With the sheer number of boozers in the capital city (3,535 to be exact); it’s pretty difficult to know which ones are worthy of a visit. But luckily for us, the alehouse aficionados over at The Telegraph have done the hard work for us. They’ve done the research, crunched the numbers like a bag of pork scratchings, and revealed the very best pub in each and every English county. Someone had to take it for the team, I suppose.
They pub-crawled their way across the country, getting some local intel as they went, and have just revealed the winning watering hole in each of the 48 counties. And although I’m sure the other 46 are wonderful; there are really only two that we care about. The two that are in London. So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to the two London pubs that have been named among the best in the entire country.
Blythe Hill Tavern, Greater London
Officially crowned the best pub in Greater London, Blythe Hill Tavern is no stranger to receiving shiny accolades. The CAMRA award-winning, Catford-based boozer is beloved for its warm, welcoming atmosphere, its cosy, nostalgic vibes, and – of course – its blooming great beer. Split into three separate sections, Blythe Hill Tavern always boasts an impressive calendar of events, including quiz nights and live music nights. And they also have big old back garden for whiling away sunny afternoons (remember those?).
📍 You’ll find Blythe Hill Tavern at 319 Stanstead Road, SE6 4US.
🚇 Nearest stations are Catford and Catford Bridge.
The Cockpit – City of London
Credit: @beautifulboozers via Instagram
Snapping up the taproom trophy for the City of London is The Cockpit. Aptly named after the age-old pastime that used to take place there, this Grade II listed spot serves up history and charm by the pint-load. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral, this backstreet boozer stands on the site of a house once owned by none other than William Shakespeare – and dates all the way back to the 16th century. Serving up an array of different ales and some decent pub grub, and decorated with memorabilia from the pub’s past; a trip to The Cockpit is a real historic gem, slap-bang in the middle of the city.
📍 You’ll find The Cockpit at 7 St Andrew’s Hill, EC4V 5BY.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and St Pauls.
Read the Telegraph’s full list of the best pub in every English country here.
