At this time I need to share my information to the very best Christmas pubs in London with you. From festive facades to cheerful decorations and seasonal menus, they’re a number of the finest locations to be within the UK capital every winter. Whether or not you need to cozy up by a fireplace or immerse your self in Victorian yuletide splendor, there’s a pub for you. Should you’re up for visiting the town’s most enjoyable ones this yr, learn on for my high picks. I’ve included a map, too.
Christmas Pubs in London
There are many nice pubs in London. From east to west, there’s one (or 10) in seemingly each neighborhood. However within the run-up to Christmas, a number of stand out above the remainder.
That’s as a result of the UK capital comes alive in the course of the festive season. Twinkling lights and decorations unfold cheer all through the town. The pubs are a spotlight, not least as a result of they’re locations folks get pleasure from spending time warming up and taking within the ambiance.
Whether or not you favor a well-known pub, an area one, a pub on the river, or one close to an iconic attraction or landmark, there’s a spot for you this season.
Ideas for Visiting the Pubs
Visiting pubs is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in London at Christmas. If you wish to go to a number of of them, there are some things to remember.
First, be sure to e-book nicely upfront if you wish to have a meal at one in every of these pubs. That’s significantly true if you happen to’re in a gaggle, but it surely’s a good suggestion regardless. Many pubs begin taking bookings for the festive season as early as August or September, so it’s clever to plan forward.
Second, be sure to verify opening dates earlier than you go, particularly if a pub solely decorates for a sure interval of the Christmas season.
They typically look festive from mid-November to early January, and so they normally announce their menus, schedules and/or Christmas lights switch-on dates a month or extra upfront.
Third, attempt to arrive early or go on a weekday afternoon if you wish to keep away from crowds. That is significantly true if you happen to don’t have a reserving and also you need to eat. Even if you happen to don’t, quite a lot of them get very busy on evenings and weekends. Going firstly of the season will help as nicely.
1. The Churchill Arms
On the subject of pubs in London at Christmas, you may’t beat the Churchill Arms. The facade of this well-known watering gap in Kensington is roofed in flowers all yr, however within the run-up to December twenty fifth it will get a festive makeover.
The Churchill Arms dazzles the eyes with its forested frontage, full with rows of Christmas timber and tens of hundreds of lights.
Should you’re searching for someplace enjoyable for a seasonal meal or pint, it’s the right spot (simply keep in mind they serve Thai meals, so don’t anticipate a conventional British meal).
Every year the Churchill Arms Christmas lights and show illuminate the pub’s facade from mid-November. If you wish to see it and extra of the town’s well-known watering holes in a single go, you may observe my pub itinerary.
2. The Horniman at Hays
Subsequent on my listing is The Horniman at Hays. This widespread riverside pub in London Bridge goes all-out for Christmas yearly.
Situated inside the long-lasting Hay’s Galleria, The Horniman at Hays has over 150 years of historical past. Its atmospheric inside is a draw year-round, what with its friezes, chandeliers, and tiles galore. At Christmas, baubles, garlands, and lights add magic to an already lovely house.
As if that’s not sufficient, The Horniman at Hays is true within the coronary heart of the London Bridge Christmas market. Formally referred to as Winter By the River, it’s dwelling to a protracted row of chalets stretching from Tower Bridge to Hay’s Galleria. It’s one of many greatest and finest Christmas markets in London.
3. The Spaniards Inn
One other of my favourite Christmas pubs in London is The Spaniards Inn. Proper on the sting of Hampstead Heath, it’s one of the vital well-known pubs in Hampstead. It’s lovely at Christmas, too.
The Spaniards Inn dates again to the sixteenth century. The highway narrows round it, and its wood-paneled rooms are dripping with ambiance (and reputed to be haunted, though I haven’t seen a ghost but). In the course of the festive season, it’s decked out with garlands, wreaths, timber, and stockings.
The Spaniards is the right place to cease for lunch on one in every of my free self-guided Hampstead Heath walks. It’s a good way to burn off some Christmas energy and absorb the seasonal ambiance in one of many metropolis’s most historic pubs in sooner or later.
4. The Mayflower
The Mayflower in Rotherhithe is one other of my favourite pubs in London in the course of the festive season. With its centuries-old warren of rooms and historic ambiance, this place is ripe for Christmas cheer.
The Mayflower goes all-out for the festive season. Its yuletide feast is a factor of legends. Suppose warming soups, filling roasts, and Christmas puddings, and also you’ll get the concept.
Add to that eating by candlelight, atmospheric fireplaces, and river views, and this place is the right spot to gap up for Sunday roast in the course of the winter months. You’ll be able to even eat right here on Christmas Day (and if you happen to’re a homesick American like me, they’ve a Thanksgiving menu).
