The Cosiest Pubs In London, According To Our Editors
There are few things London does better than a proper pub once the temperature drops. The best ones don’t need a seasonal makeover: they already have fireplaces, dark wood, low ceilings, little corners to disappear into and the sort of lighting that makes ordering another pint feel entirely reasonable. From tiny Belgravia boozers to Hampstead institutions, these are the London pubs we’ll be retreating to until spring.
The Windsor Castle
There’s old, and then there’s a pub that has been pouring drinks since the reign of George IV. The Grade II-listed Windsor Castle dates back to around 1826 and sits between Kensington, Notting Hill and Holland Park, retaining plenty of the character you’d hope for from a pub approaching its 200th birthday. Come autumn, the dark timber, low ceilings and old-fashioned rooms are exactly where you want to be with a pint, preferably after a wander around nearby Holland Park.
Where: 114 Campden Hill Rd, London W8 7AR
Website: www.thewindsorcastlekensington.co.uk
The Royal Standard
Tucked down a residential street in the Tonsleys, The Royal Standard has all the credentials of a proper neighbourhood pub. It’s small, warm and unfussy, with stained-glass windows, cosy corners and the sort of atmosphere that makes popping in for one pint particularly dangerous. Real ales are a speciality, alongside craft beer and wine, and there’s none of the gastropub theatre here — in fact, the pub doesn’t serve hot food, keeping things firmly focused on drinks and bar snacks.
Where: 1 Ballantine St, London SW18 1AL
Website: www,royalstandardwandsworth.co.uk
The George
The George has been standing on Great Portland Street since the 18th century, and although its latest incarnation has given the pub a smart update, it hasn’t lost the bones of a very good old London boozer. Downstairs is made for pints of Guinness and Irish whiskey, while upstairs you’ll find The Gluepot, an intimate private dining room. There’s plenty of history here too: over the centuries, the pub has been associated with London’s political, literary and cultural crowds.
Where: 55 Great Portland St, London W1W 7LQ
Website: www.thegeorge.london
It’s hard to find really decent pubs in this part of town, but The George is near-perfect. Excellent food, grand original features mixed with gorgeously cosy interiors, and dark corners to huddle in on wet London afternoons.
Astrid, Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor
The Grenadier
Finding The Grenadier is half the fun. Hidden down Wilton Row behind Belgrave Square, this tiny former officers’ mess is one of those pubs that feels miles away from London despite being slap bang in the middle of Belgravia. Inside, it’s wonderfully eccentric and unapologetically old-school, right down to the banknotes covering the ceiling. Space is limited, which only adds to the cosiness, so squeeze in, order a pint and accept that you might be staying considerably longer than planned.
Where: 18 Wilton Row, London SW1X 7NR
Website: www.grenadierbelgravia.com
The Victoria
Paddington isn’t necessarily the first place that springs to mind when you think of cosy London pubs, which makes The Victoria even better. Dating from 1864, the Grade II-listed Fuller’s pub retains some remarkable Victorian features, with gilded mirrors and historic bar fittings downstairs. Head upstairs, however, and you’ll find its Library and Theatre bars, which feel made for hiding away with a drink after a cold walk through nearby Hyde Park. There’s a real fire, too, completing the winter-pub checklist.
Where: 10A Strathearn Pl, Tyburnia, London W2 2NH
Website: www.victoriapaddington.co.uk
The Pineapple
The Pineapple is exactly what you want from a neighbourhood pub: slightly tucked away, packed with locals and largely uninterested in becoming anything other than a very good boozer. Built in 1868, the Kentish Town free house still has its Grade II-listed bar, with a rotating selection of ales and a Thai kitchen taking care of dinner. It gets busy, but that’s rather the point. Nab a table, order a pint and let the windows steam up around you. The Pineapple
Where: 51 Leverton Street
Website: www.thepineapplepubnw5.com
The Anglesea Arms
Tucked onto a residential street in South Kensington, The Anglesea Arms feels pleasingly removed from the busier parts of the neighbourhood. It’s traditional without feeling too polished, with dark wood, old prints, closely packed tables and a dining room that becomes particularly inviting once the nights draw in. Food is taken more seriously than at your average local too: the pub has previously held an AA Rosette, with hearty seasonal dishes making this as good for a long Sunday lunch as it is for a pint at the bar.
Where: 15 Selwood Terrace, South Kensington, London SW7 3QG
Website: www.angleseaarms.com
I always find myself going back to The Anglesea Arms in every season, but when it starts to get colder it really comes into its own. Rumour has it, it has the most working fireplaces in London (3).
Mallory, Junior Food & Drink Editor
The Holly Bush
You have to climb one of Hampstead’s steeper little streets to reach The Holly Bush, which makes getting through the door feel all the more rewarding. The historic pub is a maze of wood-panelled rooms, with a real fire, cask ales and plenty of corners to settle into after a walk across Hampstead Heath. Add a plate of proper pub food and this is about as close as London gets to convincing you that you’ve escaped to a village for the afternoon.
Where: 22 Holly Mount, Hampstead Gate, London NW3 6SG
Website: www.hollybushhampstead.co.uk
The Red Lion
You’d struggle to find a London pub more steeped in political history. Sitting between Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament, The Red Lion stands on the site of a tavern recorded as far back as 1434, while the current Grade II-listed building dates from around 1890. Inside, it retains much of its historic pub character, with original fittings and a grand Victorian gin-palace feel spread across three floors. Charles Dickens was once a regular, and its proximity to Westminster made it a longstanding haunt of politicians and prime ministers. Come for a pint of cask ale, find a corner upstairs and enjoy being somewhere that feels very much part of old London. Red Lion Westminster
Where: 48 Parliament St, London SW1A 2NH
Website: www.redlionwestminster.co.uk
The Old Queen’s Head
A proper little Victorian free house, The Old Queen’s Head has all the makings of an excellent cold-weather pub. The beer is a major part of the appeal, with regularly changing cask ales and ciders alongside stout, porter and a particularly good whisky shelf. It’s intimate, independent and refreshingly straightforward: somewhere to meet a friend for one pint and realise several hours later that neither of you has made any attempt to leave.
Where: 44 Essex Rd, London N1 8LN
Website: www.theoldqueenshead.com
