It’s onerous to beat an excellent pub. These communal dwelling rooms may be discovered on excessive streets and aspect streets all through London, and so they’re a few of my favourite locations to spend time with buddies. Whether or not we go to a contemporary gastropub or an inn with wealthy historical past, town’s watering holes are at all times a deal with. I’ve hung out discovering the highest ones over time, and right now I’m going to share my information to the most effective pubs in Clerkenwell with you. Learn on for a listing of my go-to locations on this a part of central London. I’ve included an interactive map as nicely.
Clerkenwell Pubs
Clerkenwell is one among my favourite locations in London. The world manages to strike a stability between being central and being native, and I’ve been coming right here since I moved to the UK capital.
In so doing I’ve frequented an excellent variety of pubs. They’re among the finest locations within the neighborhood, and the highest ones are price coming again to repeatedly.
Whether or not I’m right here to spend a heat afternoon at an out of doors desk, a chilly night cozying up in a wood-paneled room, or a Sunday lunch having fun with a roast, there’s at all times one thing to tempt me to spend time within the pubs on this a part of town middle.
Which is to say I’ve come to know a good few Clerkenwell pubs since shifting to London (it helps that I’ve loads of native buddies who reside within the space). In the present day I need to let you know about my favorites.
Whether or not you’re after conventional British fare or basic English drinks, otherwise you need to discover Clerkenwell pubs which are historic or ones with worldwide type, this space has you sorted.
Every pub on my listing is price a devoted journey in its personal proper, however you possibly can see a number of in a single go to by happening my free self-guided Clerkenwell strolling tour. It’s a good way to find the neighborhood and cease for meals and drinks as you discover.
If you wish to have sufficient time to offer every pub its due, there’s a variety of good lodging on this a part of central London. My prime decide is The Rookery. This Georgian boutique resort is in an ideal location close to Farringdon station, and it’s one among my favourite quirky motels in London. You possibly can guide a room right here.
You possibly can see different choices for locations to remain and guide one right here, too. And if you wish to name a pub home-away-from-home, you possibly can check out my information to the most effective pubs with rooms in London (it mentions a pair locations on this listing!).
1. The Fox & Anchor
I’ll begin my listing of the most effective pubs in Clerkenwell with the Fox and Anchor. Positioned simply off Charterhouse Sq., this place encompasses a slim entrance room with a protracted bar, numerous darkish wooden, and loads of Victorian particulars.
Behind it you’ll discover a warren of historic wood-paneled areas the place you possibly can conceal away for a night. The pub is a good place if you wish to immerse your self in all issues historically British. It does good fish and chips, too.
The Fox & Anchor has visitor rooms upstairs. They’re cozy and stylishly embellished. I’ve loved an ideal keep right here, and it’s one among my prime picks for distinctive lodging in London. If you wish to comply with in my footsteps, you possibly can guide a room right here.
2. The Eagle
Subsequent on my listing of the most effective Clerkenwell pubs is The Eagle. This watering gap on Farringdon Street is understood for being the UK’s first gastropub.
Again in 1991, The Eagle began serving good meals as a substitute of the same old uninspiring pub fare. It sparked a culinary revolution that almost all of us now take without any consideration. The delicacies continues to impress, and the ambiance is at all times buzzing.
Inside, this conventional British pub has a comfy eating room with rustic wood furnishings and many pure mild. There are tables outdoors if you wish to get pleasure from meals or drinks al fresco, too.
3. Outdated Crimson Cow
The Outdated Crimson Cow is one other of my prime picks for pubs in Clerkenwell. Positioned on Lengthy Lane, this Victorian quantity encompasses a easy split-level inside.
The Outdated Crimson Cow is a pub lover’s pub. With few frills and little ornamentation, it focuses on good meals and drinks.
This place serves basic British pub meals, together with fish and chips, hearty pies, and conventional Sunday roasts. It’s additionally recognized for its vary of craft beers, each on draft and in bottles.
4. The George & Monkey
The George & Monkey is one other of my favourite pubs in Clerkenwell. Positioned on fairly Amwell Road, this conventional impartial London watering gap is a good place to get into the world’s neighborhood spirit.
A nook pub, it encompasses a brick facade with eye-catching signage. Colourful awnings shade out of doors tables which are good for sunny afternoons.
Inside, The George & Monkey encompasses a basic pub ambiance with an excellent craft beer menu and a robust wine listing. Be certain that to reach hungry, because the kitchen serves nice stone-baked pizzas.
5. Craft Beer Co.
Subsequent on my listing is the Craft Beer Co. Positioned on Leather-based Lane, this place is all about, nicely, beer. From micro-brewed cask ales to small-batch craft beers and a whole bunch of bottles from everywhere in the world, it has your interior hops lover coated.
