North Yorkshire
Grungy and effortlessly cool, this 1st-floor drinking den is the type of place where locals cram onto sociable wooden bench tables and talk rubbish all…
Must-see nightlife in England
Kensington & Hyde Park
In a part of town traditionally bereft of choice, the K Bar is a reassuring presence. A hotel bar maybe, but don't let that stop you – the place exudes…
Nottingham
Rotating brews at this beer specialist include several from its own Nottingham-based Magpie Brewery, made from British hops and malts, plus hand-pulls…
South Bank
This magnificent galleried coaching inn is the last of its kind in London. The building, owned by the National Trust, dates from 1677 and is mentioned in…
Oxford
This relaxed 17th-century tavern remains one of Oxford’s nicest pubs for a sturdy pint or glass of wine. Thomas Hardy wrote (and set) parts of Jude the…
Birmingham
Potent cocktails (or rather 'elixirs, concoctions and potions') at this trippy spot are served in sweets jars, watering cans, teapots and miniature…
The West End
Sip a bourbon or a classic cocktail in the 1920s art-deco ambience of this stylish bar at the hallmark Beaumont hotel. It's central, glam and like a…
South Cornwall
Set up by unapologetic coffee nuts Paul and Michelle, this is the premier place for a caffeine fix in Truro. The beans come courtesy of Cornish coffee…
South Bank
South Bank's latest rooftop bar might also be its best. Atop the new Hoxton Southwark hotel, sleek Seabird has palm-filled indoor and outdoor spaces where…
York
This is what a proper English pub looks like – a tiny, 200-year-old wood-panelled room with a smouldering fireplace, decor untouched since 1903, a pile of…
The West End
Merrily undefinable, Sketch has all at once a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, a millennial-pink dining room lined with nonsensical cartoons by British…
Oxford
This thatched and wonderfully rural 800-year-old inn can be reached by road, but it’s more enjoyable to walk half an hour upstream along the Thames Path,…
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
An outdoor stage hosting free gigs, a free jukebox, beer-garden-style seating under one of the brick arches of the Glasshouse Bridge and a sprawling…
Liverpool
A seasonal pop-up bar that specialises in gin cocktails, this is one of the city's coolest summer bars. There's a fine selection of beers if you prefer,…
The Lake District
The clue's in the name – the craft-beer revolution comes to Windermere, with a vast selection of brews: Czech pilsners, weissbiers, smoked lagers, even…
East London
Table service is offered at this narrow, brick-walled bar – but if you like to indulge in conversations with complete strangers, we suggest grabbing a…
North London
This kooky little outlet in a former Victorian bathhouse will not be pigeonholed. As its name suggests, it is many things to many people: a bar, a cafe,…
South Bank
Six months after Dandelyan was named the best bar in the world, renowned mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana closed it down. Reincarnated in that space with…
South Cornwall
Cornwall's best coffee house, bar none, run by committed coffee aficionado Rupert Ellis. The choice of blends, roasts and coffees is enough to fill a 2m…
Zetter Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Behind an unassuming door on St John's Sq, this ground-floor bar is decorated with plush armchairs, stuffed animal heads and a legion of lamps. The…
East London
Perched atop Netil House, this uberhip rooftop cafe-bar offers incredible views over London, with brass telescopes enabling you to get better acquainted…
Exeter
There are few better spots for a pint in town than this fine craft brewery, which makes its own ales and brews its own gin, vodka and more 'experimental'…
Liverpool
One of the friendliest boozers in town is this superb old pub that serves a fine range of local ales (Bier Head, from the Liverpool Organic Brewery, is…
East London
At this fabulous Georgian pub, Hackney locals sup pints under the watchful eyes of hunting trophies, B&W photos of old-time boxers and a large portrait of…
East London
The Dove has a rambling series of wooden floorboard rooms and a wide range of Belgian Trappist, wheat and fruit-flavoured beers. Drinkers spill on to the…
The Midlands & the Marches
Ciders at this independent pub are sublime and most are locally sourced. It's also the tap room for its own Odyssey beers (such as Black Out, a dark-malt,…
Northwest England
Nitro, Chemex, batch brew, siphon…whatever way you want it, this superb cafe in the old parish hall can satisfy even the most demanding coffee connoisseur…
North York Moors National Park
The hamlet of Beck Hole is home to the wonderfully atmospheric Birch Hall Inn, where it's like stepping into the past. The 'bar' is a tiny sitting room,…
North London
This beautiful Grade II–listed Georgian pub boasts a splendid antique interior, with open fires in winter. It has a knack for making you stay longer than…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
This industrial minimalist space, all light wood and artsy flags hung from the corrugated metal ceiling, is the taproom of Manchester-based Cloudwater…
Yorkshire
A favourite watering hole of poet Philip Larkin, Hull's oldest pub has been serving ale since 1729. Oak floors and roof beams, dark-wood panelling and a…
East London
Small neon red lettering is the only sign that you're about to enter a world-class cocktail bar. With an ever-changing drinks menu, snug booths, crazy…
Stratford-upon-Avon
To truly appreciate Stratford's olde-worlde atmosphere, join the locals for a pint at the town's oldest pub. Built in 1470, this thatch-roofed treasure…
Kensington & Hyde Park
Tomtom has built its solid reputation on amazing coffee: not only are the drinks fabulously presented, but the selection is dizzying: from the usual…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
This fantastic cocktail bar-cum-restaurant fills with a fun and hedonistic crowd while the garden at the back is the venue for many a summer drinking…
Bristol
Mud Dock epitomises the laid-back charm of Bristol's harbourside. In this long attic bikes, fairy lights and a massive metal swordfish hang from the…
Greenwich
Housed in a delightful bow-windowed, wood-beamed Georgian building directly on the Thames, this 200-year-old tavern is one of the few independent pubs…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
Taking beer seriously, standout Draft House – where middle-class cash and high expectations effortlessly dovetail – is no slouch. There's 18 ales, stouts…
South Cornwall
Probably the greatest idea ever, anytime, anywhere: a prime pub and brilliant bookshop rolled into one, meaning you can browse for reading material before…
Bristol
Sixty-five craft beers, 60 cocktails (£8 to £9) and a hundred-and-something (who's counting?) spirits draw style-conscious drinkers to this chilled-out…
