palace, this affordable boutique hotel is the perfect place to stay. You can book a room here.

London Bridge

Next up is London Bridge. This area on the South Bank of the Thames is packed with places to eat and drink. From classic boozers with cozy corners to riverside specials with sweeping terraces, the area around London Bridge has a pub for every taste and style.

Friends and I have spent years exploring the pubs here, from classic ones in Southwark to eye-catching numbers in Bankside, Bermondsey, and Borough. There are lots of them to choose from in this part of the city.

I’ve eaten warming pies at the Lord Clyde, spent afternoons in the garden at The Woolpack on Bermondsey Street, taken countless photos of the striking facade of The Roebuck, and enjoyed candlelit evenings in the subterranean space at the Southwark Tavern by Borough Market.

If you want to see all my top picks in the area, you can take a look at my blog post about the best London Bridge pubs. From historic watering holes near the station to riverside pubs with beer gardens, there’s a range of good ones to choose from.

If you’re interested, you can also see a number of them on my free self-guided London Bridge walk. It’s a fun way to explore the area and enjoy food and drink as you go. If you prefer a guided tour, this one is ideal.

If you need some time to give each pub its due, there are good places to stay in the area. My top pick is the Native Bankside aparthotel. Not only is it in an ideal location near the river, but it also offers a great blend of hotel amenities and an apartment-style stay. If that appeals, you can book here. You can see a range of others and book one here as well.

Map of Pubs in London

London Pubs

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at my favorite London pubs by area. The UK capital is a great place to eat and drink, and I’m sure you’ll love these watering holes as much as I do. I’ll add more to my list as I publish new blog posts, so you can bookmark this guide or pin it on Pinterest for future reference.

If you want more in the meantime, I’ve written about the prettiest pubs in London, an itinerary for pubs in central London, pubs with beer gardens in London, and riverside pubs in London.

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