Going to London this summer: what are the best pubs?

If you are by the Lancaster Gate entrance to Kensington Gardens, there is an old and historic pub called The Swan. Twice I have stayed at hotels on that block and The Swan was one of our hangouts.

What are you looking to do? Good food?

If you just want to have an ale, any pub that looks nice will work. Generally speaking like anything big city, just stay off the tourist streets.

Churchill Arms. I’ve posted this place before. Just west of Kensington Gardens



The Pub

Sutton Arms in Clerkenwell....but not the Fullers owned pub of the same name in the same area.. Its a more locals pub than the overly touristy spots in the center of London. Clerkenwell is a really cool area of London with loads of pubs, restaurants and shops. Other cool pubs there are Shakespeare Head, Betsy Trotwood, Wilmington, etc etc. You could spend all day pub crawling in Clerkenwell.

The Euston Tap: Dedicated cider bar with cask ales and draught beers, in a Victorian gatehouse with beer garden. More of a beer bar than pub..but a cool, unique place to have a beer.

LINK

I second Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.

Also, The Mayflower in Rotherhithe is worth visiting. They have a great Sunday Roast. Almost exclusively frequented by locals.

*ETA: Why is it called “The Mayflower?” Because THE Mayflower—you know, the one with the Pilgrims—used to dock right where the pub is.

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Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

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This!

Multi level. One of oldest. Not far from St Paul’s. Two for one.