London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [157]
REGENT’S PARK
Camden Arms.
On the site of the last fatal duel in Britain, this funky-yet-chill place has plenty of interesting features. Check out the ornate spiral staircase after a good pint of beer. House tunes spun by DJs pervade this pub–lounge every Friday night, and often on Saturday. Modern cocktails are served alongside Thai cuisine. | 1 Randolph St., Camden | NW1 0SS | 020/7267–9829 | www.thecamdenarms.com | Camden.
HAMPSTEAD
The Holly Bush.
A short walk up the hill from Hampstead Tube station, the friendly Holly Bush was once a country pub before London spread this far north. It retains something of a rural feel—there’s even a shoe polish machine by the entrance. Separate rooms with stripped wooden floors and an open fire make it an intimate place to enjoy great ales and organic and free-range pub food. Try the homemade pork scratchings and pickled eggs. | 22 Holly Mount, Hampstead | NW3 6SG | 020/7435–2892 | www.hollybushpub.com | Hampstead.
Spaniards Inn.
Ideal as a refueling point when you’re on a Hampstead Heath hike, this historic oak-beam pub has a gorgeous garden, scene of the tea party in Dickens’s Pickwick Papers. Dick Turpin, the highwayman, frequented the inn. Before Dickens’s time, Shelley, Keats, and Byron hung out here as well. It’s extremely popular, especially on Sunday, when Londoners roll in. It’s also very dog friendly—there’s even a dog wash in the garden. | Spaniards Rd., Hampstead | NW3 7JJ | 020/8731–8406 | www.thespaniardshampstead.co.uk | Hampstead.
PRIMROSE HILL
Engineer.
A gastropub before anyone knew what the term meant, the children-friendly Engineer has an upscale restaurant area (serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner), a stylish carved wooden bar with some good beers on tap, and a garden as well. Expect fresh-cut flowers, a modern British menu on the chalkboard, and lots of young, beautiful people. | 65 Gloucester Ave., Primrose Hill | NW1 8JH | 020/7722–0950 | www.the-engineer.com | Chalk Farm.
SOUTHBANK
Anchor.
Near the Southwark Bridge, this historic pub is today best known as a place to enjoy the riverside views. The pub itself is far from great—service is notoriously slow and the food is probably best avoided—but it gathers a good crowd, especially on summers’ evenings, thanks to its tables set on a good-size terrace right beside the Thames. | 34 Park St., South Bank | SE1 9EF | 020/7407–1577 | London Bridge.
Fodor’s Choice | Anchor & Hope.
One of London’s most popular gastropubs, the Anchor & Hope doesn’t take reservations (except for Sunday lunch), meaning queuing would-be diners snake around the red-walled, wooden-floored pub, kept happy by some good real ales and a fine wine list as they wait for hours for a table. The food is old-fashioned English (think salt cod, tripe, and chips) with a few modern twists. | 36 The Cut, South Bank | SE1 8LP | 020/7928–9898 | Southwark.
The George Inn.
This Southwark pub has quite a history: Shakespeare drank here, Dickens featured it in his writing, and it’s the last galleried inn in London. Now owned by the National Trust, it has a cobblestoned courtyard, which can be a great place for a drink when the weather’s good and there aren’t too many passing tour parties. Inside, several small, low-ceilinged rooms lead through to a middling restaurant, but some say the best way to soak up all the atmosphere is with some pints at the bar. | 77 Borough High St., South Bank | SE1 1NH | 020/7407–2056 | London Bridge.
Market Porter.
Opposite Borough Market, this atmospheric pub opens at 6 am for the stallholders, and always seems busy. Remarkably, it manages to remain a relaxed place, with helpful staff and happy customers spilling out onto the road right through the year. The wide selection of real ales is lovingly tended. | 9 Stoney St., South Bank | SE1 9AA | 020/7407–2495 | www.markettaverns.co.uk