There is no city quite like London for the art of the pint.

Beneath her fog-kissed skyline and cobblestone veins, the humble pub stands eternal.

A hearth for poets and punters alike, where laughter lingers in the rafters and every scratch on the bar tells a tale. From the hallowed wood of Soho’s snug corners to the riverside hum of Southwark’s alehouses, the capital’s pubs are less about drink and more about belonging.

Here, the beer is but a chorus in a greater song. A song sung in clinking glasses, soft amber light, and the unhurried poetry of good company. So raise your glass, dear wanderer, and follow us through London’s labyrinth of legend and laughter. For within these ten fine taverns, the Parched Pan Poets found not just ale, not just food, but the very rhythm of the city’s heart.

Let us take you on a guided journey through the 10 Best Pubs in London. A variable banquet of bar snacks and beer, in the best of the best.

1. The Churchill Arms - Kensington (est.1750)

   

   Initial Impressions — Rating: 4.5

   Turn the corner on Kensington Church Street and you’re met not with a pub, but a botanical spectacle. The Churchill Arms rises like a floral fortress. Thousands of flowers, hanging baskets, and flag‑trimmed greenery spilling down brick walls in joyful excess.

   Inside, the history and the eccentricity shake hands. Churchill memorabilia fills every inch of the walls, from newspaper clippings, wartime posters, portraits, old pub tokens, brass trims, and patriotic clutter that somehow feels charming, not kitsch.

   It’s busy. It’s proud. It’s unabashedly British, and somehow also quietly Thai.

   A pub with two souls, and both beating loudly.

   Vibe / Atmosphere — Rating: 4.6

   Expect energy — proper, bustling, elbows‑brushing‑elbows energy. Locals, tourists, snapshots in progress, Thai aromas, and the hum of people genuinely delighted to be here.

   There’s a cheerful tourist‑meets‑neighbourhood blend. Sit for a quiet pint if you tuck into a corner, or embrace the social buzz by the bar. In winter, fairy lights and flowers turn it into something almost storybook.

   It isn’t quaint; it’s lively and unapologetically confident — and that’s exactly the charm.

   Menu & Food Offering — Rating: 4.4

   Forget pie mash and roasts, here the kitchen steams with wok heat and Thai spice, a unique partnership that has defined the pub for decades.

   Expect fragrant, comforting favourites cooked fresh and served fast:

   • Chicken pad Thai, with lime and crushed peanuts

   • Beef massaman curry, tender and warmly spiced

   • Green chicken curry creamy, herbal, aromatic

   • Pad krapow, with basil bite and fiery chilli

   • Spring rolls, crisp and sweet‑sauced

   It’s hearty, flavourful, and perfectly unexpected, a curry and a pint in a floral palace.

   Signature Bite: Chicken pad Thai, steaming, sweet‑savory, citrus‑bright, best eaten with a cold lager within arm’s reach.

   Beverage Selection — Rating: 4.5

   Fuller's anchors the taps, London Pride, ESB, seasonal brews with crisp lagers and an approachable wine list. Nothing experimental here; this is classic pub drinking.

   But the context matters; a pint of Pride tastes different beneath a canopy of flowers and Winston staring down from a sepia frame.

   Reliable pours, well kept, and cold beer with Thai spice just works.

   Staff Interaction — Rating: 4.5

   Efficient, quick‑moving, polite even under steady customer stream. The bar team handles crowds with practiced confidence, and the Thai kitchen staff are a well‑oiled machine of woks, flames, and friendly nods.

   Expect warmth without fuss, speed without rush. They’ve done this thousands of times and it shows

2. Ye Old Mitre - Holburn (est. 1546)

   
   

   

   Initial Impressions — Rating: 4.7

   Hidden down a narrow alley off Hatton Garden, Ye Olde Mitre is a reward for those who seek it. This 16th‑century alehouse feels untouched by time. The timber beams, uneven floors, and a hush that seems to have followed it through centuries of London life.

