London in the sun is hard to beat. To cross one of its many distinguished bridges, light hitting the Thames and towers casting shadows on the riverbank, is to feel a part of the city. Sitting comfortably in a pub garden or on a sun-kissed rooftop might be as rewarding.
But so many pubs in town weren’t built with sunshine in mind. They were built as post-work refuges, places for pints and pies, not long Sunday afternoons after some sort of brunch. To that end, it’s helpful to know where catches the sun.
Below are 50 pubs well suited to summer drinking, at least according to the data from Andrew Wright and Kate Steel, who developed an app, Pubs in the Sun, which shows users which pub is best at any given time of day. With a canny algorithm, Wright has also charted which pubs get the most sunlight on average and noted the best times to visit for maximum tanning. Wright has decided not to list Wetherspoons pubs, but the only sunny one in the top 50 is the Liberty Bounds, in the City. We’ll see you out there for a cold pint in the hot sun.
Central London
Oyster Shed
Sweeping riverside pub with panoramic views over the river, pints from Young’s brewery and classic seafood fare.
1 Angel Lane, EC4R 3AB, oystershed.co.uk
Tamesis Dock
Converted 1930s Dutch barge permanently moored between Lambeth and Vauxhall Bridge with good pints, live music and calamari, burgers, and arancini.
Albert Embankment, SE1 7TY, tdock.co.uk
The Globe
Old boozer for City workers with a decent selection of real ales, an extensive list of gins, and dishes such as fish and chips, burgers, and Caesar salad. Always busy in late afternoon, particularly towards the end of the week.
83 Moorgate, EC2M 6SA, nicholsonspubs.co.uk
The Butcher’s Hook & Cleaver
Right next to Smithfield Market, the pub is set within a former bank and an old butcher's shop and is decorated with frescoes and chandeliers. Not so much a place market traders drink, more visitors and local professionals.
60-63 Smithfield, EC1A 9DY, butchershookandcleaver.co.uk
Marquess of Anglesey
Right in the heart of Theatreland, this is a good pub for those who fancy a drink or two before a show. Always bustling and quite atmospheric.
39 Bow Street, WC2E 7AU, themarquess.co.uk
The Fence
A bar and dining space close to Smithfield Market and the famous British restaurant, St John. Not old school, but boasts a huge beer garden and lots of drinkable roses.
67-69 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6BP, thefenceuk.co.uk
The Butcher’s Hook & Cleaver
Right next to Smithfield Market, the pub is set within a former bank and an old butcher's shop and is decorated with frescoes and chandeliers. Not so much a place market traders drink, more visitors and local professionals.
60-63 Smithfield, EC1A 9DY, butchershookandcleaver.co.uk
The City Pride
Modern pub with jolly service, especially for its fairly transitory locale. Beers, wines and the like and more interesting thanks to a food menu of Neapolitan pizzas.
28 Farringdon Lane, EC1R 3AU, cityprideclerkenwell.co.uk
The Duke of York
Bit of a tricky pub, down to its location by Victoria station (hardly one of London’s hotspots). But for what’s around, it’s a very solid option.
130-134 Victoria Street, SW1E 5LA, dukeofyork-victoria.co.uk
The Clerk & Well
One for food this, with its Sunday Roast particularly good. Nearby is Little Italy: visit Terroni’s.
156 Clerkenwell Road, EC1R 5DU, theclerkandwellpub.co.uk
North London
Assembly House
Buzzing north London pub serving Kentish Town since the 1700s. Good atmosphere, live sport, lots of beers.
292-294 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2TG, greeneking.co.uk
The Lighterman
A fabulous terrace here overlooking the canal and various King’s Cross goings on. Get in early for a space. Food and drink is fine.
3 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH, thelighterman.co.uk
Three Crowns
Very Stoke Newington: big windows, exposed brick, young and moneyed crowd. Good afternoon drinking spot and then gets rowdy in the evening thanks to DJs playing funk and soul.
175 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 0LH , threecrownsn16.com
Narrowboat
Calm pub with a village-like feel. Big sweeping windows, craft beers, old-time pub food and decent service. Best in the daytime.
119 St Peter's Street, N1 8PZ, thenarrowboatpub.com
The Stag Belsize Park
Upmarket Victorian pub with a fancy clientele. Still family run and independent, with 24 beers on tap at any given time and popular roast dinners.
67 Fleet Road, NW3 2QU, thestagnw3.com
The George and Monkey
Lovely spacious pub with craft beers, pizza, and loads of gins. Stunning floorboards and original features.
68 Amwell Street, EC1R 1UU, georgeandmonkey.co.uk
The Beehive
Big, busy Tottenham pub with a huge beer garden, covered and open. A go-to for Spurs fans but don’t let that put you off.
Stoneleigh Road, N17 9JW, beehiven17.com
The Constitution
Refurbished not so long ago and so it feels fairly upscale for dirty old Camden. Has a roof terrace, perfect for sun, and lots of local beers.
42 St Pancras Way, NW1 0QT theconstitutioncamden.co.uk
The Talbot
Lovely old Georgian pub with a decent set of dining rooms, one that rightly gets packed out. They also donate 50p from every pizza sold to Crisis, the homeless charity, which is an elegant move.
109 Mortimer Road, N1 4JY, thetalbotn1.com
The Thornhill Arms
Really, really beautiful pub, this, with what is likely to be the original Victorian bar. Proper pub service. Gets very busy after 5pm.
148 Caledonian Road, N1 9RD, thethornhillarms.com
East London
The Bell Walthamstow
Not the best looking pub by any means but a good laugh. Always a lively atmosphere, with games, cocktails, burgers and hot dogs.
