Pubs: Top 8 must-see pubs in London in 2025!

In this article, I present London's best pubs and what you need to know about these 100 % British locations!

Here you'll find

• A presentation of 8 must-see pubs in London
• Explanations of English pub culture
• Practical information: address, opening hours, etc.
• And much more!

If you're looking for information about London Pubs, you'll love this article.

Follow the guide!

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Pubs in London: what you need to know to enjoy them

Pubs are an essential part of English life, and you'll see them everywhere you go. visit London. These are often very nice establishments, where you can enjoy good beers, but not only!

Unlike our bars, where people come mainly to drink, pubs are for real living and meeting spaces where you can eat, drink and have fun in a 100 % British atmosphere.

Here's what you need to know about these establishments!

How to eat in a pub

The first thing to know is that table service is rare, even when it comes to eating. So don't wait for a waiter to come and take your order! In most pubs, you have to go to the counter. Place your order and collect your food (if you're eating) when your name is called out. Drinks are served immediately.

While beer flows freely in the pubs, you'll find other drinks and a wide variety of local dishes, typical of english gastronomy. This makes it an excellent alternative to London restaurantsfor lunch and dinner.

Secondly, you should know that this is the best place to meet English people. In fact, it's one of the few places where they're open to conversation with strangers, and you could make some fun encounters.

Finally, there are different types of pubs in LondonFrom the oldest, with an atmosphere that will take you back in time, to the most modern, attracting young drinkers and binge-drinking students. The choice is yours!

How old do you have to be to enter a pub in London?

The legal drinking age in England is 18 years old. In fact, some pubs refuse entry to minors, even when accompanied. Other establishments (and some London Clubs) do not accept under-21s.

It is advisable to have a identity document on you, if you plan to order alcohol, just in case!

What time should I go to the pub?

As French people, we tend to go to the pub around 9 or 10 pm, as we would in our bars. But in England, the evening starts much earlier (and ends earlier overall, too), with peak times around 8 pm.

The English eat early on and go out in the early evening. In fact, by midnight (when most pubs close), there aren't many people left.

Please note that pubs are open from 11 a.m. or noonThey're active all afternoon. The atmosphere is relaxed, with games of darts and beer tasting. Come in during the day for a real slice of English life.

Facts and figures about advertising

• The term Pub comes from Public house (a kind of public neighborhood house) and dates back to Roman times. It was the equivalent of the taverns found on Roman roads, with drinking, eating and sleeping facilities.
• There are approximately 50,000 pubs in the UKeven though this figure is tending to fall in line with visitor numbers.
• The most common name for an English pub is The Red Lion!
• We don't ask a beer but a pint or a half (for a half), followed by the name of the beer you want!

Georges Inn, London's oldest pub

• Address: 75 Borough High St, London SE1 1NH
• Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 11am to 11pm / Thursday, Friday and Saturday until midnight / Sunday 12pm to 11pm

Introducing Georges Inn

The George Inn is a historic London pubdating from the 17th century. It is just a few steps from the London Bridge and stands out from the rest for its atypical architecture, with galleries and balconies overlooking the pleasant courtyard. It is listed historical monument!

Frequented by Charles Dickens, who quotes it in several of his works, it now welcomes an eclectic clientele, who come to enjoy a cold beer or a popular fish and chips.

The Prospect of Whitby, a legend on the banks of the Thames

• Address: 57 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SH
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. / Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. / Sunday 12 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Prospect of Whitby presentation

With a privileged location on the banks of the ThamesThis East London pub has seen centuries of some of the world's most infamous customers. Pirates, smugglers and other local gangsters used to meet here, and fistfights and cockfights were regularly organized. Of course, that's all gone now, but you can sip your pint in peace and quiet, imagining this crazy past!

The establishment is superb, with a black/gold facade on a brick wall, the view is magnificent and interior design is packed with historic details. And to make matters worse, the food is excellent. A must-see pub if you're in the area, you won't regret it.

The Newman Arms, a capital city icon

• Address: 23 Rathbone St, London W1T 1NG
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 3pm to 11pm

Introducing the NewMan Arms

This superb establishment, a stone's throw from the British Museum is an elegant pub known for its refined cuisine (including some great meat pies!).

Formerly a brothel, it has redeemed itself and is now an ideal place to relax and enjoy one of the many beers available. It's a pub that will delight those who want to enjoy English ambience without the chaos of some more modern establishments.

 The Grapes, Gandalf's Pub!

• Address: 76 Narrow St, London E14 8BP
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Introducing The Grapes

The Grapes is one of the Pubs of the the City the busiest during happy hour. Businessmen in suits and a clientele of thirty-somethings and over come to relax in a very pretty setting.

It may not look like much from the outside, but just step inside and you'll be swept away by its ambience. And the owner is no stranger, since The Grapes is owned by Sir Ian McKellen, interpreter of Gandalf in the Lords of the Rings ! Who knows, he might come and have a drink here one of these evenings!

The Churchill Arms and its flower-filled façade

• Address: 119 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LN
• Opening hours: daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (from 12 p.m. on Sundays)

Introducing the Churchill Arms

The Churchill Arms is an unusual London pub, and certainly one of the most impressive. Its façade is covered with flowers and plants and can be spotted from afar. Inside, you'll find the same verdant decor, for a soothing atmosphere.

It's an establishment that blends English tradition with the exoticism of Thailand, since the food served is Thai. An explosive mixa must-see if you're passing through Kensington !

The Holly Bush, Hampstead's haunted pub

• Address: 22 Holly Mount, London NW3 6SG
• Opening hours: daily, from 12pm to 11pm

Introducing The Holly Bush

This pub is located in the chic Hampsteadin the heights of London. It's a spacious establishment for lovers of refinement, who can enjoy the excellent cuisine and the family atmosphere of the place. This is one of the best pubs for an English-style night out!

Special mention to his Sunday Roast (a traditional Sunday speciality based on roast meat) that makes you feel like you've been to your English grandmother's house!

The Ten Bells, a Victorian pub with links to Jack the Ripper

• Address: 84 Commercial St, London E1 6QQ, United Kingdom
• Opening hours: daily, from 12pm to midnight, until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Presentation of Ten Bells

This pub is very famous among Londoners, for two particular reasons.

The first is its Victorian decor which has remained intact, with mosaics and paintings on the walls that will take you back in time. The second reason is more sinister, as Ten Bells counted among its customers several victims of the dreaded Jack the Ripper.

To recover from your emotions, you can take a walk to Brick Lanejust a 5-minute walk away!

Anglesea Arms, a real blast from the past

• Address: 15 Selwood Terrace, South Kensington, London SW7 3QG
• Opening hours: daily from 12 am to 10 pm

Anglesea Arms presentation

This pub, which is very popular at the end of the day local youth and thirtysomethings looking for a good time and a good beer. The wide selection of artisanal foams, wines and excellent small dishes in the dining room downstairs will ensure that there's something for everyone.

You'll enjoy the finest decor and attentive service on every visit. For those with a sweet tooth, Sunday Roast is a marvel, but you have to reserve to get a seat!

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