   There are no gimmicks. No loud signage or modern noise. Standing at the bar feels like stepping into a preserved chapter of Tudor London, where real ale is poured with reverence and conversation is a quiet privilege. Ye Olde Mitre boasts the oldest continually held license in London, making it the oldest pub in London. There may be older established buildings, but Ye Olde Mitre is a pub that has always been a pub.

   
   

   Vibe / Atmosphere — Rating: 4.8

   A busy pub, with many 1 by 1 walkways and stairwells, and the undeniable presence of history. Regulars lean in close, guardians of tradition, while newcomers enter with reverent curiosity.

   Warm light flickers against varnished oak panels, and the snug rooms feel almost sacred, a pub where ale is sipped, not rushed, and where every corner whispers old stories. Winters here are magical; stepping inside from the cold feels like a pilgrimage fulfilled.

   

   
   

   Menu & Food Offering — Rating: 4.4

   Not a gastropub, and proudly so. Ye Olde Mitre champions the humble, time‑honoured British pub snack. Sturdy, salty, satisfying bites that pair with ale as naturally as history pairs with London.

   
   

   • Hand‑carved ham rolls with English mustard

   • Traditional pork pies, rich and jelly‑lined

   • Scotch eggs (warm if you’re lucky)

   • Mature cheddar & Branston pickle rolls

   • Pickled onions with proper crunch

   
   

   No plates of pretence — just honest fare that suits oak tables and cask ale.

   
   

   Signature Bite: Pork pie with a dab of English mustard: a simple, triumphant celebration of tradition.

   
   

   Beverage Selection — Rating: 4.7

   Real ale served with respect, not speed. Fuller’s classics pour alongside rotating guests, each pint conditioned and handled with care.

   
   

   Expect slow, steady pulls and a head formed with patience. A ritual that rewards those who understand ale as craft, not commodity.

   
   

   Staff Interaction — Rating: 4.7

   Quiet confidence and genuine warmth. Staff here do not perform hospitality, they embody it. Ask about the building’s stories and eyes will brighten. Treat the pub with respect and you’ll find yourself welcomed into its rhythm.

   
   

   This is a pub run by caretakers of heritage, not trend‑chasers or marketers.

   
   

3. The Pride of Spitalfields — Spitalfields

   

   Initial Impressions — Rating: 4.7

   Tucked just off Brick Lane’s bustling market energy, The Pride of Spitalfields appears like a living postcard from London’s pub history. A cosy, carpeted room of chatter, amber ale, and heritage charm.

   This isn't a curated museum-piece pub — it’s the genuine article, where pint glasses clink beneath framed pub lore and the soft shuffle of regulars settling into their evening routine.

   And yes, Lenny the pub cat reigns supreme, patrolling the bar with royal disinterest and occasional affection.

   
   

   Vibe / Atmosphere — Rating: 4.7

   Warm, intimate, and unmistakably East End. No loud music, no neon, no fuss — just chatter, laughter, and the clink of proper pint glasses.

   Locals greet each other like old friends, and newcomers are quietly welcomed into the fold. It’s the kind of pub where you can hear your thoughts and actually talk — no booming playlists or polished performance.

   Expect stories in every corner, and perhaps the occasional spirited darts game or football debate across the bar.

   
   

   Menu & Food Offering — Rating: 4.3

   A pub that remembers food's original purpose: support the pint, nourish the soul, and keep you happily planted at your stool.

   
   

   Expect classic, humble British staples:

   • Warm sausage rolls, flaky and pepper-kissed

   • Pork pies with proper jelly

   • Cheese & Branston pickle rolls

   • Pickled eggs (a test of character)

   • Crisps and Scampi Fries for the purists

   
   

   No fuss, no pretence. Just snackable, salty comfort that suits the wood, the carpet, and the cask.
   

   

   Signature Bite: Sausage roll — flaky pastry, warm spiced filling, eaten with one hand while guarding your pint with the other.

