Riverside Pubs
There are few London pleasures as great as sitting in an old pub on the shores of the Thames, watching the world go by. Particularly when the weather is good and you have a pint in hand, a lazy summer afternoon at a hospitable riverside pub is hard to beat...
Dozens of pubs overlook the Thames, but we have focused on the easily accessible London pubs that have a special location or character that make a visit well worthwhile.
These are our favourites:
The Dove, Hammersmith
This small pub has entertained drinkers for over 300 years, allowing several generations of locals and visitors the opportunity of keeping an eye on maritime happenings on this stretch of the Thames. The best spot from which to view the rowers and sailors is from the river-edge terrace, but space is limited. The adjacent conservatory also has good views of the river, and the pub interior - with its low-beamed ceilings and cosy wall settles - is hardly 'second best'.
On our visit we missed out on a riverside spot, but were happy enough by the open fire. The understated charm of the bar is a positive in this age of 'cashing in on history', and this is an ideal spot to wile away a sunny afternoon.
Location: 19 Upper Mall, W6.
Getting There: Ravenscourt Park or Hammersmith, then 10 min walk.
The Tattershall Castle, Embankment
Location, location, and location are the three best virtues of the Tattershall Castle. There are few simpler pleasures than dozing on this floating pub, watching the Thames lazily drift by, with the ever-turning London Eye and Big Ben as a backdrop, and with a cool pint in hand.
If the activity up on deck gets too much, there are plenty of open spaces and secluded corners below decks to keep all punters happy. There is a restaurant and nightclub within the bowels of the ship as well, but the real pleasure is to be had with the wind in your hair enjoying the fantastic view.
Location: Victoria Embankment.
Getting There: Embankment Tube. Short walk along the Embankment towards Westminster, moored almost opposite the Eye.
Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
Great views of the Thames, a cobbled courtyard, bags of atmosphere, and nearly five hundred years of serving pints - say no more.
Location: 57 Wapping Wall, E1.
Getting There: Short walk from Wapping Tube.
Bull's Head, Chiswick
Right on the river, the Bull's Head is a popular sixteenth-century inn said to have been a hiding spot of Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War. If this pub is crowded, the City Barge (founded 1484) is only a few yards away.
Location: 15 Strand on the Green, W4.
Getting There: A few minutes' stroll from Gunnersbury Tube.
Anchor Bankside, Southwark
Few pubs have as much of a history as this small riverside inn, and the Anchor has a scruffy old air about it too. Perhaps this is understandable, with the present building dating from 1770, although a pub has stood here for ten successive centuries. Samuel Johnson wrote part of his famous dictionary here - between rounds of course.
Location: 34 Park Street, SE1.
Getting There: London Bridge Tube, follow the signs for The Globe.
Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich
Built in 1837 on the site of an earlier pub, the Trafalgar is a Greenwich institution (see picture at the top of this page). Featured in Dickens' "Our Mutual Friend", the pub has attracted its fair share of important visitors, who no doubt enjoyed the impressive views of the Thames, which in more recent times have also included an eyeful of the Dome. Very busy.
Location: Park Row SE10.
Getting There: Greenwich Tube or Cutty Sark DLR, follow the river east (heading towards The Dome), passing the Royal Naval College.
The White Cross, Richmond
Richmond has a number of riverside pubs - although at least a couple are of the soulless Pitcher and Slug variety. The old perennial however is the White Cross, a large landmark on the rivers' edge that has been known to flood the carpark on occasion. With a large beer garden and a couple of floors of nooks and crannies, the White Cross can still get very full, very fast.
Location: Riverside, Richmond.
Getting There: Richmond Tube or Pier, 5 minute walk down towards the river.
The Old Ship, Hammersmith
A short stroll from the Dove, the Old Ship has occupied an enviable riverside perch for centuries. Making the most of its positioning, there is a spacious second floor balcony, and plenty of outside seating. The interior is welcoming too, and on our visit the Thai Red Curry was a cut above standard pub grub and the perfect accompaniment to a John Smith's.
One of London's best 'Sunday paper and a pint' spots.
Location: 25 Upper Mall, W6.
Getting There: Ravenscourt or Hammersmith Tubes, then 10 minute walk.
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