Thirteen Cool & Quirky Pubs in London to Enjoy A Pint At

Last updated on June 20th, 2023 at 10:12 pm

If there’s one thing that London excels at, it’s pub drinks. Whether it’s a modern bar, after work watering hole or a cosy corner for a Sunday roast, you can barely turn a corner in London without coming across another good old Public House. There are over 3,540 pubs in the capital, but these quirky pubs in London will make sure you’re never short of ideas for somewhere unique to visit. Whether it’s one of the oldest pubs in London or the pub that birthed Madness, your London bucket list will be expanding in no time with these unusual London pubs.

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Thirteen Quirky Pubs in London: A-Z

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The Anchor Bankside

34 Park St, London SE1 9EF

Steeped in history, The Anchor is Bankside’s oldest surviving tavern, with a drinking establishment standing on that site for over 800 years. Clientele of The Anchor were varied, from actors working at then-neighbouring The Globe theatre, to Samuel Pepys who watched the Great Fire of London from “a little alehouse on Bankside” in 1666. The pub remained untouched by the Great Fire of London, however was rebuilt after another fire in 1676. Further renovations in the nineteenth century revealed numerous hiding places for contraband, adding pirates and smugglers to the list of previous punters. Today this quirky London pub is owned by Greene King and provides a beautiful sunny drinking spot overlooking Tower Bridge and the Thames.

Brewdog Outpost Tower Hill 

21 Great Tower St, Billingsgate, London EC3R 5AR

The first ‘Brew Pub’ in the BrewDog family, the Brewdog Outpost in Tower Hill has to be one of the coolest pubs in London. Boasting over 25 craft beer taps, at least one of the beers is brewed on site at any one time, with the in-house tanks giving a New York-esque industrial vibe. It’s not just the amount of taps giving Brewdog Outpost ‘cool London pub’ status, but the addition of three shuffleboard tables, arcade games, a weekly pub quiz and a merchandise shop means there’s never a dull day. Want one for the road? Their takeaway beer fridge is an adults’ vending machine heaven.

The Churchill Arms 

119 Kensington Church St, Kensington, London W8 7LN

Ok, so the Churchill Arms may not be one of the most quirky pubs in London on the inside, but hear me out here. Have you seen this Kensington pub from the outside? Costing around an incredible £25,000 per year to furnish with florals, The Churchill Arms are one of few pubs to win at the Chelsea Flower Show. And deservedly so, it’s a pretty sight to see indeed. Inside, expect to find Winston Churchill memorabilia aplenty (his grandparents were regular visitors) and Thai on the menu; The Churchill Arms was the first pub in London to serve Thai food.

De Hems 

11 Macclesfield St, West End, London W1D 5BW

Proudly sporting the title of ‘London’s only Dutch pub’, if you’re fancying trying something other than your standard lager, De Hems is your place. Stocking over seventy bottled beers, and upwards of ten limited edition tipples on tap, you may need a bit longer than usual to pick your drink. Popular with Dutch sailors and the unofficial HQ of the Dutch WWII resistance in the twentieth century, today De Hems is frequented by beer loving tourists and Londoners alike.

The Dickens Inn

Marble Quay, St Katharine’s Way, Tower Hill, London E1W 1UH

Nestled in St Katharine’s Dock in the shadow of The Shard is The Dickens Inn, an original warehouse building dating back to the eighteenth century. Back then, the pub featured a sawdust floor and beer was only served from tanks or kegs, with no bottled or canned beer stocked. Today The Dickens is a beautiful pit stop when exploring London, with stripped wooden floors and beamed ceilings as well as a proper pub grub food menu. The expanse of The Dickens pub floor means that there’s always something different going on, and it’s always fun. Expect a group of lads pre-drinking for a night out in one corner, a family having a meal in another, and a birthday party in another. Eclectic London at its finest. If you can nab a table on the terraces overlooking the dock and Tower Bridge, I can guarantee you won’t want to move from your seat all afternoon.

