15 wonderfully cosy pubs in London

When the chill really starts to set in, there’s nowhere better to while away an afternoon than cosy pubs in London.
Visit London Editors
Written by Visit London Editors Edited by Coralie Modschiedler 06 December 2024
Inside a cosy pub in London, with a wooden bar area and drinks lined on shelves in the background.
Seek out London's cosiest pubs, such as The Stonhouse in Clapham. Credit: The Stonhouse. Image courtesy of Three Cheers Pub Co.

Crackling fires, seats you can sink into and plenty of comfort food – that's what a good cosy pub is all about. So grab a drink, order the pie and mash, and settle in.

From historic venues and snug spots in central London to charming boltholes in tranquil settings by the river or near gorgeous parks, discover the cosiest pubs in London.

Cosy pubs in central London

1. The George Inn

Former coaching house The George Inn is the only National Trust-owned pub. Tucked away down an alley near London Bridge, this sprawling, characterful pub dates back to 1542 and is London’s only surviving galleried inn. Today, it maintains its rustic beams, beautiful gallery and cosy interior. It's the perfect place to try cask ales, gins and whiskies, alongside pub classics such as fish and chips, pies and burgers. The courtyard area also has heaters in winter and old-fashioned lamps to cater for the often-heaving crowd of drinkers year-round.

Top tip: Soak up the history of your surroundings as you enjoy a pint at The George Inn, a venue particularly cherished by London’s literary legends. Charles Dickens visited the site when it was a coffee house and it's mentioned in Little Dorrit. It is said legendary playwright William Shakespeare may have also frequented the historic pub.

2. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub sign with pub name in white letters on a black background, with the inscription 'rebuilt in 1667' and brick walls in the background.

Step back in time at Fleet Street institution Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, one of many cosy City of London pubs. Rebuilt in the 17th century, it's welcomed Charles Dickens, Dr Johnson, Alfred Tennyson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle through its doors. As you'd expect of one of the oldest pubs in London, it's small and cosy with an open fire adding to the time-warp feel. Explore the maze of interconnecting rooms, from tiny bars to the Chop House restaurant where you can tuck into hearty English dishes in the room where many famous people have enjoyed a meal.

Top tip: Look out for more objects and pictures throughout the pub that show the people and events that helped shape the inn's history. A pub since medieval times, it was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

3. Ye Olde Mitre

Brush up on your history at Ye Olde Mitre, a tavern once frequented by Queen Elizabeth I. It’s a bit tricky to find this Holborn Circus spot, which has housed a pub for more than 500 years, but it's well worth the effort for its maze of intimate rooms to hole up in with friends. Constructed in 1546, the pub is famous for hosting a cherry tree that Elizabeth I once danced around with Sir Christopher Hatton, and it also featured in cult movie Snatch.

Top tip: Visit historic Ye Olde Mitre for top-notch real ales, delicious homemade bar snacks and its celebrated sandwiches.

4. The French House

Warm-coloured interior of The French House pub in Soho, with small, dark wooden tables and chairs, pictures on the walls, wooden parquet floors and dim lighting.

Expect a warm welcome at this snug spot, which has a long history as a watering hole. The bohemian vibe, created by actors and writers, who have made The French House their pub of choice in Soho over the years, lives on with no music and no machines – so put away your mobile phone (after a very quick snap for Instagram). Since opening as the York Minster in 1891, it’s seen the likes of Dylan Thomas, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud pass through its doors.

Top tip: Step into a little piece of France at The French House and order a French cider or a beer – served only in half-pints here! Enjoy the chilled atmosphere as you watch passers-by and while away an afternoon in vibrant Soho.

5. The Coach & Horses

Spot this Grade II-listed, mock-Tudor pub nestled between more modern neighbours in swanky Mayfair. Dating back to the 18th century, The Coach & Horses retains a traditional feel, featuring a fireplace, comfy corners, centuries-old cellars and an old-fashioned cold room.

Top tip: Make the most of the great range of cask ales on offer and to sample in a particularly cosy and stunning setting – one of Mayfair’s oldest surviving unreconstructed taverns.

Cosy pubs in west London

6. The Anglesea Arms

Anglesea Pub exterior on a clear sunny day with church in the background.

Fight the urge to head straight for the riverside pubs in Hammersmith and you will be rewarded with The Anglesea Arms, a cosy pub tucked away just outside the green space of Ravenscourt Park. The wood-panelled bar and warming fire are the fitting accompaniments to a traditional British menu, featuring five rotating real-ale pumps, draught beers and cider.