   
   

   Beverage Selection — Rating: 4.5

   Real ales kept beautifully, poured without hurry or ego. Fuller’s classics anchor the taps, joined by rotating guest ales, crisp lagers, and a properly poured Guinness.

   It’s a pint pub — not a cocktail lab, not a craft IPA sermon — just honest, good beer served the way London intended.

   
   

   Staff Interaction — Rating: 4.6

   Friendly in that unmistakably London way: warm, sharp-witted, and refreshingly genuine. No corporate script, no forced hospitality — the staff here know their regulars, their pub, and their pints.

   Ask politely about the history and you’ll get stories. Show respect and you’ll be looked after like a local.

   Even Lenny, the feline landlord, might grace you with a nod — the pub’s highest honour.
   

4. The Harwood Arms - Fulham Initial Impressions — Rating: 4.6

   Tucked into a quiet Fulham residential street, The Harwood Arms doesn’t shout,

   it whispers with confidence. There’s no flashy signage or Michelin theatrics at the door, just a charming frontage and the comforting hum of diners who clearly know they’ve found something special.

   

   Inside, it feels like a country inn that wandered into London and decided to stay. Wood tones, soft light, subtle taxidermy nods to Britain's game heritage, and staff who greet you like you've been expected all along.

   
   

   It’s refined but unpretentious. The kind of place where boots or brogues both feel at home, and every diner arrives hungry for something quietly remarkable.

   Vibe / Atmosphere — Rating: 4.8

   Relaxed but purposeful. Conversations here happen in low, contented murmurs — diners leaning in, plates being admired, anticipation hanging warmly in the air.

   
   

   

   There’s an elegant country‑house calm about the place, softened by London’s easy sophistication. No theatrics, no rushing, no background playlist trying to set the mood; the food and the space do that themselves.

   
   

   Come for a slow lunch or a thoughtful dinner; either way, time seems to soften at the edges.

   Menu & Food Offering — Rating: 4.9

   A love letter to British game and seasonal woodland produce. This is countryside soul dressed in quiet finesse. Even the simplest dish feels deeply considered.

   

   Expect rotating plates highlighting the season, but signatures often include:

   • Venison Scotch egg: crisp, molten, rich with game flavour

   • Fallow deer with celeriac & elderberry: tender and deeply wintery

   • Game terrine with pickles and warm sourdough

   • Cornish brill with brown butter and sea herbs

   • Wild garlic mash when in season

   • Honey tart or rhubarb dessert to finish

   Ingredients are treated with reverence, plating is elegant without fuss, and flavours speak in clear, confident tones.

   

   
   

   Signature Bite: Venison Scotch egg, the benchmark for British gastropub cooking, as rich and precise as any Michelin dish should be.
   

   Beverage Selection — Rating: 4.7

   A thoughtful wine list with British and European highlights, beautifully balanced for game‑led cooking. Ales and ciders chosen with intention, Champagne for celebrations, and dessert wines that pair like old poetry.

   
   

   Not loud, not showy, just impeccably judged.
   

   Staff Interaction — Rating: 4.8

   Professional without pretence. Warmth without performative charm. Staff here are story-tellers, they know the farms, the seasons, the craft behind each plate.

   
   

   Ask about the deer and they'll talk provenance and ageing. Ask about wine and you’ll get guidance without snobbery.

   
   

   It feels like dining with people who love what Britain grows and raises, and want you to love it too.
   

5. The Harp - Covent Gardens

   

   Initial Impressions — Rating: 4.6

   Tucked just off the theatre‑laced bustle of Covent Garden, The Harp stands narrow, wood‑trimmed, and glowing — a beacon for real‑ale pilgrims and Londoners who prefer conversation to chaos.

   
   

   Inside, stained glass gleams, portraits watch with quiet approval, and a short bar lined with immaculate cask pumps promises sincerity with every pull.

   
   

   No roar, no flash — just the gentle hum of a pub that has earned its reputation not by reinvention, but by devotion to the pint.
   

