Drink and lie down in one of London’s best pubs with rooms. We’ve rounded up a selection of the best watering holes in town, including a 16th century drunk with boutique rooms in the heart of the city and a cozy urban ski retreat near Oxford Street.
The Fox and the Anchor, Clerkenwell
Located across from Smithfield Market in the heart of Farringdon, the Fox and Anchor is a beautiful and historic pub. The narrow wood-paneled bar is a popular spot for market porters and opens at 7am Monday through Friday for breakfast and beers. The huge ‘City Boy Breakfast’ is filled with eggs, bacon, sausage, blood sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, and beans, and is served with a pint of stout.
Meaty sandwiches such as pork scraps and boards of British charcuterie are served throughout the day, and barbecue dinners are served on Sundays. The six elegant rooms are decorated with photos and prints of the local area, dark walls and luxurious velvet fabrics. Some rooms have fireplaces and bathrooms on wheels and the Market Suite has an outdoor terrace.
How to get there: The Fox and Anchor is a 5-minute walk from Farringdon Station, a domestic train station and a Tube station at Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines.
The Pilot, Greenwich
Located in North Greenwich, the Pilot is a short walk from the O2 Arena and is a great base if you have tickets to see a blockbuster concert at the iconic venue. It sits on a cute cobbled street lined with Georgian cottages and was built in the early 1800s to cater to local coal workers. The bar serves draft ales and microbrews, as well as seasonal British dishes in an open kitchen. In nice weather, sit in the beer garden or head out to the sunny rooftop terrace.
The eclectic rooms feature colorful artwork and giant wooden beds, and come with free Wi-Fi and parking. Arrive in style by hopping on a riverboat (Thames Clipper) or taking the Emirates Air Line cable car from the Royal Docks. Bonus fact: The pub is featured in the music video for Blur’s 1994 Britpop anthem Park Life.
How to get there: The Pilot is less than a 10-minute walk from North Greenwich Station on the Jubilee Line and a 5-minute walk from the Emirates Air Line Station on the Greenwich Peninsula. Thames Clippers operates a river bus service to the O2 Arena.
The Half Moon Pub, Herne Hill
This iconic South London boozer dates back to 1896 and was once a popular spot on the ‘pub rock’ circuit that attracted artists like David Bowie, U2 and Tom Waits. It reopened in March 2017 after a major restoration project after a local flood. Many of the original features, including solid wood paneling, painted mirrors, and intricate windows, remain, but the pub now has a contemporary gastropub look.
On the ground floor you will find a traditional bar area, a light-filled modern restaurant and a cool beer garden with fire pits and a children’s play area. The 12 boutique rooms are named after astronauts who have walked on the moon and are colorful and full of character with thoughtful extras like Marshall digital radios, coffeemakers, and stylish toiletries.
How to get there: The Half Moon Pub is located across the street from Herne Hill Train Station. The station is served by the Thameslink and Southeastern rail networks and is 11 minutes from London Blackfriars and 9 minutes from London Victoria.
The Malt House, Fulham
Part of the Jolly Fine Pub Group, Malt House in Fulham is a fine gastropub restaurant with six elegant rooms. While the building dates from 1729, the interiors are sleek and modern and the restaurant serves contemporary meals. Fill with hearty British dishes like slow-cooked pork cheeks with creamy mash and roast beef served with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings.
Dine in the beautiful courtyard garden in the summer months and retreat to one of the bedrooms, all furnished with king-size beds, elegant wallpaper, flat-screen TVs, and coffeemakers. Rates include WiFi, homemade cookies and mineral water. The pub is within walking distance of Chelsea FC’s hometown, Stamford Bridge, King’s Road and Chelsea Harbor.
How to get there: The Malt House is a 5-minute walk from Fulham Broadway station on the District line.
The bull and the skin
Set amid towering skyscrapers and stylish wine bars, Bull & The Hide is a modern take on a traditional boozer. It was originally built as a residence for a local nobleman and parts of the building date back to 1550. Sip a pint from the downstairs copper bar and fill up on classic pub food like Scottish pastries and eggs.
The first floor dining room serves more substantial dishes with ingredients sourced from the Billingsgate Fish Market and Smithfield Meat Market. The seven rooms are decorated in light grays and soothing pastel colors and feature toiletries by British perfumer Miller Harris. From some rooms, you can spy on the Gherkin skyscraper.
How to get there: The Bull & The Hide is less than 5 minutes’ walk from Liverpool Street Station, a national train station and a Tube station at Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines.
The goat grazing, Marylebone
A couple of blocks from Oxford Street, the Grazing Goat at Marylebone’s Portman Village is a stylish gastropub with eight cozy rooms. With its roaring fires, mounted deer heads, and chandeliers made of antlers, it has an urban ski cabin vibe.
The bar serves local ales and hearty snacks, while the upstairs dining room offers a Best of British menu of classic gastropub dishes such as beer battered with fish and chips and lamb tenderloin. Rooms are spread over three floors and feature wooden sleigh beds, light gray walls, sumptuous launches, and gadgets from Bang and Olufsen.
How to get there: The Grazing Goat is less than 5 minutes’ walk from Marble Arch Tube Station on the Central Line.