5. The Holly Bush
Should you’ve been studying my weblog for the reason that starting, you’ll know that my favourite pub in London has all the time been The Holly Bush in Hampstead. It was my native, and I nonetheless return each probability I get.
Christmas is not any exception. This beloved watering gap takes the event severely. With garlands, pine cones, lights, and reindeer, its warren of rooms will get a festive spruce within the run-up to December twenty fifth.
Add to that open fireplaces with warming glows and historic ambiance that’s excellent for the winter months, and you’ll’t go fallacious with The Holly Bush at Christmas. There’s even a particular Christmas menu with roasts and all of the trimmings. You’ll be able to eat right here on Christmas Day, too.
6. The Flask
Simply throughout Hampstead Heath, The Flask in Highgate is one other nice pub in London at Christmas. Like The Holly Bush, it’s bursting with allure and has a sequence of historic eating rooms to tuck into.
The Flask is thought for its Christmas choices, too. From its festive menu to decorations that add particular cheer and comfortable fireplaces, this place has quite a bit going for it in the course of the season.
The Flask is open on Christmas Day, and it’s additionally a preferred place for events and occasions within the weeks previous December twenty fifth. Simply reserve nicely upfront, because it books up shortly.
7. The Cadogan Arms
The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea is one other nice Christmas pub in London. Proper on the King’s Highway, this place boasts of a sublime floor ground bar, an opulent eating room, and a non-public occasion house.
The Cadogan Arms is a superb place to be at Christmas as a result of it takes the duty of adorning severely. Lights and garlands praise the Victorian inside decor, making the place match for a feast for Dickens. There are particular seasonal menus beginning in mid-November, too.
Like a number of the earlier pubs on my listing, this one is open on Christmas Day. It’s a terrific place to get pleasure from a festive feast with household and pals. They do a New 12 months’s Eve celebration, too.
8. The Argyll Arms
One other pub that deserves a spot on my listing is The Argyll Arms in Mayfair. This Grade II-listed magnificence from the nineteenth century is ripe for stepping into the Christmas spirit.
Adorned with lights and garlands that carry its beautiful etched-glass “snob screens” to life, The Argyll Arms is a superb place to absorb the Victorian ambiance and revel in seasonal meals and drinks.
This pub has a particular festive menu and a Christmas Day menu, too. You’ll be able to bask in a multi-course meal that includes all the things from hearty soups to roast turkey and seasonal puddings.
If you have to burn off some energy afterwards, my free self-guided Christmas lights stroll in London is simply the ticket. The route goes proper close to the pub.
9. The Gun
The Gun is one other Grade II-listed pub that’s excellent for visiting at Christmas. Proper on the Thames, this place is steeped in historical past and allure for the season.
The Gun advantages from Victorian-inspired Christmas decorations all through its interiors. The coated riverside terrace turns into a magical wonderland in the course of the run-up to December twenty fifth, too.
Add to {that a} vary of festive menus and a New 12 months’s Eve menu, and it’s price a particular journey to the Docklands to see this place in all its seasonal splendor.
10. The Grazing Goat
The Grazing Goat in Marylebone is one other of my favourite pubs in London at Christmas. From meals to decorations, it’s onerous to beat.
Nestled within the coronary heart of New Quebec Road, The Grazing Goat has nice modern-meets-classic vibes. At Christmastime, its upstairs and downstairs eating rooms are decked in wreaths, lights, candles, and pine cones.
Uniquely, this pub additionally has rooms. If you wish to full your festive expertise, you may e-book a room upstairs and name this place home-away-from-home for an evening (or three).
11. Mr Fogg’s Tavern
Proper within the coronary heart of Covent Backyard, Mr Fogg’s Tavern is one other of my favourite watering holes in London in the course of the festive season. This Victorian-style pub on St Martin’s Lane is a deal with at any time of yr, but it surely actually delights at Christmas.
That’s due to the seasonal decorations right here. The pub is stuffed with knickknacks that cowl the partitions and grasp from the ceiling. At Christmas they’re augmented by wreaths, garlands, and baubles.
And that’s to say nothing of the doorway, which is adorned with festive lights and pine boughs. It welcomes locals and guests alike for winter cheer. High tip: go on a Thursday night time for dwell piano music and an old school cockney singalong.
Christmas Pub Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all of the Christmas pubs I highlighted on this weblog put up. Yow will discover it right here. It will possibly enable you plan your visits and get essentially the most out of the festive season in London.
Finest Pubs in London at Christmas
I hope my weblog put up has impressed you to go to a number of of those pubs this season. Visiting them is one in every of my favourite issues to do in London in winter, and I hope the identical is true for you.
There are much more festive pubs dotted all through the town, too. Seasonal decorations shine at locations like The Prince Blucher in Twickenham, the rooftop of The Queen of Hoxton in Shoreditch, and The Lass O’Richmond Hill and The White Cross in Richmond.
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