The Dublin Castle 

94 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN

One of my personal favourite quirky pubs in London, The Dublin Castle is legendary in the British music scene. Arguably most well-known for launching Madness’ career in the late seventies by giving the band a weekly residency in their adjoining music venue, The Dublin Castle pays homage to the bands that have frequented the pub with signed memorabilia lining the walls. The big names don’t stop there; Blur, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and The Killers have all graced The Dublin Castle stage, and it wasn’t an unusual sight to see Amy Winehouse behind the bar. Music and beer lovers, this unusual London pub is for you.

Interested in more of London’s pubs? Check out this Great Pubs of London book.

Four Thieves 

51 Lavender Gardens, London SW11 1DJ

Four Thieves is a pub like no other. A games room, weekly comedians, over 350 variations of gin and tonic and beer brewed on-site pit this as one of the more unusual pubs in London. Despite being adamant that they are a pub first and foremost, we can’t gloss over the fact that Four Thieves has a whole floor dedicated to games. There’s no naff air hockey and fruit machines here; the Moonshine Raceway lets you race up to ten other people on a remote-controlled track, whilst the Virtual Reality station hosts an escape room alongside other games. If a quiet drink is more your thing, you can settle down in the brand new taproom serving craft beers brewed on-site.

The Marquis 

51-52 Chandos Pl, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HS

Another of my personal favourite quirky pubs in London, alongside The Dublin Castle. The Marquis is a family run pub in the heart of Central London, but there’s nothing touristy about this boozer. With a record player cranking out indie tunes, you never know if you’ll be greeted by Chas & Dave or Oasis’ entire back catalogue, but it’s always fun. Inside is cosy and intimate (complete with Norwich football club inflatable Canary mascot behind the bar), however if you would rather stand outside, The Marquis’ standing area out the back holds the accolade of the smallest street in London.

Mr Fogg’s 

Choose from six locations around the city; details here

A collection of six truly unique venues around the city, Mr Fogg’s are adventurous and immersive bars based on the world of Phileas J. Fogg and inspired by the novel Around the World in 80 Days. Expect beautiful botanical decor in all locations, however Mr Fogg’s Tavern feels most like a traditional pub rather than a bar. With eccentric Victorian memorabilia covering the walls and ceilings, don’t be alarmed to spot taxidermy behind the bar!

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Tattershall Castle

Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2HR

If you easily feel motion sick, then this one may not be for you. However, the Tattershall Castle is easily one of the most unusual pubs in London, as it’s on a boat! Moored at Victoria Embankment on the Thames, with beautiful views of the London Eye and Westminster, this is one of the cooler pints you’ll have in the city. Just imagine standing on that open deck with a cold one on a sunny London afternoon. But no fear if London is exhibiting its finest grey drizzly weather (much more likely), there is an indoor restaurant and bar as well as the open air ‘terrace’.

The Old Bank of England

194 Fleet St, Holborn, London EC4A 2LT

Swooping in to take the accolade of most magnificent of these unusual pubs in London, is The Old Bank of England on Fleet Street. Located inside the old Law Court’s branch of the old Bank of England which was operational until 1975, the interior decor is grand as hell. How many times can you have a drink above vaults that once contained bullion and the Crown Jewels?!

The Prospect of Whitby

57 Wapping Wall, Wapping, London E1W 3SH

How many pubs can say they have a beach and a noose in their back garden? Well when you’re rumoured to be the oldest Thameside pub, anything goes. One of London’s most famous pubs due to its rich history, The Prospect of Whitby dates back to 1520 when it was frequented by sailors and smugglers. These ex clientele are represented today by the noose standing on the beach behind the pub, symbolising the old execution dock used for sea crimes in times gone by. It’s always a fight for a seat on the terrace on a sunny day, not just thanks to the beach behind but the beautiful views of London over the Thames.

Waxy O’Connors

14-16 Rupert St, West End, London W1D 6DD

In case you hadn’t guessed by the name, Waxy O’Connors (or Waxy’s as it’s referred to by regulars) is the biggest Irish pub in London. Centred around the trunk of a preserved beech tree, Waxy’s boasts four bars across six floors, interlinked by wonky little staircases. With tables and seats nestled in nooks and crannies and mezzanines overlooking floors below, be sure to make a mental note of your table; even if you’ve not had a few Guinness’ it can be confusing to navigate! Showing major sports on TV screens and with regular live music nights (pre-Covid) there’s always a good evening to be had at Waxy’s.

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