   Vibe / Atmosphere — Rating: 4.8

   The Harp feels like stepping into a warm chapter of London’s pub history. Cosy, bustling, and proudly traditional. Regulars lean elbow‑to‑wood, murmuring ale notes like sommeliers in flat caps.

   
   

   It’s intimate — a little tight, a little lively — but that closeness is part of the charm. Conversations overlap in friendly waves, glasses clink bright and true, and the air carries the comforting scent of hops.

   
   

   Upstairs, a snug room offers calm for those who seek it — a whispered refuge from theatre crowds and city whirl.

   
   

   

   Menu & Food Offering — Rating: 4.2

   Food here is humble and pub‑pure — sustenance for session drinkers and lovers of British simplicity.

   
   

   Expect hearty, classic bites:

   • Sausage rolls, rich and pepper‑warm

   • Pork pies

   • Crisps and Scampi Fries

   • Sandwiches stacked behind the bar on good days

   • Pickled eggs for traditionalists

   
   

   Nothing fancy, nothing forced — just honest fuel for ale.

   
   

   Signature Bite: Warm sausage roll with golden flaky pastry and gentle spice — washed down with a perfectly conditioned pint.
   

   Beverage Selection — Rating: 4.6

   A temple to real ale. The Harp’s cask selection rotates with purpose, showcasing Britain’s finest independent brewers alongside beloved staples.

   
   

   Expect:

   • Beautifully kept cask ales

   • Crisp lagers

   • Traditional ciders

   • Guest beers curated with pride

   
   

   Each pour is slow, steady, and reverent — a celebration of ale as craft, not commodity.
   

   Staff Interaction — Rating: 4.7

   Efficient, quick‑smiling, and deeply knowledgeable about every beer that flows through the pumps. There’s pride here — not showmanship, but genuine satisfaction in pouring the perfect pint.

   
   

   Ask about a beer and you’ll get tasting notes. Order thoughtfully and you’ll earn a nod of respect.

   
   

   A London pub team at its finest — honest, warm, and quietly expert.
   

6. Princess Louise - Holburn Initial Impressions — Rating: 4.4

   Stepping into the Princess Louise is like walking through a velvet‑curtained portal into Victorian London. Every inch gleams with history — etched mirrors, polished brass, tiled floors, and wood‑panel partitions forming intimate drinking snugs that feel almost ceremonial.

   
   

   This isn’t simply a pub; it’s a preserved moment in time, where the gaslight imagination is alive and well, and where one half expects top‑hatted gentlemen and corseted theatre‑goers to materialise at the bar.

   
   

   It’s grand without being ostentatious — history not as museum, but as living, drinking space.
   

   Vibe / Atmosphere — Rating: 4.7

   A gentle, resonant hum fills the room — clinking glasses, low conversation, and footsteps on polished wood. Even when busy, there’s a hush of refined conviviality, as though the ornate decor itself demands respect.

   
   

   Locals speak softly in snugs, tourists gaze upward in awe, and ale devotees gather at the long bar for Sam Smith’s famous pours. The pub feels intimate yet regal — a place where time lingers and every sip feels deliberate.

   
   

   In colder months, the warm glow and close spaces make it feel like a velvet‑lined refuge from modern hurry.
   

   Menu & Food Offering — Rating: 4.1

   The Princess Louise is a pub that knows its lanes and races down them with pride: classic comfort, generous portions, and just enough global influence to keep things interesting. The grand Victorian splendour sets the stage, but it’s the warming pies, fiery chicken, creamy dips and crunchy seafood that keep you seated longer than planned.

   It’s straightforward food delivered with confidence—never trying too hard, never pretending to be something it’s not. Just hearty sustenance in a pub that feels like London’s living room.

   Stand outs include:

   - Kentish Hop Sausage & Mash

   A proper, honest plate: plump sausages with a malty depth, silky mash, a rich onion gravy, and—because this is Victorian London after all—onion rings towering proudly beside. Robust, warming, and deceptively elegant.
   