617 Forest Road, E17 4NE, socialpubandkitchen.co.uk
The Red Lion
Proper old East London boozer. Beautiful inside and there’s often live music on. Big space outside.
640 High Road Leytonstone, E11 3AA, theredlionleytonstone.com
The Eagle
Absolute diamond of an old school, no frills boozer. Pints for a fiver, darts board, pool table. Heaven.
103 Wick Road, E9 5AE, no website
The European Pub
Bought by an independent pub group recently and relaunched as a pro-Europe establishment. French-inspired food and a big selection of European beers, weirdly. Nice crowd and a sizeable garden. Very few Reformers about.
557-559 Lea Bridge Road, E10 7EQ, theeuropeanpub.co.uk
The Lord Napier Star
East London new-age boozer with lots of young graphic designers drinking pints and occasionally tequila soda. Outside space has scruffy walls, graffiti and fairy lights. You know? Go on a Monday for £5 margs, frankly.
25 White Post Lane, E9 5ER, lordnapierstar.co.uk
The North Star
Old school community pub with Thai food and pizza. Warm welcome, solid selection of beers and a good-sized garden.
24 Browning Road, Bushwood, E11 3AR, northstar.pub
The Duke of Wellington
260 Haggerston Road, E8 4EP
The Holly Tree
Good old boozer, quite big and grand, with 25 beer lines. Usually dogs running about. People like the roasts.
141 Dames Road, E7 0DZ, thehollytreepub.co.uk
People's Park Tavern
Really lovely garden right next to Victoria Park. Often live music on. One for a long afternoon before shots and dancing.
360 Victoria Park Rd, London E9 7BT, peoplesparktavern.pub
The Griffin
Let’s call it as we see it: hot people drink in the Griffin. It’s a pub for hotties. There’s also an excellent hole-in-the-wall bar across the road, Found.
93 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RD, 020 3745 7496
South London
The Selkirk SW17
Good looking corner pub in bustling Tooting. Loads of character and one of the better Sunday roast south of the river.
60 Selkirk Rd, London SW17 0ES, theselkirksw17.com
The Ram
Big and lively boozer in Wandsworth, not the good side. A place for parties and conviviality.
34 High Street, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1HL, theraminnsw18.co.uk
Skehans
One of London’s best pubs. 10/10.
1 Kitto Road, SE14 5TW, skehans.com
The Pacific Tavern
South east London pub next to Surrey Quays and with a high-end vibe. More about cocktails and upmarket dining but there’s a late-night party vibe come evening, certainly at the weekend.
100 Redriff Road, SE16 7LH, pacifictavern.co.uk
King's Arms
Very Wandsworth the good side. Cabanas out the back for spritzes and tanning. A Young’s pub for south west London.
94-96 Wandsworth High Street, SW18 4LB kingsarmswandsworth.co.uk
The Station
Once a regular old railway pub, now more fancy with hotel rooms and a wine list. Pub food, beers and a strong back bar. Garden is more chilled and a good size.
14 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5NB stationhotelhithergreen.co.uk
The Red Lion
If there’s a best Oxford v Cambridge boat race pub, this might be it.
2 Castelnau, SW13 9RU, red-lion-barnes.co.uk
Honor Oak
Truly a pub for the real ones. Just a pub, basically. Always people in the garden with a pint or two. Piano in the corner for a little sing-song. Great chips.
1 St German's Road, SE23 1RH, honoroak.pub
The Sun
Somewhere to sip spritzes among beautiful young people. Ideal for respite and refreshment after frivolity on Clapham Common.
47 Old Town, SW4 0JL, thesunclapham.co.uk
West London
The Blue Anchor
One for the sailors. Dark pub, plenty of maritime, Naval paraphernalia. Works well as it’s positioned on the river.
13 Lower Mall, W6 9DJ, thechaptercollection.co.uk
Grand Junction Arms
On the canal way out west. Lots of space outside, much of which overlooks the water. Can be lively.
Acton Lane, NW10 7AD, theraminnsw18.co.uk
Defectors Weld
A charming and comfortable upscale boozer with stripped floors, retro lampshades and a fairly elegant snug on the first floor for late nights. The terrace is a new addition post-renovation. Music and spirits and mixers later on.
170 Uxbridge Road, W12 8AA, defectors-weld.co.uk
White Cross
Famous riverside pub with a decking perched over the river. Countryside feel down in Richmond. A day trip sort of place, one for fish and chips and bottles of white wine.
Surrey, Riverside House, Water Lane, TW9 1NR, thewhitecrossrichmond.com
The City Barge
14th century pub in Chiswick, the one with the terrace that floods. A must-visit in London, really.
27 Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, W4 3PH, citybargechiswick.com
Rutland Arms
Modern pub with prosecco and quail’s eggs. Lovely Victorian wooden bar and space outside overlooking the Thames. Well poured pints.
15 Lower Mall, W6 9DJ, greeneking.co.uk
Coach and Horses
Truly one of London’s best-looking pubs, a magnificent Georgian building half covered in ivy. Food to a decent standard, and a cracking beer garden. Popular with the locals.
183 London Road,TW7 5BQ, coachandhorsesisleworth.co.uk
Barmy Arms
Handsome, cosy pub with lots of live music. Fair priced wine list, too.
The Embankment, TW1 3DU, greeneking.co.uk
The Bollo House
Neighbourhood pub that, in fairness, varies from year to year as landlords come and go. But there’s a lovely terrace, live music on Fridays and a quiz on Wednesdays.
13 Bollo Lane, W4 5LR, thebollohouse.com
The Greyhound Kew
Family run gastropub not far from Kew Gardens... and Brentford football stadium. More formal inside, but outside is relaxed, with an outside bar doing lagers and Aperol spritzes.
82 Kew Green, TW9 3AP, thegreyhoundkew.co.uk
