There is are pubs literally everywhere in London. You can barely turn a corner without coming across another extraordinary Public House. There are over 3,540 pubs in the capital but this list of extraordinary venues in London will make sure you’re always able to find a unique place to go. Whether it’s one of the oldest pubs in London or the pub that gave birth to Madness, your bucket list will be expanding quickly with these unusual London pubs.
The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town
Hidden Venue Experience
12-16, Artillery Lane, Shoreditch, E1 7LS
Imagine a Speakeasy that is in a basement. Cool right? You must request to see the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town and then go through a Smeg Fridge before you get its location. Behind the fridge is a lovely venue with vintage furniture, Canadian Whisky, and tonnes of surprises. You’ve just got to find them!
The Prospect of Whitby
Historic Venue Experience
57 Wapping Wall, Wapping, London E1W 3SH
Prospect of Whitby is one of London’s oldest pubs, and the exterior is adorned by an old execution dock used for sea crimes in times gone by. It’s always a fight for seat on the terrace because of its great views of both the Thames and London.
Brewdog Outpost Tower Hill
Social Activity Venue Experience
21 Great Tower St, Billingsgate, London EC3R 5AR
Brewdog Tower Hill has a unique take on the traditional pub, with 25 craft beer taps, one of which they brew themselves. They have a great space, with shuffleboard tables and arcade games. They also have a pub quiz and a merchandise shop with an adults’ vending machine that’s also a beer fridge.
The Churchill Arms
Class Pub Vibe Experience
119 Kensington Church St, Kensington, London W8 7LN?
The Churchill Arms might not be one of the quirkiest pubs in London on the inside, but they make up for it with their outside. They spend around £25,000 per year on florals and have won nine awards as a result. The Churchill Arms was the first pub in London to serve Thai food making it a perfect venue to grab a pint and something to eat.
De Hems
Historic Venue Experience
11 Macclesfield St, West End, London W1D 5BW
De Hems is proud to be the only Dutch pub in London with an extensive selection of beers. Some were even championed by Dutch sailors and members of the Dutch WWII resistance. De Hems is popular with both locals and tourists, who can enjoy their favorite beer.
The Dickens Inn
Class Pub Vibe Experience
Marble Quay, St Katharine’s Way, Tower Hill, London E1W 1UH
The pub, in an eighteenth-century warehouse, features stripped wooden floors and beamed ceilings. You’ll find a group of lads drinking pre-drinks for a night out in one corner, a family eating in another, and a birthday party happening in another. Eclectic London at its finest. If you can nab a table on the terraces overlooking the dock and Tower Bridge, you won’t want to move from your seat all afternoon.
The Anchor Bankside
Historic Venue Experience
34 Park St, London SE1 9EF
The oldest and most enduring tavern in the Bankside district of London is 850 years old, contains museums of history of 800 years, is famous for being one of the most watched spots when it comes to the Great Fire of London in 1666, has survived not just the Great Fire but also another fire in 1676. Good effort! This pub is owned by Greene King, and it’s a beautiful spot that overlooks Tower Bridge and the Thames.
The Dublin Castle
Lively/Eventful Experience
94 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN
The Dublin Castle has character, and I really like that it embodies its history. Blur, Coldplay, and The Killers are some of the big names that used to drink in here and it is not unheard of for Amy Winehouse to be behind the bar as well because she used to live upstairs!
Four Thieves
Beer Fest Experience
51 Lavender Gardens, London SW11 1DJ
Four Thieves is one of a kind! You can find games, comedy performances, over 350 types of gin and tonic, and they have a beer that is brewed on site. It’s not fair to forget that Four Thieves also has a whole floor dedicated to games. There’s a Moonshine Raceway which lets you race your mates on a remote controlled track, a Virtual Reality station that hosts an escape room and a bunch of other games. If you prefer a quiet drink, you can settle down in the new taproom which only serves craft beers brewed at the venue.
Tattershall Castle
Lively/Eventful Pub Experience
Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2HR
If you have motion sickness, the boat may not be for you. The Tattershall Castle Pub is one of the most unusual pubs in London. It’s on a boat and has beautiful views of Westminster and the London Eye. In London, you can always get a pint instead of coffee at the end of your day because it’s one of the coolest pubs in town.
The Marquis
Lively/Eventful Experience
51-52 Chandos Pl, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HS
This is my favorite pub in London. It’s not touristy and the music is up-beat. You may also be greeted by someone you don’t expect – you never know who will greet you there. The inside is cozy and intimate with an inflatable Norwich football club mascot near the bar. If you want to stand outside the building instead of keeping your seat, there’s a small street outside that has the claim to fame as London’s smallest street.
The Old Bank of England
Class Pub Vibe Experience
194 Fleet St, Holborn, London EC4A 2LT
One of the most interesting pubs in London on Fleet Street. It’s located inside the old Law Court’s building of the old Bank of England. There cant be too many opportunities to get a chance to drink at a pub above vaults that once held gold and the Queens Crown Jewels?!
Mr Fogg’s
Quirky Pub Experience
Choose from six locations around the city; details here
Mr. Fogg’s provides six venues that can offer any experience for customers. The thematic venues have rich botanical decor in all of their locations. Mr. Fogg’s is most like a tavern, because its memorabilia include taxidermy behind the bar.
Waxy O’Connors
Quirky Pub Experience
14-16 Rupert St, West End, London W1D 6DD
Waxy O’Connors is one of the largest Irish pubs in London, with a preserved tree trunk, four bars on six different floors, and interconnecting wonky staircases. You can sit at tables or chairs in nooks and crannies, overlooked by mezzanines that overlook lower levels. They often play major sports games on TVs and have regular live music events.
