15 Best London Pubs That Locals Love
Pints poured just right, chatter buzzing, and a vibe that feels like home—London’s pubs have a way of making you stick around longer than planned.
For a mix of classic charm and great company, these 15 best pubs in London hit every note.
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1. The Harp
The Harp is a blissfully traditional British ale house, smack in the middle of Covent Garden. Two floors, stained glass, and hand-pulled real ales make it a magnet for those who know their beer.
The bar lineup is heavy on traditional ciders and perries from all over the UK, plus cask classics that show off British pub culture at its best. Conversation flows as easily as the drinks, and the menu sticks to the basics.
If you’re after a private spot, there’s a room upstairs that works for small gatherings. The Harp doesn’t overdo it with the “heritage” angle; it just is what it is, and that’s why it works.
Location: 47 Chandos Pl, London WC2N 4HS, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
2. The Churchill Arms
The Churchill Arms is hard to miss; it’s a floral explosion on Kensington Church Street and goes full Clark Griswold at Christmas. Built in 1750, it’s stuffed with Churchill memorabilia—apparently, his grandparents were regulars.
There’s a legit Thai kitchen inside, so you can chase your pint with a pad Thai. Odd combo? Maybe, but it’s been a hit for years. The food’s got a following of its own.
Inside, it’s all dark wood and cozy nooks, while the outside is a magnet for anyone with a camera. The crowd’s a mix of locals and out-of-towners, all drawn by the mashup of British pub with proper Thai grub.
Location: 119 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LN, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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3. Princess Louise
Princess Louise is a Victorian beauty, one of the best-preserved in London, really. Step inside and it’s like time travel: etched glass, ornate tilework, and oak everywhere. The horseshoe bar divides up a bunch of snug booths, each one its own little world.
Samuel Smith’s brewery owns the place, so you’re drinking ale that’s been made the same way since 1758. The Old Brewery Bitter comes from oak casks right below your feet; no weird additives, just the basics.
Location’s a winner—close to Covent Garden and the British Museum. It draws a crowd that appreciates a pint in a room with some real history. Weekends get busy, so snag a booth early if you can.
Location: 208 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EP, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
4. The Mayflower Pub
One of the oldest pubs on the Thames is tucked away in Rotherhithe, surrounded by cobbles and a sense that not much has changed in a couple of centuries.
The wooden jetty deck out back is something else; you can sip a pint, watch the boats, and spot the original 1620 mooring point for the Mayflower ship if the tide’s right. The views stretch from Canary Wharf’s towers to the endless river traffic; sunsets here are a bit of a show.
Inside, it’s all open fires and that classic English pub feeling. The kitchen’s known for British staples with a focus on local ingredients, especially their fish and chips. The drinks list is stacked with traditional ales, craft beers, local gins, and a handful of well-chosen wines.
Location: 117 Rotherhithe St, London SE16 4NF
Website: Visit Website
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5. Waxy O’Connor’s London
Waxy O’Connor’s sprawls over six floors and four bars near Soho, all wrapped around a real tree that shoots right up through the place. Every floor’s got its own energy, so you can pub-crawl without ever leaving the building.
Sports are a big deal here, with Irish GAA, rugby, football, and more on the screens. Live music is a staple, and the place has been pulling in crowds for over 30 years. There are special fanzone areas when big games are on, so it’s a solid spot to watch with a crowd that cares. The menu sticks to classic pub fare, made in-house and served all day.
Location: 14-16 Rupert St, London W1D 6DD
Website: Visit Website
6. The Pride of Spitalfields
Hidden away on a cobbled lane in Spitalfields, The Pride is a proper East End pub that doesn’t mess around. The vibe is old-school, with a cozy interior, upright piano, and zero fuss.
It’s barely changed in decades, which is part of the charm. Locals drink here, and the regular piano sessions add a bit of character without feeling staged.
The terrace on Heneage Street is prime for people-watching on a sunny day. It’s a handy stop if you’re bouncing between Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market.
Location: 3 Heneage St, London E1 5LJ, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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7. Old Shades
Old Shades has been holding down its Whitehall corner since 1898; a Grade II listed spot with wood paneling, tiled floors, and leather banquettes that give it that classic British pub feel.
The menu’s all about proper British fare; fish and chips are a local favorite, and there’s a solid lineup of homemade pies and seasonal dishes that pair well with a pint. Being in Westminster means you might catch a politician or two sneaking in for lunch.
The bar and dining area offer a genuine break from the tourist chaos outside. Service gets high marks, and the atmosphere’s warm enough that people stick around for another round.
Location: 37 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX
Website: Visit Website
8. Ye Olde Mitre
Ye Olde Mitre is tucked away in a narrow alley off Hatton Garden, and half the adventure is just tracking it down. With origins in the 1540s, this ale house is a true hidden gem between jewelry shops and the city’s bustle.