   - Samuel Smith’s Steak, Shin & Ale Pie

   The star of the menu. Slow-braised shin gives a deep, sticky richness that mingles with ale gravy in all the right ways. The mash is soothingly creamy, the roasted carrots sweet and earthy. It’s the sort of pie that makes you forget other pies exist. - Whipped Feta, Freekeh & Chickpeas with Grilled Dukkha Flatbread

   A gentle, Mediterranean detour—cool, aromatic, and textured. Each scoop of feta, herb, and grain carries a hum of basil and mint, balanced against warm, nutty flatbread. - Korean Fried Chicken with Gochujang Aioli & Hot Chilli Honey

   A knockout. Sweet heat, crisp edges, and a sticky gloss that catches the amber glow of the lamps above. A dish that would happily sit in a Soho izakaya, yet feels perfectly at home in Holborn. Come for the charm of the venue, stay for the divine food on offer, and pair it with a Samuel Smith. What more could you want?
   

   Beverage Selection — Rating: 4.4

   The star here is Samuel Smith’s — famously traditional, proudly independent, and unbelievably well priced for central London.

   
   

   Expect:

   • Cask Old Brewery Bitter

   • Sam Smith’s stout and lager

   • Still cider

   • Classic spirits and traditional mixers

   
   

   No craft rotation, no cocktail theatrics — just perfectly kept beer with Yorkshire backbone, poured beneath chandeliers worthy of a royal ballroom.
   

   Staff Interaction — Rating: 4.6

   Polished, poised, and quietly attentive. Staff navigate the ornate maze of woodwork and mirrors with ease, maintaining a calm command of the bar even at peak times.

   
   

   Service reflects the pub’s spirit — measured, respectful, and genuinely warm once familiarity settles in. Ask about the building’s history and you’ll spark gleaming pride.
   

7. Lamb & Flag - Covent Garden

   

   Initial Impressions - Rating: 4.5

   Tucked down a narrow lane in Covent Garden, the Lamb & Flag greets you with creaking timber, lantern light, and centuries of London breath still clinging to its walls.

   Nicknamed “The Bucket of Blood” in another lifetime — when bare‑knuckle fights were settled in the alley — this pub hasn’t forgotten its scrappy past. Yet it balances grit with charm: polished wood, brass rails, and the warm glow of a place that has outlasted fashions, monarchs, and movements.
   

   You feel London history the moment you step inside — Dickens drank here, poets scribbled here, and if walls carried voices, these would roar with stories.

   "Where Dryden once dodged shadows deep, And poets traded ale for sleep, The Lamb & Flag still pours its cheer, A winter hearth for far and near.

   
   

   With venison wrapped in pastry gold, And braised beef warming hearts grown cold, A haddock fried in ale-soaked light Turns London’s chill to sheer delight.
   

   So wander in from cobbled ways, Let triple-cooked chips end your days, For here, where history clinks each glass, The tales of old and new amass."
   

   Vibe / Atmosphere - Rating: 4.6

   A lively hum fills the room — not rowdy, but spirited, in true London pub tradition.

   After‑work laughter, theatre‑bound chatter, and the clink of glasses beneath old beams create an atmosphere thick with camaraderie. The snug upstairs room is a refuge for those seeking a quieter pint, while downstairs thrums with pub‑born energy.
   

   It feels authentic, unpolished in all the right ways, and proudly aware of who it is: a survivor, a storyteller, a proper Covent Garden local.
   

   Menu & Food Offering - Rating: 4.2

   The Lamb & Flag remains one of London’s steadfast culinary sanctuaries. It doesn’t chase trends; instead, it honours history by cooking the food people actually want to eat—simple, honest, warming plates made with pride. Whether you come for a celebratory pie, a winter spritz, or the squid that’s becoming a minor local sensation, you’ll leave with your appetite satisfied and your imagination stirred by 400 years of stories.

