Historic London Pubs with a View

One of London’s great treasures is it’s fantastic array of public houses. There are perfect pubs for every occasion and taste, and for me some of the best are those which combine great food and drink with fun history, ambience, and a killer view.

Here are ten of my faves from across London with a variety of gorgeous views both inside and out, and colourful histories to add to the fun:

The Gun – Canary Wharf

I LOVE this pub! Apparently so did Lord Nelson, who lived just down the road and would frequent the pub – and its private upstairs rooms – with Lady Emma Hamilton for their not-so-secret liaisons. Today the guns and smugglers and ‘secret liaison’ rooms are gone but ambiance is better than ever.  In the winter, the cozy fireside rooms are so welcoming; and in the summer, the fab terrace is the perfect place to soak up the sunshine. In any weather, the drink selection is great, the food is amazing, and the views over the Thames to the iconic O2 are worth it on their own.

Trafalgar Tavern — Greenwich

On the other side of the river in maritime Greenwich the Nelson theme continues with the lovely Trafalgar Tavern, complete with a statue of Nelson out front and maritime artwork throughout the pub. That said, it wasn’t actually here during Nelson’s era. It was here during Charles Dickens’ era though and served as the setting for the wedding scene in his novel ‘Our Mutual Friend’. Today the riverside views from both inside and outside are superb, not to mention the gorgeous flower baskets and nautical flags that give the riverside seating a festive feel year-round.

Princess of Wales – Blackheath

Just south of Greenwich is the picturesque village of Blackheath and the Princess of Wales Pub. Named for Princess Caroline of Brunswick who lived just across the heath, it’s actually better known for its longstanding ties to the Blackheath Rugby Club (the oldest in the world). In fact, the pub served as the changing rooms during the first ever international match between England and Wales, which was played there on the heath in 1871. Today this lovely pub is bursting with charm both inside and in its beer garden, with a fab selection of craft beers and British fare. But my personal fave on a sunny day is to grab a drink to enjoy just outside on the gorgeous heath itself.

The Grapes — Limehouse

The Grapes – originally ‘The Bunch of Grapes’ – has stood on this spot in Limehouse for nearly 500 years (though the current building dates back to the 1700s). Rumour has it that Charles Dickens used to write here, and today there are plenty of nods to Dickens and even a collection of his works available for patrons to peruse while they drink. And it’s adding to its centuries of history with a historic owner – Gandalf himself Sir Ian McKellan. Even without all the history, it’s a great little pub with yummy pub food and a gallery overlooking the Thames, with colourful Limehouse Basin just around the corner.

The Mayflower — Rotherhithe

A little further along the river is another historic pub, the Mayflower – the oldest on the Thames.  In July 1620 the Mayflower ship took aboard 65 passengers from the mooring site just below as they started the journey to America. Today, there’s a Mayflower Descendants book you can ask to see, and if you can prove a family connection to the original voyage you can sign it yourself! The pub has been beautifully renovated with a lovely riverside terrace to enjoy in the summer and a roaring fire inside in the winter, and a candlelit restaurant upstairs.

The Anchor — Southwark

Looking out across the river at St Pauls and the London skyline, the Anchor is the sole surviving riverside inn from Shakespeare’s day, and was popular with actors and patrons of the original Globe Theatre just as it is today. It was also from the balcony here that Samuel Pepys watched London burn in 1666. Funnily, while the Anchor survived the Great Fire, it burned down the following year and has been rebuilt and renovated several times since. But something that has remained through the centuries is the fun atmosphere and amazing views over London.

The Dickens Inn – St Katherine’s Docks

Just around the corner from the Tower of London and overlooking the lovely St Katherin’s Dock is the Dickens Inn. It would have been a warehouse in have been a warehouse in Dickens’ day, though, but is still packed with history. Originally built in the 1700s as a tea factory or local brewery, it was later converted into a public house, and in 1976 re-opened by the grandson of Charles Dickens himself. With three stories, several timbered balconies, two beer gardens and multiple rooms to enjoy, it’s hard to beat the view or the food and drink as you watch the boats move in and out of the docks.

Old Bank of England – The City

Set in the heart of the City, the Old Bank of England wins the award for most stunning interior, and is arguably much more fun as a pub than as a bank! It’s also more fun for customers today than in Sweeney Todd’s day, when the bank was right between the barber shop and Mrs Lovett’s pie shop. Today it still boasts gorgeous high ceilings, custom made chandeliers and finance-themed murals. Throw in classic British pub fare and a nice selection of beer and wines and you’ve got a lovely pub. Outside, they have a vintage double-decker bus that’s been turned into a bar, serving delicious beers and food while sitting among the many historic buildings of the financial district.

The Narrowboat – Islington

Tucked away in a lovely spot on Regent’s Canal is the Narrowboat. Originally called the Star in the 1800s it would have been a popular place for the local warehouse workers as well as those transporting goods along the canal. Today it’s a posh little two-story pub overlooking the canal and the colourful narrowboats below. The outside maintains its Victorian roots; inside it’s got a more modern feel with long, narrow rooms that feel a bit like a narrowboat itself. The best seats though are on the canal-side balcony – the perfect spot for a drink or a meal on a sunny day.

Churchill Arms – Kensington

The best view at the Churchill Arms is the pub itself – gorgeous year round and always worth a visit for the floral displays and Christmas lights. It was named for Sir Winston Churchill after WWII, but the links to Churchill go back more than a century when his grandparents were patrons; and the pub (formerly the Church-on-the-Hill) dates back to 1750. Despite all of that history, one of my fave ‘historic’ facts is that it claims to be the first pub to serve Thai food, a tradition that’s been adopted by pubs across the city. Whether or not it was the first, it’s definitely one of the best places to get yummy Thai food while surrounded by super fun décor inside and out.

Ten Historic London Pubs with a View

I could go on and on, but will stop with ten. I hope you’ve found this list inspiring to get out and enjoy the fab history, views and very British tradition of pub life — After all, it’s always pub-o’clock in London!