Notting Hill & West London
The Prince Alfred is a handsome pub in the upmarket neighbourhood of Maida Vale. Its original Victorian decor is intact – complete with ‘snob screens’…
Must-see nightlife in London
East London
Split over two levels, Loading is a game-themed bar with themed cocktails. There are hundreds of board games to choose from on the ground floor and every…
London
This well-hidden bar, on a seemingly forgotten alleyway off pedestrian-only Bow Lane, has some 600 whiskies, 400 rums and 400 gins. Don't worry about a…
London
Opened in 1869, the Viaduct Tavern is one of the only remaining Victorian gin palaces in the City, with etched glass panes, blood-red embossed vines…
Notting Hill & West London
For those traipsing Portobello Rd this is a good bolt-hole, named after the bon vivant founder of the AA (Automobile Association, not Alcoholics Anonymous…
The West End
Encouraging hedonism since 1979, when it opened on the site of a former roller disco, this perennially popular mixed/gay bar under the Charing Cross…
London
With its grand wooden staircase and painted ceilings edged with gold-coloured crown moulding, this pub, part of the Fuller's chain, is still every bit as…
The West End
Inaugurated in 1723, this storied pub has refreshed scholars from the British Museum's Reading Room including Karl Marx, George Orwell, Sir Arthur Conan…
London
Growing from the roots of the newly opened Garden at 120 one floor up, this 14th-floor jungle bar has no outside space but is planted with more than 2500…
North London
Dating from 1585, this historic tavern has more character than a West End musical. It was supposedly highwayman Dick Turpin’s hang-out between robberies,…
The West End
This stunner of an art-deco bar (cocktails £17) offers gorgeous views, especially of the Thames, South Bank and Trafalgar Sq, from the open-air terrace on…
The West End
Make this the first stop on your crawl because there’s no way you’ll make it down (or up) the stairs (not much more than a ladder) after a few drinks. It…
The West End
Tricked up to look like a disused Underground station, Cahoots is a retro cocktail bar channelling the spirit of London during WWII and its aftermath…
London
The first gin distillery to be opened in the City for nearly 200 years, this small-batch micro-distillery has brought back the art of 'mother's ruin'. Sip…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Hope you packed your explorer's hat, because the Gibson will take you on an adventure. The cocktail menu hops through the calendar month by month, and you…
Notting Hill & West London
Craft-beer specialist Brew Dog has over 40 beers on tap – from its brewery in Scotland as well as guest beers from far and wide. These include the heady…
North London
This specialist drinking spot inhabits a monumental stone structure on the approach to Euston station. Craft-beer devotees can choose between 15 cask ales…
North London
England's most famous winery, Kent-based Chapel Down, has branched into distilling spirits and what better place to start than with gin? Here it’s made…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
This riverside pub trumpets a lineage dating back to Tudor days, although the building you drink in today is 18th century. Henry VIII is said to have…
North London
Also known as 'the bar with no name', this tiny establishment may be nothing much to look at, but it has a stellar reputation for its cocktails (£11). The…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
This historic Young’s boozer south of Cannizaro Park, just off Wimbledon Common, is brim-full of character, with flagstone floors, open fires and a cosy…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
Though its beers are now sold as far away as Hong Kong, Brixton Brewery remembers its roots in its railway-arch taproom. The names of the brews, with big…
Experimental Cocktail Club Chinatown
The West End
Deliberately obscure in its nondescript location, the ECC is a sensational cocktail bar behind an unmarked, faded-grey door in Chinatown. Soft lighting,…
London
The unpronounceable Gobpsy takes its speakeasy status seriously. There's no signage at street level, so be ready to duck into a totally ordinary working…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
This tunnel-like wine-bar-cum-kitchen sits under the railway arches that support trains as they travel in and out of London Bridge. It is first and…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
Traditional British roasts on Sunday are a big pull to this Rotherhithe watering hole by the Thames, occupying a building dating to the late 19th century…
Notting Hill & West London
On the roof of Olympia London carpark and part of Olympia's costly regeneration, the vast expanse of (cashless) Pergola goes for a rustic-chic look of…
The West End
The gorgeous ground-floor saloon of this Sam Smith's pub, dating from 1872, boasts pressed-tin ceilings, handsome tiling, etched mirrors and 'snob screens…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
This micro gin distillery at the end of Maltby Street Market provides weekend G&Ts for shoppers and snackers from its railway-arch premises. Jensen's…
London
The ubiquitous but delicious Scottish brewery recently opened this new outpost half-buried under an office block steps from the Tower of London. The 33…
The West End
This plush, tropical-themed cocktail bar is tucked into the decadent surroundings of The Waldorf Hilton. The luxury extends to the menu which is packed…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
There's a buzz about Hiver, which sources honey from London bees to infuse into its IPAs, ales and blondes sold at its railway-arch taproom at the end of…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
This rather rundown old boozer brings you closer to the heart of the Brixton Afro-Caribbean vibe than any other pub in the area, thanks to the spicy…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
Elephant and Castle almost lost the most recent incarnation of its namesake neighbourhood pub, but the council named this spot an asset of community value…
South Bank
Down a little-used Southwark side street, Omeara is an intimate bar and live-music venue that keeps the party going inside the distressed-style interior…
The West End
An unexpected oasis for the weary Covent Garden visitor, Mr Fogg's is a themed throwback to the drinking dens of yore. Taking its name and inspiration…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
This riverside Young’s pub in Barnes was formerly a Masonic lodge. It's huge, traditional and welcoming downstairs, but the temptation in warmer months is…
South Bank
If you want a view from the Shard for the price of a cocktail, find your way up to the 31st floor and into this gorgeous three-storey bar and restaurant…
The West End
This food-friendly wine bar near Charing Cross has a fantastic selection of Old and New World wines, with plenty by the glass and available for takeaway…
Notting Hill & West London
Decorated with sculls, oars and nautical prints, the Old Ship and its shiny, buttoned leather sofas would hardly merit a diversion but for its terrific…
