Best Pubs in London: A Guide for Expats Who Want to Drink Like a Local (2026)

The pub is the single most important social institution in British life. It's where friendships are made, where deals are done, where grief is shared, where victories are celebrated, and where strangers become regulars. As an expat in London, understanding the pub — how it works, what it means, and which ones are worth your time — is the fastest route to understanding Britain. This guide introduces you to the best pubs in London by type and neighbourhood, the unwritten rules you need to know, and why the pub is so much more than just a place to drink.

🍺 Understanding the British Pub

Before diving into recommendations, a few things every expat needs to know:

• Order at the bar — unlike most European countries, there is no table service in traditional pubs. You go to the bar, order, pay, and carry your drinks back. This is non-negotiable
• Rounds — in a group, it's customary to take turns buying everyone's drinks. If you're in a group of four, each person buys one round. Refusing to participate or disappearing before your round is noticed and considered rude
• No pressure to drink alcohol — nobody will judge you for drinking soft drinks, sparkling water, or alcohol-free beer. Just order what you want
• Dogs are welcome — most traditional pubs welcome dogs. It's normal
• Children in pubs — children under 16 can be in a pub if they're eating, but cannot be in the bar area after certain hours. Rules vary by pub
• Closing time — most London pubs close at 11pm on weeknights and midnight or later on Fridays and Saturdays. "Last orders" is called about 20 minutes before

🏛️ Historic Pubs — London's Living History

The Lamb & Flag — Covent Garden

One of London's oldest surviving pubs — dating to 1623, making it over 400 years old. Tucked down a narrow alley called Rose Street just off Garrick Street, it's notoriously difficult to find (which is part of the charm). Once nicknamed the "Bucket of Blood" for the bare-knuckle boxing matches held upstairs. Charles Dickens drank here. John Dryden was attacked in the alley outside in 1679. Tiny, always packed, genuinely atmospheric. The upstairs dining room serves excellent food.

📍 33 Rose Street, WC2E 9EB | 🚇 Covent Garden | Open daily

The George Inn — Southwark

London's only surviving coaching inn — a National Trust property dating to 1677, with its original galleried courtyard still intact. Shakespeare performed here. Dickens mentioned it in Little Dorrit. Charles I held court in the building. On summer evenings, the galleried courtyard fills with city workers. One of the most extraordinary pub buildings in England, and one of the most historically significant.

📍 75-77 Borough High Street, SE1 1NH | 🚇 London Bridge | Open daily

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese — Fleet Street

A labyrinthine pub down a narrow alley off Fleet Street, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666 and barely changed since. Multiple rooms on multiple levels, low ceilings, sawdust on the floor in some areas, open fireplaces in winter. Dr Johnson, Voltaire, Dickens, Thackeray, Tennyson, and Mark Twain all drank here. One of the most atmospheric pubs in London — and one of the most confusing to navigate.

📍 145 Fleet Street, EC4A 2BU | 🚇 Blackfriars | Closed Sundays

The Grenadier — Belgravia

Hidden down a cobbled mews in Belgravia — one of London's most beautiful and secretive locations — the Grenadier is a tiny, blood-red pub that was once the mess bar for the Duke of Wellington's officers. It's said to be haunted by the ghost of a soldier caught cheating at cards and flogged to death. The sentry box outside is original. The Bloody Marys are famous. Come on a Sunday for the full experience.

📍 18 Wilton Row, SW1X 7NR | 🚇 Hyde Park Corner | Open daily

The Spaniards Inn — Hampstead

A 16th-century inn on the edge of Hampstead Heath — once the toll gate on the road from London to Highgate, now a beloved destination pub with one of the great London beer gardens. Dick Turpin the highwayman allegedly stabled his horse Black Bess here. Dickens, Keats, Byron, and Shelley all drank here. The beer garden is enormous and beautiful. The food is excellent. Worth the journey to north London.

📍 Spaniards Road, NW3 7JJ | 🚇 Golders Green then bus | Open daily

🍻 Best Beer Gardens

When the sun comes out in London — however briefly — the city transforms. Beer gardens fill instantly. Here are the best:

The Anchor — Bankside

A 17th-century pub directly on the Thames, with a terrace overlooking the river and Tate Modern. Samuel Johnson drank here. The Anchor allegedly survived the Great Fire because the wind changed direction. One of the most iconic riverside pub locations in London.

📍 34 Park Street, SE1 9EF | 🚇 London Bridge | Open daily

The Prospect of Whitby — Wapping

London's oldest riverside pub — dating to 1520, when it was known as the Devil's Tavern. A pewter-topped bar, a flagstone floor, and a terrace directly over the Thames at Wapping. Samuel Pepys, Charles Dickens, and Turner all came here. The view from the terrace — across the river towards the cranes and converted warehouses of Rotherhithe — is extraordinary. One of London's best-kept secrets.

