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Pubs in London

( blog )

Read time : 7 minutes


The Windmill, Clapham

This 500-year-old classic British pub is located on Clapham Common, between Clapham Common and Clapham South tube stations.

Great for having a pint in the garden after a summer's day on the common or a cosy place to drink in winter with chesterfield sofas and open fires.

They also serve great pub food including delicious Sunday roasts which wash down well with a Bloody Mary (or two!).

There is also a resident pub dog Max, waiting to welcome other four-legged friends to the pub!


The Swan, Bayswater


The Swan is a lovely historic London pub that actually dates back to 1721, but it's believed to have been an inn for much longer.


Interestingly, it is said to have been the final drinking place for the victims of the Gibbet at Tyburn Gallows, which we now know as Marble Arch. Notorious highwayman Claude Duval, is also believed to have had his final drink at The Swan before being hanged at Tyburn in 1670.


It has also been suggested that the saying “one for the road” was first coined here for this reason. The local jailer would often draw up with the prisoner’s cage outside and request “one for the road” - a final beer for the prisoner.


It's an eerie but interesting feeling to drink at a pub with such a history!


The Swan also offers great pub fare and has a first-floor dining room with great views over Hyde park. You can also enjoy your drinks in outdoor seating on the ground floor.




The White Horse, Soho


The White Horse is a classic street corner pub in the heart of the theatres of Soho.


There isn't a lot of seating, so most people stand at the bar or spill out onto the pavement outside, especially on Friday nights when it gets packed with students (and teachers!) from nearby language schools and punters having a warm-up drink before they hit the town.


It is simple, traditional and friendly with a cosy interior both upstairs and downstairs.


Good for an inexpensive drink in central London on a Friday or Saturday night or for post-work drinks.



The Plough, East Sheen


The Plough is a lovely traditional pub nestled in the quiet neighbourhood of East Sheen.

Originally a collection of farmers’ cottages dating back to 1530, it is part of an important group of 18th century buildings conserved in Christ Church Road.

This pub is a short walk from Sheen's Richmond Park gates and perfect for a pint after a walk in the park, complete with open fires and a heated beer garden to keep you warm in winter.

Dogs are also very welcome with a water bowl at the pub's entrance provided!

If you are lucky enough to live in this neighbourhood, be sure to make this pub your local.


The Jolly Gardeners, Putney

The Jolly Gardeners is located in Putney, just off the High Street and a short walk from the Thames Embankment.

This spacious pub is great for a laid-back get-together with friends for both drinking and dining. Nice for a lazy lunch or after work drinks in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

It also has an inviting beer garden with cosy ‘summer house’-style sheltered wooden booths, which are excellent for summer sessions.

 

The Sun Inn, Barnes


The Sun Inn is an iconic London pub at the heart of the riverside ‘village’ of Barnes on the banks of the Thames.

White-washed with a front cobbled terrace, this 18th century pub blends period features with contemporary style. Wood panelling, leather furnishings and chandeliers create a cosy interior inviting you to relax and enjoy your drinks and the fine British pub food on offer.

There is also a lovely beer garden perfect for sunny days while inside an open fire keeps you warm on chilly winter days.

Dog-friendly and relaxed, the Sun Inn is an authentic British local.

 

The White Hart, Barnes


The White Hart is located on the banks of the river Thames and was originally built in 1662. Rebuilt in 1899, the White Hart is a piece of local history and famous for its riverside sunsets.

This beautiful pub has a carefree countryside feeling, providing a welcome contrast to the hectic life of the city centre.

The White Hart serves great seasonal British food with a view to match.


The Punch and Judy, Covent Garden Market


The Punch & Judy pub in Covent Garden was built in 1787 and is thought to be named after the famous Punch and Judy puppet shows which took place in the piazza to entertain the children of flower-sellers.

This listed building still has much of its original brick and stonework and is one of the few properties in Covent Garden that remained undamaged in World War Two.

The pub has two levels with the downstairs area consisting of a courtyard as well as seating in the atmospheric stone cellars. Upstairs there is balcony seating looking over the piazza below, where guests have the best view to watch the street performers.


The pub is conveniently located close to several major theatres and galleries in Trafalgar Square.

Classic British dishes such as bangers and mash, steak burgers and chips and the classic British roast are served seven days a week.



Gordon’s Wine Bar, Embankment


Gordon’s Wine Bar was established in 1800 and is thought to be the oldest wine bar in London. And if you're not careful, you could miss the understated entrance and walk right by!

This gorgeous bar has a totally unique atmosphere where time seems to have stood still. As you step down into the cellar you need to stoop to get to your candlelit table in a room with old wooden walls covered in memorabilia. The original décor has been maintained and only wine is sold with traditional and well priced food.

The award winning wine list is full of interesting wines at good prices and sherries and ports are served from the barrel. You can order food to complement your wine such as homemade pies and a range of mature cheeses.

Kipling House, in which the bar is situated, was home to Rudyard Kipling in the 1890s. It was here that he wrote ‘The Light That Failed’ and both he and Chesterton wrote some of their works in the little parlour of the Wine Bar.



The Chandos, Charing Cross


Originally named the Bulls Head, the Chandos was rebuilt in 1885 and enlarged to its present size in 1891. The premises has been noted by Westminster Council as an unlisted building of merit.

This is a great place for an after work drink (or two!) with a large seating area on the ground floor and an upstairs lounge named the "Opera Room" after the English National Opera at the nearby London Coliseum, with its own servery for food and drinks.

There are traditional pub dishes at modest prices for the area, but drinkers should be aware that there is a strict "no swearing" policy in this Samuel Smith's establishment!



The Cat’s Back, Wandsworth


The Cat’s Back is a small Victorian pub situated in the new Riverside quarter between Wandsworth and Putney in South West London.

As well as serving ales, wine, cocktails and pub fare, the pub also hosts music, film and art exhibitions.

In winter, the open fire creates a cosy atmosphere, and in the summer, there is a leafy patio perfect for cold beers and BBQs.




The Coat and Badge, Putney


Away from the hustle and bustle of Putney High Street, The Coat and Badge is a relaxing place to sit and enjoy a few pints and some traditional British food.


One of its major pluses is the pub's huge, sunny, covered garden area enclosed by laurel hedges, ideal for enjoying a drink on a summer's day.  


Equally inviting is the interior of the pub with bookcases, comfy sofas and a large open fireplace which creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.


Once you settle in for a drink at this pub, you find it very difficult to leave!

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