Framed historical photos cover the walls, a not-so-subtle reminder that people have been knocking back pints here for nearly 500 years. The bar’s got a steady lineup of real ales, craft beers, and scrumpy cider that’ll wake you up.
Location: 1 Ely Ct, Ely Pl, London EC1N 6SJ
Website: Visit Website
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9. The Blackfriar
The Blackfriar is one of London’s most unusual pubs, loaded with wild Art Nouveau details that nod to the medieval friary that used to be here. Henry Poole’s marble and bronze reliefs are everywhere; monks in all sorts of poses, some serious, some kind of cheeky.
The wedge-shaped building is right near Blackfriars Station, so popping in is easy. The narrow front bar opens into a back room that feels like a grotto and really shows off all that decorative work.
Since the pub’s protected, those early-1900s features stay just as they were intended. Classic pub food is on offer, and the Blackfriar pours a good pint alongside a menu full of British favorites.
Location: 174 Queen Victoria St, Greater, London EC4V 4EG, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
10. The Lamb & Flag
Down a skinny alley in Covent Garden, The Lamb & Flag has been slinging pints since the 1770s. Back in the day, it was called the “Bucket of Blood” because of the notorious bare-knuckle boxing matches.
Charles Dickens used to drink here, and you can still sense that history in the creaky beams and snug, dim-lit rooms.
Fuller’s ales are on tap, and the menu sticks to British pub staples. The upstairs dining room is roomier, though most squeeze into the ground floor bar where things really buzz.
Location: 33 Rose St, London WC2E 9EB, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
11. The Cadogan Arms
Chelsea’s Cadogan Arms got a serious makeover in 2021, keeping its two centuries of history but feeling fresh again. Dark wood, stag antlers, and an upstairs pool room give it more character than your average King’s Road spot.
The kitchen goes in hard on British classics, with ingredients you can trace. Pub favorites sit next to seasonal dishes, and Sunday roasts stretch deep into the evening for a proper end-of-week treat.
The bar pours twelve draughts, including some bespoke brews, and cocktails that skip the fuss. Screens show live sports, and there are semi-private spaces for groups if you need them.
Location: 298 King’s Rd, London SW3 5UG
Website: Visit Website
12. Skehans
Down in Nunhead, Skehans is a family-run Irish pub that’s one of the last true independents in South London. The emerald-green corner building is hard to miss, and the inside splits between a classic front bar and a garden out back that regulars are fiercely protective of.
Live music is pretty much every night: Irish trad, jam sessions, folk, Saturday gigs. Chai’s Garden Thai operates daily from the back, and the food’s got a cult following across Southeast London.
The mix of old regulars and newcomers keeps the atmosphere real. Skehans regularly makes best-of-London pub lists, especially for Guinness.
Location: 1 Kitto Rd, London SE14 5TW
Website: Visit Website
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13. George
The George in Southwark is London’s last galleried coaching inn, rebuilt after the great fire of 1676 and now run by the National Trust. Dickens mentioned it in Little Dorrit and even drank here when it was still a coffee house.
The real ales are solid, and the menu leans hard into British comfort food that tastes like it should. The galleried setup makes it feel different from your standard city pub—more character, less copy-paste.
Borough Market is barely two minutes away, and you’re close to the Shard and London Bridge, so it’s a good pit stop after fighting the tourist crowds.
Location: 75 Borough High St, London SE1 1NH
Website: Visit Website
14. Prospect Of Whitby
Prospect of Whitby claims to be London’s oldest riverside tavern, with roots back to 1520. The flagstone floors are original—long associated with smugglers and river rogues in local lore.
Famous faces like Dickens, Pepys, Turner, and Whistler drank here; even Judge Jeffries, the “Hanging Judge,” was a regular.
The Thames views are what really make it. You can watch the river from the beer garden, the first-floor balcony, or a window seat if you’re lucky. The menu sticks to British classics—fish and chips, Sunday roasts, a few vegan and veggie options thrown in.
Location: 57 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SH, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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15. The Faltering Fullback
Hidden away on a leafy residential street in Finsbury Park, The Faltering Fullback is a family-run Irish pub behind an emerald green door tangled in vines.
Step inside and you’ll find a rambling warren of rooms, each crammed with vintage posters, mismatched lamps, and the kind of bric-a-brac that feels like it’s been collected over decades.
What really sets it apart is the beer garden; it’s a treehouse mashed up with an Ewok village; stairs twist and turn, leading to little hideaways draped in foliage.
Grab a pint of Guinness and don’t sleep on the Thai food, which just… works, somehow.
Location: 19 Perth Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 3HB, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
