5 Best Pubs in London (2026)

Waxy O'Connor's is a sprawling Irish pub on Rupert Street at the edge of Soho, spread across six levels linked by winding staircases, with a centerpiece beech tree imported from Ireland rising through the middle of the room. It runs four distinct bars under one roof, each with its own character, and leans into Irish hospitality with steak and Guinness pie, Irish stew and oysters alongside a wide whiskey and beer selection. It's a regular stop for rugby fans during the Six Nations and hosts live music most weekends, and it's open from midday most days.

Old Shades is a Grade II listed traditional pub on Whitehall, just off Trafalgar Square, that has served the neighborhood since 1898. It specialises in British pub classics: beer-battered fish and chips, homemade pies and a Sunday roast menu the pub has kept going as a weekly tradition, backed by a broad range of British ales and a worldly wine and spirits list. It's a small, historic room rather than a sprawling venue, and it leans on that intimacy as much as the food.

The Sherlock Holmes is a Victorian-themed pub in St James's, a stroll from Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, with a history stretching back centuries and an interior built around the Sherlock Holmes theme. It runs a full food menu alongside the drinks offer and is known for accommodating groups, though its size means service can slow down under heavy footfall.

The Lamb & Flag is a Fuller's pub on Rose Street in Covent Garden, tucked down a quiet alley, that has been serving pub classics for generations. It's known for its pies and beer-battered fish and chips, and for the kind of old-school charm reviewers say goes beyond basic pub food, all served in a compact, characterful room with dark wood and leather seating.

The Harp is a traditional Fuller's ale house on Chandos Place in Covent Garden, a narrow, unchanged-for-decades pub built around cask and keg ales, ciders and perries sourced from around the country. It's the only pub in London to have won CAMRA's National Pub of the Year award, and it keeps a private room available for small event bookings.