Top tip: Don't miss strolling through gorgeous Ravenscourt Park before trying some of the area's fabulous riverside pubs.

7. The White Horse

Mix with the smart set at The White Horse, a favourite of the well-to-do Chelsea and Fulham crowd. This cosy pub is the whole package with an always-impressive selection of real ales, good food, roaring fires and Chesterfield sofas. Expect a posh crowd in a pub that has earned the nickname “The Sloaney Pony” over the years. With each dish paired with a beer, the menu uses carefully sourced ingredients to combine familiar pub favourites with modern classics. The bottled beer range offers more than 100 varieties from around the world. Fine wines also feature on the drinks menu.

Top tip: Dress smart to fully enjoy the classy surroundings of this Chelsea favourite, perched on the edge of picturesque Parsons Green.

8. The Churchill Arms

The exterior of The Churchill Arms, which is covered in hanging baskets, shrubs and flowers, with a pub sign showing Winston Churchill's face.

Tuck into plates of warming Thai food at The Churchill Arms in Kensington. Known for its highly Instagrammable hanging baskets outside, the pub's interior is also worth discovering for its quirky Churchill memorabilia.

Top tip: Visit during the festive season and see the sight of hundreds of twinkling Christmas trees covering the iconic pub.

Cosy pubs in east London

9. The Dove

Cosy up at The Dove on Broadway Market in Hackney, where board games, British microbrews and Belgian beers are the order of the day at this family-friendly spot. Food covers all the classics, from fish and chips to pies and roasts.

Top tip: Try the new beer-dough pizza from the Italian chef, made with the finest beers.

Cosy pubs in north London

10. The Spaniards Inn

The facade of The Spaniards Inn pub in Hampstead lit up at night with clear dark blue skies.

Shake the dew off your boots after a walk on Hampstead Heath at this warming pit stop. The Spaniards Inn counts literary royalty as ex-locals, including Dickens and Keats. Nowadays, it's popular for its Sunday lunches, open fire and sprawling walled beer garden.

Top tip: While not the oldest pub in London, the building has been around since 1585. Featuring in Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers and in Dracula by Bram Stoker, this romantic pub also inspired Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale, which was allegedly written in its beautiful garden.

11. The Southampton Arms

Spot the sign outside reading "ale, cider, meat" and you'll quickly get an idea of what this cosy pub is about. The Southampton Arms at the bottom of Parliament Hill is a truly old-fashioned pub, with a wood-burning fire, cash-only policy plus numerous hand-pulled ales and ciders.

Top tip: Soak up the panoramic views across London from the top of Parliament Hill. On a clear day, top attractions including St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and the Palace of Westminster are visible from the 98 metres (321 ft) high viewpoint.

12. The Holly Bush

The facade of The Holly Bush pub in Hampstead and the street leading up to it on a clear day.

Find a cosy bolthole at The Holly Bush, which fits perfectly into the quaint Hampstead village it calls home, with its open fire, stripped wooden floors and one of London's best Sunday roasts.

Top tip: While away an afternoon or reward yourself with a tipple after a walk on nearby Hampstead Heath.

Cosy pubs in south London

13. The Trinity Arms

For an update on the traditional London pub, head to Brixton's Trinity Arms. This buzzy local, set in a pretty square, serves large portions of British favourites such as fish and chips, chicken pie and Sunday roasts.

Top tip: As one of the few pubs with fireplaces in London, make sure to grab a seat by the fire. 

14. The Stonhouse

Inside The Stonhouse pub in Clapham, featuring wooden floors and tables, red and blue seats, a wooden bar area with drinks lined on shelves in the background.

Follow a stomp in the open air on Clapham Common with a hearty meal and a pint at local favourite, The Stonhouse. The wood-panelled pub serves European fare made with sustainably sourced British ingredients.

Top tip: Bring your furry friends! The Stonhouse is pup-friendly, with plenty of space to accommodate everyone, including a lovely beer garden. Families with young children are welcome too.

15. The Plough

Spot the resident deer on a stroll through Richmond Park, before stopping for lunch in this gorgeous East Sheen pub – you won’t feel like you are in London at all. The Plough maintains its traditional 18th-century-inn look, and there are open fires and British ales to enjoy inside.

Top tip: Richmond Park is London’s largest royal park, covering 2,500 acres, so if you want to explore the area, why not plan a whole day out, combining outdoor wonders with a cosy pub session to top it all off!

For more inspiration, check out the top 101 London pubs guide or immerse yourself in history at one of the fascinating traditional pubs in London.