The Craft Beer Co. was based in Clerkenwell in 2011 by two London faculty buddies. When the pub opened, it had probably the most beer faucets within the UK (it was overtaken by their Covent Backyard department in 2014). It nonetheless performs host to among the finest breweries throughout the globe.
The inside of the pub is understood for its distinctive glass ceiling and beautiful chandelier. Whereas sipping a pint in these historic environment, you possibly can tuck into sharing platters, pies, Scotch eggs, and different snacks.
6. The Outdated China Hand
On Tysoe Road, the Outdated China Hand is one other well-known pub in Clerkenwell. Grade II-listed, this place is just not solely steeped in historical past, but additionally well-known for being the one pub within the UK that serves an all-British drinks menu.
With a comfy, chill ambiance, the low-lit pub with its easy inside is a good place to get pleasure from a spherical of drinks with buddies. If it’s good climate, you possibly can head outdoor to one of many pub’s iconic barrel tables.
The Outdated China Hand can be recognized for having ping pong, darts, and quite a lot of board video games. It’s an ideal place to return if you’d like some leisure to go along with your drinks (they don’t serve meals right here, however you possibly can carry your personal).
7. Clerk & Effectively
Subsequent on my listing is The Clerk & Effectively. Conveniently positioned on Clerkenwell Street close to Farringdon station, it’s an ideal place to get pleasure from meals and drinks when you’re searching for someplace central.
The Clerk & Effectively claims to be one of many oldest pubs in central London. Refurbished in modern type, it has a contemporary ambiance and nice ambiance.
There are rooms you possibly can keep in, too. Every one is uniquely embellished, and so they all have nice particulars. You possibly can guide a keep right here.
8. Hand & Shears
On Center Road close to Barbican station, the Hand & Shears is one other of Clerkenwell’s finest watering holes. A uncommon Grade 1-listed pub, this conventional spot is understood for every thing from its basic exterior to its choice of actual ales and craft beers.
Established in 1532, the Hand & Shears is now housed in a Victorian constructing from the nineteenth century. Outdoors you’ll see a brick facade with a giant signal that reads “final ales earlier than Newgate public executions”, a nod to the world’s grim previous.
The dark-wood inside is on the Marketing campaign for Actual Ale’s Nationwide Stock of Historic Pub Interiors. Whereas inside, you possibly can get pleasure from award-winning pork pies and a spread of different meals and drinks.
9. The Exmouth Arms
Within the coronary heart of Exmouth Market, The Exmouth Arms is one other of the most effective pubs in Clerkenwell. The intense inexperienced tiled exterior of this Victorian quantity is difficult to overlook.
As soon as in right here, you’ll uncover a spread of craft beers, actual ales, and pub meals to get pleasure from (the burgers are their signature dish).
However what I actually love about this place is its out of doors scene. On heat days, the world across the pub will get full of folks having fun with drinks within the sunshine. It’s an ideal vibe, and nicely price a visit.
10. The Fortress
Proper by Farringdon station, The Fortress is one other of the neighborhood’s hottest pubs. Having fun with a nook location on Cowcross Road, this Grade II-listed public home is an area favourite.
Inside, you’ll discover a historic-meets-modern inside and a bar serving every thing from craft beers to wine and cocktails. The meals menu options classics like burgers and fish and chips, too.
Uniquely, The Fortress additionally has the fitting to commerce as a pawnbroker. Legend has it that this privilege was granted to it by King George IV. You’ll even discover the three gold balls of a pawnbroker on the pub’s facade.
11. The Dovetail
After I spent a summer time working in Brussels, I used to be amazed by what number of totally different sorts of beer Belgium produces. From Trappist ales to lambic brews, there’s one thing for each man, lady, and monk to get pleasure from.
So it’s just about a no brainer that I might select a Belgian pub to spherical out my choice of the highest pubs in Clerkenwell.
With numerous Belgian beer indicators adorning the partitions and no scarcity of brews on provide, The Dovetail is a good place to strive a few of Belgium’s well-known exports.
Map of Pubs in Clerkenwell
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all of the pubs I discussed on my listing. You possibly can see it right here. It might enable you see the place they’re in relation to one another so you will discover those which are handy to you.
Greatest Pubs in Clerkenwell
I hope you’ve loved this information to my favourite Clerkenwell pubs. This space is a enjoyable place to eat and drink in central London, and I’m positive you’ll love these spots as a lot as I do once you’re within the space.
There are tons extra, too. From the Sutton Arms to The Sekforde, Clerkenwell has no scarcity of watering holes to spend time in.
If you wish to see extra, I’ve written rather a lot about pubs in London. You possibly can check out my pub itinerary and my information to the most effective pubs in London for a begin.
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