With Wimbledon, the World Cup and a stream of great weather, we are in the midst of a summer of fun. One of the best ways to make the most of it is to visit one of the capital’s many sun-kissed pubs, bars and beer gardens.
But so many pubs in town weren’t built with sunshine in mind. They were built as post-work refuges, places for pints and pies, not long Sunday afternoons after some sort of brunch. To that end, it’s helpful to know where catches the sun.
Below are 50 pubs well suited to summer drinking, at least according to the data from Andrew Wright and Kate Steel, who developed an app, Pubs in the Sun, which shows users which pub is best at any given time of day. With a canny algorithm, Wright has also charted which pubs get the most sunlight on average and noted the best times to visit for maximum tanning. Wright has decided not to list Wetherspoons pubs, but the only sunny one in the top 50 is the Liberty Bounds, in the City. We’ll see you out there for a cold pint in the hot sun.
Central London
Oyster Shed
Sweeping riverside pub with panoramic views over the river. Offers pints from Young’s brewery and classic seafood fare.
Tamesis Dock
Converted 1930s Dutch barge permanently moored between Lambeth and Vauxhall Bridge with good pints, live music and calamari, burgers, and arancini.
The Globe
Old boozer for City workers with a decent selection of real ales, an extensive list of gins, and dishes such as fish and chips, burgers, and Caesar salad. Always busy in late afternoon, particularly towards the end of the week.
The Butcher’s Hook & Cleaver
Right next to Smithfield Market, the pub is set within a former bank and an old butcher's shop and is decorated with frescoes and chandeliers. Not so much a place market traders drink, more visitors and local professionals.
Marquess of Anglesey
Right in the heart of Theatreland, this is a good pub for those who fancy a drink or two before a show. Always bustling and quite atmospheric.
The Fence
A bar and dining space close to Smithfield Market and the famous British restaurant, St John. Not old school, but boasts a huge beer garden and lots of drinkable roses.
The City Pride
Modern pub with jolly service, especially for its fairly transitory locale. Beers, wines and the like and more interesting thanks to a food menu of Neapolitan pizzas.
The Duke of York
Bit of a tricky pub, down to its location by Victoria station (hardly one of London’s hotspots). But for what’s around, it’s a very solid option.
The Clerk & Well
One for food this, with its Sunday Roast particularly good. Nearby is Little Italy: visit Terroni’s.
North London
Assembly House
Buzzing north London pub serving Kentish Town since the 1700s. Good atmosphere, live sport, lots of beers.
The Lighterman
A fabulous terrace here overlooking the canal and various King’s Cross goings on. Get in early for a space. Food and drink is fine.
Three Crowns
Very Stoke Newington: big windows, exposed brick, young and moneyed crowd. Good afternoon drinking spot and then gets rowdy in the evening thanks to DJs playing funk and soul.
Narrowboat
Calm pub with a village-like feel. Big sweeping windows, craft beers, old-time pub food and decent service. Best in the daytime.
The Stag Belsize Park
Upmarket Victorian pub with a fancy clientele. Still family run and independent, with 24 beers on tap at any given time and popular roast dinners.
The George and Monkey
Lovely spacious pub with craft beers, pizza, and loads of gins. Stunning floorboards and original features.
The Beehive
Big, busy Tottenham pub with a huge beer garden, covered and open. A go-to for Spurs fans but don’t let that put you off.
The Constitution
Refurbished not so long ago and so it feels fairly upscale for dirty old Camden. Has a roof terrace, perfect for sun, and lots of local beers.
The Talbot
Lovely old Georgian pub with a decent set of dining rooms, one that rightly gets packed out. They also donate 50p from every pizza sold to Crisis, the homeless charity, which is an elegant move.
The Thornhill Arms
Really, really beautiful pub, this, with what is likely to be the original Victorian bar. Proper pub service. Gets very busy after 5pm.
East London
The Bell Walthamstow
Not the best looking pub by any means but a good laugh. Always a lively atmosphere, with games, cocktails, burgers and hot dogs.
