Pubs are an integral part of London and no visit to London is complete with visiting a pub at least once. Over a number of years, I've visited numerous London pubs - these are just a few which I can recommend.
Please mention MarksTravelNotes.com when dining / drinking at these fine establishments. I have visited all these establishments.
The Antelope
(87 Maple Road, Surbiton KT6 4AW)
- Without a doubt my favourite pub in
London
town. With the Big Smoke brewery out the back,
The Antelope
has several of their own beer hyper-local beers on tap which, like all all good brew-pubs, change regularly.
The fab brewing team always make sure there's a set of 2 or 3 of their own beers -
my favourite of which is their own Amber Ale.
There's a regularly changing selection of ales, bitters, porters,
stouts and six ciders on tap - so don't get too set in your
drinking habits for maximum enjoyment! Throw in an open-fire, dog friendliness and a dose of respectable pub-grub and you have a winning combo!-
The Counting House (50 Cornhill, London EC3V 3PD) - The Counting House on Cornhill is one of London's finest pubs and, for sure, one of it's most well decorated. As a Fuller's pub the selection of beers on offer includes the ever popular London Pride, ESB and Chiswick Bitter are all available. The island bar, gallery, chandelier and cuppola all work excellently together to form a pleasing aesthetic whole. A good selection of food and beer do make The Counting House popular place for both lunch and drinks afterwards. An essential visit if you happen to be at The Bank of England Museum or otherwise in the area.
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Ye Old Cheshire Cheese
(Wine Office Court, 145 Fleet Street, City of London, London EC4A 2BU)
-
Ye Old Cheshire Cheese
is amongst the oldest pubs in
London
having been rebuilt in 1667 following the Great Fire of
London. Samuel Johnson, writer of the original dictionary,
reputedly used to frequent
Ye Old Cheshire Cheese
- and you can visit
Dr Johnson's House
round the corner.
Ye Old Cheshire Cheese
is a
Samuel Smith's
pub - which means that an excellent selection of
Samuel Smith's
beers on offer. I can vouch for the Oatmeal Stout or the
lighter Taddy Porter. The Steak and Kidney pudding is an
excellent addition to either. -
The Lamb Tavern
(Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 1LR)
- One of the best market pubs in
London
. Does the full range of
Youngs
beer in the setting of restored Victorian Market. Great
place to pop in for lunch or an evening pint and watch
the world go by. -
Admiral Codrington (17 Mossop Street, London SW3 2LY) - Admiral Codrington has always served excellent food and beer. In South Kensington, it's not too far from some of major museums. Service is usually top-notch. Probably not London's cheapest pub but worth every penny.
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The Old Bank of England (194 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2LT) - Another Fuller's Ale & Pie House - with the statutory, yet excellent, Fullers range of beers on offer, including London Pride and Chiswick. Does a good line of foods - pies and doorstep sandwichs are both excellent. Formerly a division of The Bank of England (the HQ has always been on Threadneedle Street) The Old Bank of England is an ornate building which, like The Counting House boasts and Island bar.
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Lamb & Flag (33 Rose Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9EB) A boozer in truest sense of a London pub. In an area of London otherwise obsessed with themed-pubs Lamb & Flag is not only a refreshing change - but an actual real pub with real people in it. Which is nice. Does an excellent line of ales and a few lagers as well. Always been popular (and packed) on both levels on every visit. Can't vouch for the food - but do come for the excellent beers. Real five-pint rating.
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The Argyll Arms (18 Argyll St, London, W1F 7TP) - Ever popular with Oxford Street shoppers and tourists (although these may well be the same people!) The Argyll Arms is a fairly cozy affair - seperated in to various snugs with Victorian style glass windows seperating the sections.
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The Chandos (29 St. Martins Lane, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4ER) - Anywhere else The Chandos might have been an ordinary pub with super comfy sofas and a dose of tourists. As it does the full range of Samuel Smith's beers, including the Oatmeal Stout, Taddy Porter and their lagers, it's an excellent pub. Being centrally located, it's a great place for a beer after visiting The National Gallery or before heading to one of the theatres in the area.
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The Fox and Grapes (9 Camp Road, Wimbledon Common, London SW19 4UB) - On Wimbledon Common, the The Fox and Grapes is one of the, if not the, best pub in Wimbledon Over the years, the food has been consistently excellent and the beer has always been of a good quality. Adnams Bombadier is usually on tap and well kept and makes an excellent beverage here.
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The Falcon (2 St Johns Hill, Clapham Junction, London SW11 1RU) - A proper south London boozer with a fine collection of commuters on the way home, real people, nutters and an excellent array of good-quality, regularly changing beers.
