Pub entertainment in London
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London Apprentice
This riverside pub (apparently unconnected with the Cornish village of the same name) has a history harking back to Tudor days, although the building is 18th century. Henry VIII is said to have dallied with wife-to-be No 5, Catherine Howard, at the tavern’s older incarnation; other regulars included smugglers and highwaymen.
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Fitzroy Tavern
In the years before and after WWII, the Fitzroy was the hangout of literary giants like George Orwell and Dylan Thomas. Today it’s a typical downtown boozer, and part of the popular Sam Smith’s chain, which means plenty of ales and specialist beers at bargain prices.
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Coopers Arms
A classic Chelsea pub just off King's Rd, it's stuffed with taxidermists' delights such as a moose head and a stuffed pig's face among other stiff critters, and railway advertising cartoons. Newspapers abound near the bright and sunny bar, and the clientele is mixed and jolly.
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Coat & Badge
The Coat & Badge has gone for a tried and tested lounge-room approach (worn sofas, arm chairs, bare wood tables, secondhand books on shelves, standard lamps, stained glass, sports telly), all of which fashions a tempting comfort. There’s a short but excellent menu, a marvellous front garden and live music every other Thursday evening.
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Prince Of Teck
This Earl's Court mainstay is nearly always packed with travellers and is festooned with Australiana (well, stuffed kangaroos, anyway). It's large and comfortable, and has big screens on both floors. This is the default pub for young Aussies and Kiwis in the neighbourhood.
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Palm Tree
The Palm, the quintessential East End pub on the Regent’s Canal, is loved by locals, students and trendies alike, with its comforting gold-flock wallpaper, photos of also-ran crooners and a handful of different guest ales every week. There’s jazz on Friday and Saturday from around 9.30pm.
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Nag’s Head
Located in a serene mews not far from bustling Knightsbridge, this gorgeously genteel early-19th-century drinking den has eccentric decor (think 19th-century cricket prints), traditional wood-panelled charm, a sunken bar and a no-mobile-phones rule. A dreamy delight, this one.
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Ye Grapes
There’s a villagey vibe to Shepherd Market, lending a local feel to this handsome Victorian corner pub. The interior is full of stuffed animals, which presumably appeals to the well-heeled Mayfair clientele, who mob the place after work on weekdays.
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Jamaica Wine House
Not a wine bar at all but an historic Victorian pub, the 'Jam Pot' stands on the site of what was the first coffee house in London (1652); such places were often just fronts for brothels. At the end of a narrow alley, this is a difficult place to find.
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Perseverance
Perseverance is a charming Victorian boozer downstairs with a very pleasant upstairs dining room. It's always busy with office workers during the week, but it also does a brisk trade with locals over the weekend, when you can be guaranteed a seat.
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Edinboro Castle
A reliable Camden boozer, the large and relaxed Edinboro has a refined Primrose Hill atmosphere. It boasts a full menu, gorgeous furniture designed for slumping and a fine bar. Where the pub comes into its own however, is in its huge beer garden, complete with BBQ and table football and adorned with fairy lights for long summer evenings.
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Wenlock Arms
Regularly voted best pub in North London by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the Wenlock Arms serves guest ales from all over the country. There are jazz evenings around the ‘old Joanna’ (piano) every Friday and Saturday.
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Wrestlers
Another great, great local where the ambience, beer, food and décor just combine to make you happy to be alive, although when the very friendly Irish governor gets chatting you can begin to have second thoughts.
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Swan
There’s plenty to see in Hyde Park, if you have time, stamina and the strength of will to resist merely having a snooze on the grass or stopping in at the Swan with its beer garden in back.
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Cricketers
Delightfully facing Richmond Green from its southern side (where its very own team bats and bowls) and where you can decamp in warm weather with your pint, the Cricketers is a friendly and comfortable, themed (guess what) pub with a decent selection of ales, pub grub and a mixed clientele.
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Dublin Castle
There's live punk or alternative music most nights in this pub's back room (cover usually £6).
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Mitre
A beautiful, light-filled and airy pub with a large semicircular bar and walled courtyard at the back, the award-winning Mitre gets very crowded in the evenings and at the weekends, especially at lunchtime.
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Atlas
This cosy Victorian-era pub attracts a younger local crowd with its real ales, excellent food, and a lovely side courtyard. The gastropub menu features essentially Mediterranean-inspired dishes (mains £8-15).
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The Volunteer
Tucked around the corner from Baker St tube, the Volunteer pulls in a young, good-natured crowd who are always up for talking to strangers. Look out for hard-to-find beers and ciders at the bar.
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Thomas Cubitt
This is how the Belgravia set like their gastropubs – classy Victorian décor, ales and premium imports behind the bar, and a brasserie serving good-quality modern European fare.
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The Gun
Docklands is chain-pub central, but you’ll find an honest pint – and some cracking British gastropub fare – at this restored dockers’ pub on the riverside, facing the Millennium Dome.
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Westbourne
The Westbourne has a largish outdoor area, although inside it's more cramped and there is a little more attitude. As you'd expect, the crowd is beautiful and trust-fund fuelled.
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Commercial Tavern
The zany decor's a thing of wonder in this reformed East End boozer. Check out the walls coated in buttons and jigsaw puzzle pieces. The little boy's room has been wallpapered like, well, a little boy's room: Popeye, astronauts and cyclists all make an appearance.
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White Horse
A lovely pub in a very busy part of Soho, the White Horse ticks all our boxes: friendly staff, cheap drinks (it’s part of the Sam Smith brewery) and a great traditional interior with etched glass and wood panels. The upstairs area is particularly cosy and generally quieter than downstairs.
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Three Kings
Down-to-earth and welcoming pub, attracting a friendly bunch of relaxed locals for its quirky decor, great music and good times.
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