The Red Lion
Proper old East London boozer. Beautiful inside and there’s often live music on. Big space outside.
The Eagle
Absolute diamond of an old school, no frills boozer. Pints for a fiver, darts board, pool table. Heaven.
The European Pub
Bought by an independent pub group recently and relaunched as a pro-Europe establishment. French-inspired food and a big selection of European beers, weirdly. Nice crowd and a sizeable garden. Very few Reformers about.
The Lord Napier Star
East London new-age boozer with lots of young graphic designers drinking pints and occasionally tequila soda. Outside space has scruffy walls, graffiti and fairy lights. You know? Go on a Monday for £6 margs, frankly.
The North Star
Old school community pub with Thai food and pizza. Warm welcome, solid selection of beers and a good-sized garden.
The Duke of Wellington
A classic English pub that faces onto a courtyard. Lovely for a sunny day.
The Holly Tree
Good old boozer, quite big and grand, with 25 beer lines. Usually dogs running about. People like the roasts.
People's Park Tavern
Really lovely garden right next to Victoria Park. Often live music on. One for a long afternoon before shots and dancing.
The Griffin
Let’s call it as we see it: hot people drink in the Griffin. It’s a pub for hotties. There’s also an excellent hole-in-the-wall bar across the road, Found.
South London
The Selkirk SW17
Good looking corner pub in bustling Tooting. Loads of character and one of the better Sunday roast south of the river.
The Ram
Big and lively boozer in Wandsworth, not the good side. A place for parties and conviviality.
Skehans
One of London’s best pubs. 10/10.
The Pacific Tavern
South east London pub next to Surrey Quays and with a high-end vibe. More about cocktails and upmarket dining but there’s a late-night party vibe come evening, certainly at the weekend.
King's Arms
Very Wandsworth the good side. Cabanas out the back for spritzes and tanning. A Young’s pub for south west London.
The Station
Once a regular old railway pub, now more fancy with hotel rooms and a wine list. Pub food, beers and a strong back bar. Garden is more chilled and a good size.
The Red Lion
If there’s a best Oxford v Cambridge boat race pub, this might be it.
Honor Oak
Truly a pub for the real ones. Just a pub, basically. Always people in the garden with a pint or two. Piano in the corner for a little sing-song. Great chips.
The Sun
Somewhere to sip spritzes among beautiful young people. Ideal for respite and refreshment after frivolity on Clapham Common.
West London
The Blue Anchor
One for the sailors. Dark pub, plenty of maritime, Naval paraphernalia. Works well as it’s positioned on the river.
Grand Junction Arms
On the canal way out west. Lots of space outside, much of which overlooks the water. Can be lively.
Defectors Weld
A charming and comfortable upscale boozer with stripped floors, retro lampshades and a fairly elegant snug on the first floor for late nights. The terrace is a new addition post-renovation. Music and spirits and mixers later on.
White Cross
Famous riverside pub with a decking perched over the river. Countryside feel down in Richmond. A day trip sort of place, one for fish and chips and bottles of white wine.
The City Barge
14th century pub in Chiswick, the one with the terrace that floods. A must-visit in London, really.
Rutland Arms
Modern pub with prosecco and quail’s eggs. Lovely Victorian wooden bar and space outside overlooking the Thames. Well poured pints.
Coach and Horses
Truly one of London’s best-looking pubs, a magnificent Georgian building half covered in ivy. Food to a decent standard, and a cracking beer garden. Popular with the locals.
Barmy Arms
Handsome, cosy pub with lots of live music. Fair priced wine list, too.
The Bollo House
Neighbourhood pub that, in fairness, varies from year to year as landlords come and go. But there’s a lovely terrace, live music on Fridays and a quiz on Wednesdays.
The Greyhound Kew
Family run gastropub not far from Kew Gardens... and Brentford football stadium. More formal inside, but outside is relaxed, with an outside bar doing lagers and Aperol spritzes.