   It is a pub where the past sits comfortably beside the present, where dishes feel both familiar and freshly polished, and where the fires of old London still glow softly beneath the hum of modern Covent Garden nights.
   

   Expect:

   • Steak & ale pie with rich gravy and flaky crust

   • Fish & chips, golden and crisp

   • Sausage & mash with onion gravy

   • Sunday roasts on weekends

   • Hand‑cut chips, Scotch eggs, pork pies

   
   

   Nothing fancy, nothing fussy — just food that fits the room and feeds the moment.

   Signature Bite: Steak & ale pie — warming, robust, and best enjoyed with a deep amber pint and a seat by an old pane of glass.
   

   Beverage Selection - Rating: 4.5

   A trusted lineup of cask ales, classic lagers, and proper beer‑lover staples.

   Expect well‑kept real ales, rotating bitters, sessionable pints, and traditional cider. No gimmicks — just dependable pours, poured properly.

   It’s a place for ale first, everything else second.
   

   Staff Interaction - Rating: 4.6

   The staff handle the ebb of theatre crowds and wandering history‑seekers with easy confidence. Friendly without fuss, quick on a busy night, and happy to offer a recommendation for a first‑timer.
   

   This is hospitality the London way — brisk, warm, and rooted in pride for the pub’s heritage.
   

8. The Blackfriar - Blackfriars Initial Impressions - Rating: 4.5

   Standing proud at the end of Queen Victoria Street, The Blackfriar looks more cathedral than pub — all carved stone saints, copper reliefs, and curving architecture that seems to hum with history. Built in 1875 and later transformed into an Art Nouveau masterpiece, it’s one of London’s true drinking landmarks.

   From the outside, you half expect Gregorian chant; inside, you’re greeted instead by polished brass, soft light, and the comforting aroma of ale. This is the kind of pub where monks and modern drinkers would happily meet halfway — over a pint and a plate of something classic.
   

   

   
   

   Vibe / Atmosphere - Rating: 4.7

   Few pubs carry atmosphere like this. The room glows in amber light, music low, conversation gentle. Every surface tells a story: carved friars, sculpted vines, gilded sayings about joy and honesty.

   Despite its architectural grandeur, it’s welcoming — not lofty. Tourists snap photos, office regulars unwind, and first‑timers fall quiet for a moment just to take it in. It’s theatrical in the best way: reverent, but warm, with laughter echoing softly off marble and brass.
   

   Menu & Food Offering - Rating: 4.3

   The kitchen delivers the kind of hearty British comfort that fits the space — honest, flavourful, and served with quiet confidence.
   

   Expect:

   • Smoked haddock fishcakes with parsley sauce• Sausage & mash with caramelised onion gravy• Crispy pork belly with apple and sage• Beer‑battered haddock & chips• Halloumi burger for the modern touch• Bread & butter pudding for the traditionalist

   Each dish feels grounded, hearty, and true to the building’s soul — food that warms rather than performs.
   

   Signature Bite: Smoked haddock fishcake — soft, savoury, and just nostalgic enough to make the pint beside it taste like memory.
   

   Beverage Selection - Rating: 4.4

   Ale and architecture are equal attractions here. Fuller’s mainstays share the bar with seasonal guests, European lagers, and a tight wine list.
   

   Each pint feels part of the ritual — poured slowly, reverently, with the same care that built the building itself. Not a place for flights or cocktails; here, one perfect pint is all you need.
   

   Staff Interaction - Rating: 4.6

   Friendly and unhurried, the staff balance the demands of curious tourists and relaxed locals with patience and professionalism. They know their history and happily share it between pints, telling tales of friars, architects, and the building’s brush with demolition.
   

   Service matches the setting — graceful and genuine, as though you’ve entered their quiet sanctuary for good beer and better company.
   

9. Old Shades - Whitehall Initial Impressions — Rating: 4.5

   Just steps from the grand sweep of Whitehall, The Old Shades sits confidently beneath its ornate Victorian frontage — carved stone, polished brass, and a certain old-London swagger that has weathered centuries of statesmen, civil servants, and curious wanderers.
   