📍 57 Wapping Wall, E1W 3SH | 🚇 Wapping Overground | Open daily

The Ship — Wandsworth

A beloved south London pub on the Thames at Wandsworth, with one of London's finest beer gardens and terraces — tiered levels stepping down to the river. In summer it's one of the happiest places in London. The food is excellent. Very popular with young professionals from Clapham, Battersea, and Putney.

📍 41 Jews Row, SW18 1TB | 🚂 Wandsworth Town | Open daily

🍽️ Best Gastropubs — When You Want Excellent Food

The Harwood Arms — Fulham

The only Michelin-starred pub in London — and the best Sunday roast in the city. Wild game on the menu (venison, rabbit, squab), foraged ingredients, exceptional cooking. It looks and feels like a traditional pub — you drink at the bar, sit at normal tables, pay normal pub prices for drinks — but the food is extraordinary. Book weeks in advance for Sunday roast.

📍 Walham Grove, SW6 1QP | 🚇 Fulham Broadway | Booking essential

The Anchor & Hope — Southwark

One of London's most celebrated gastropubs — brilliant British seasonal cooking, no bookings (arrive early or queue), buzzing atmosphere. The menu changes daily based on what's available. Charcuterie, offal, game, and exceptional puddings. Very popular with food industry people on their days off — always a good sign.

📍 36 The Cut, SE1 8LP | 🚇 Southwark | Closed Monday; no bookings

The Drapers Arms — Islington

A handsome Georgian pub in Islington with an excellent kitchen and one of the most beautiful pub gardens in north London — a large walled terrace with fairy lights and climbing plants. The Sunday roast is outstanding. The wine list is serious. The atmosphere is exactly what a perfect neighbourhood pub should feel like.

📍 44 Barnsbury Street, N1 1ER | 🚇 Highbury & Islington | Open daily

🎵 Best Pubs for Atmosphere & Character

The French House — Soho

A legendary Soho pub that has been at the heart of London's bohemian life since the 1900s. The Free French Forces used it as their unofficial London headquarters during World War II — Charles de Gaulle reportedly drank here. Dylan Thomas, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Brendan Behan, and Jeffrey Bernard were regulars. No mobile phones are allowed at the bar. Wines are served in half-measures only (a house rule). The upstairs dining room is one of Soho's best-kept secrets. There is nowhere quite like it.

📍 49 Dean Street, W1D 5BG | 🚇 Leicester Square | Open daily

Gordon's Wine Bar — Embankment

Not technically a pub — but the oldest wine bar in London (opened 1890) and one of its most atmospheric drinking establishments. Down narrow steps into a candlelit cave of vaulted ceilings and newspaper cuttings covering every surface. The wine is excellent and reasonably priced. The outdoor terrace fills on summer evenings. A genuine London institution.

📍 47 Villiers Street, WC2N 6NE | 🚇 Embankment | Open daily

The Red Lion & Sun — Highgate

A brilliant gastropub in Highgate village — muddy wellies welcome, dogs everywhere, log fires in winter, a great terrace in summer. The food is outstanding. The atmosphere is exactly what a country pub should be — except it's in London. One of the best neighbourhood pubs in the city. The journey to Highgate (by bus or a walk across the Heath) is part of the experience.

📍 25 North Road, N6 4BE | 🚇 Highgate | Open daily

🌟 Neighbourhood Pubs Worth Seeking Out

• The Carpenter's Arms, Hammersmith — a perfect traditional local, excellent beer, no pretension
• The Marksman, Hackney — brilliant gastropub, the bar snacks alone are worth the trip
• The Anglesea Arms, South Kensington — one of London's great traditional pubs, beautiful Victorian interior
• The Coopers Arms, Chelsea — proper neighbourhood pub in an area that doesn't have many left
• The Florence, Herne Hill — south London institution with one of the great beer gardens

💡 Pub Tips for Expats

• 🍺 Try real ale — British cask-conditioned ales are something you can only drink fresh in Britain. Ask the barman what's on and what they'd recommend
• 🍷 Pub wine has improved enormously — a good gastropub will have a serious wine list. Don't assume you have to drink beer
• 🎯 Pub quiz nights — most pubs run a weekly quiz (usually Tuesday or Wednesday). Teams of 4-6. Great way to meet people. No pub knowledge required — general knowledge, music, and pop culture feature heavily
• ⚽ Match days — if there's a big football match, every pub in London will be packed. Plan accordingly or join the crowd
• 🌧️ Embrace bad weather in pubs — a rainy Sunday afternoon in a good London pub with a pint, a Sunday roast, and a newspaper is one of life's great pleasures. Don't let the weather stop you