   

   Inside, amber light spills across etched mirrors, dark wood panels glow with age, and a long, handsome bar stretches toward the bustle of Parliament’s doorstep. The room hums with a mix of locals, office regulars, and wide-eyed visitors tasting their first real London pint.

   There is history here — not whispered, but worn proudly on every tile and timber.
   

   Vibe / Atmosphere — Rating: 4.6

   The Old Shades strikes a careful balance between grandeur and comfort. The ceilings rise high with ornate Victorian detail, yet the pub retains a warmth that draws you in rather than towering over you.
   

   Afternoons invite quiet conversation: murmured chats over cask ales, city workers unwinding in twos and threes. Evenings thrum with energy as Whitehall spills inside — diplomats, students, tourists, and Londoners alike filling the space with conversation and clinking glasses.
   

   It’s lively without losing its dignity, classic without feeling tired — a London pub that knows exactly what it is.
   

   Menu & Food Offering — Rating: 4.3

   True to its Fuller’s heritage, The Old Shades blends hearty British classics with dependable pub comfort. Expect plates that suit both a quick bite and a settled stay:
   

   • Fish & Chips — crisp, golden, served with chunky tartare

   • Steak & Ale Pie — rich Fuller’s ale gravy with buttery pastry

   • Cumberland Sausage & Mash — pepper-warm, comforting

   • Buttermilk Chicken Burger — crowd favourite

   • Sticky Toffee Pudding — soft, sweet, and indulgent
     

   There’s a quiet pride in how the pub handles tradition — familiar dishes done with sincerity rather than flair.
   

   Signature Bite: Steak & Ale Pie — deep, savoury, and proper London fare, especially with a pint of London Pride in hand.
   

   Beverage Selection — Rating: 4.5

   As a Fuller’s flagship pub, the bar carries its ales in excellent condition. The Old Shades is a safe haven for those who love a well-kept pint.
   

   Expect:

   • London Pride — served beautifully

   • ESB, HSD, and seasonal cask guests

   • Quality lagers

   • Fruit-forward ciders

   • A tidy list of wines and classic pub spirits
     

   Every pour feels intentional, steady, honest, and rooted in the timeless London ale tradition. The Harp’s devotion to cask echoes here, though with a more polished, Victorian air.
   

   

   Staff Interaction — Rating: 4.6

   The team at Old Shades are quick-smiling, professional, and clearly at home behind the bar. They serve with that distinct London blend of efficiency and warmth, friendly without being intrusive, knowledgeable without performance.
   

   Ask about the ale line-up and you’ll get confident recommendations. Mention you’re visiting and you might hear a quick local tip or story about the pub’s past. It’s service shaped by pride and rhythm.
   

10. Ye Olde Watling - City of London Initial Impressions - Rating: 4.6

    Ye Olde Watling sits just off St. Paul’s Cathedral — an oak‑beamed survivor of the Great Fire’s aftermath, rumoured to have been rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren himself to serve his thirsty workmen.

    
    

    Outside, the City bustles with suits and screens; inside, time folds softly. The floors creak, the ceilings dip, and the smell of ale and roasted lunch wafts like a warm handshake. There’s a tangible comfort here — honest, urban, and utterly timeless.

    
    

    It’s a pub that doesn’t shout for attention. It doesn’t need to. The oak does the talking.
    

    

    Vibe / Atmosphere - Rating: 4.6

    City workers unwind beside curious tourists, and somehow it all blends beautifully. The lunchtime rush feels electric — the chatter of contracts, gossip, and laughter underpinned by the smell of chips and steak sandwiches.

    
    

    Later in the evening, the pace softens; low light catches the beams, and the sound becomes a steady rhythm of glass, laughter, and conversation.

    
    

    Upstairs dining offers a quieter retreat, with window views of old London streets that make every pint feel part of something historical.
    

    Menu & Food Offering - Rating: 4.3

    Ye Olde Watling’s kitchen cooks exactly what the building suggests: hearty, brown-gravy Britain with a few gentle flourishes. Think: venison-laced sausages in giant Yorkshires, award-winning steak & ale pies, haddock in pale ale batter, slow-cooked ribs and chops, and enough crumble and sticky toffee to write home about.

    Recent diners aren’t whispering about culinary revolution – they’re saying “great food and service”, “amazing pie”, and “big, satisfying plates.”   If you treat it as a historic pub doing polished comfort food rather than a destination restaurant, it more than holds up its end of the bargain. Make sure you check out the pies:

    • British steak & Nicholson’s Pale Ale pie (Gold at the British Pie Awards),

    • Beef rib, shin & brisket in red wine,

    • Chicken, mushroom & cider pie,

    • Fish pie with cod, salmon & king prawns,

    • Mushroom, red wine & tarragon suet pie (vegan),

    • Rabbit pie with mash and roots.
      

    Beverage Selection - Rating: 4.5

    In the heart of the City of London, Ye Olde Watling stands as a pub that treats beer, spirits and cocktails not as afterthoughts but as co-leading characters. Whether you’re three-quarters through a stew and want a real ale pour brimming with toffee-and-hops notes, or you’ve finished your pie and fancy a gin-fizz spun with craft… this place has you in mind.

    That said, if you're chasing extremely rare whisky bottlings or ultra-specialist guest ales, the promise is there but the evidence on the website is a little muted. My advice: turn up with curiosity, ask the bar team what’s on handpump today, what gin specials and whisky tastings they have — and you may well find you’re in for a proper treat. The bones are strong; the character is solid; the drink-list is built for enjoyment rather than mere filler.

    So raise your glass — whether it’s a crisp, well-pulled cask pint, a botanical-rich gin serve, or a bold whisky neat — and hope that the day’s rotation matches the ambition. Ye Olde Watling appears fully ready for the job.
    

    Staff Interaction - Rating: 4.6

    Efficient during the City rush, cheerful after hours. The staff move with quick grace, pulling pints and fielding questions from tourists about Wren and the Great Fire like seasoned guides.

    
    

    There’s warmth beneath the professional rhythm — they keep the flow going while still finding time to ask how your meal was. That balance of pace and politeness is an art in itself.

10 Best Pubs in London

“Where London Drinks Its Stories”

A Whimsical Ode to Ten Fine Taverns

Down Mitre’s lane where lanterns gleam A hush of oak begins the dream Old cobbles whisper days long spent Where pints are poured like sacrament.

Through Spitalfields with market cheer, A cat keeps watch o’er every beer Warm elbows knock, the laughter rolls A humble snug that stitches souls.

In Fulham’s hearth where stags abide The Harwood’s plates in splendour glide Game-kissed, gentle, wild and wise A country tale in urban skies.

Where Whitehall hums in marble light Old Shades stands steady, calm and bright Statesmen pass and tourists roam Yet every pint still tastes like home.

At Harp’s snug bar near Covent play The actors drift like notes in May A glass is raised, a role begins Where hops and stories weave as twins.

Through Kensington’s bold floral door The Churchill blooms in colour’s roar Thai fire meets ale in fragrant air And blossom crowns the evening fair.

Princess Louise in mirrored grace Reflects the glow of every face A royal hush, a Victorian gleam A polished toast to London’s dream.

The Lamb & Flag, through centuries bold Still hums with tales the West End told A poet’s haunt, a fighter’s den A cheering lamp for wandering men.

At Blackfriar’s carved and stony choir A monk might toast beside the fire Art-Nouveau saints in copper light Bless every sip that ends the night.

And Watling, old and City-strong Holds weary traders in its song With beams that creak and pints that please It settles hearts with honest ease.

So roam these halls of ale and art Where London pours its timeless heart Ten taverns strong, ten stories brewed A pilgrim’s path in amber hued.

Raise your glass to nights well spent To London’s pubs — our sacrament.