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Best Dive Bars in London

Best dive bars in London for old Soho pubs, jukebox rooms, live-music pubs, beer halls, Portobello pints, basement rum, and South Bank river stops.

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Nightlife

Best Dive Bars in London

Guide: Old Pubs, Jukebox Rooms, and Local Pints

Best dive bars in London for old Soho pubs, jukebox rooms, live-music pubs, beer halls, Portobello pints, basement rum, and South Bank river stops.

  • The French HouseThe French House is a Soho institution for half-pints, artists, writers, theatre people, and old central-London conversation. Go for the bar's history and upstairs dining, not because the name means French fine dining.
  • Bradley's Spanish BarBradley's Spanish Bar is a narrow Soho veteran for cava, beer, jukebox nights, and late central-London energy.
  • The ShipThe Ship is a compact Wardour Street pub for cask ale, a crowded standing-room pint, and the worn-in feel of old Soho.
  • The Lamb & FlagThe Lamb & Flag is a traditional Georgian Covent Garden pub with Charles Dickens lore, narrow lanes, cask ale, pub food, and genuine theatreland bustle.
  • The PorterhouseThe Porterhouse is the large multi-level Covent Garden beer hall for groups, house-brewed beers, Irish pub energy, screens, and capacity when smaller historic pubs are too packed to be useful.
  • The Old Blue LastThe Old Blue Last keeps Shoreditch connected to live music, beer, club nights, and rougher pub energy.
  • The Queen AdelaideThe Queen Adelaide is a snug, old-timey east London pub for cocktails, draft beer, funky accents, and a warm stop between Shoreditch restaurants, clubs, and Brick Lane.
  • The Churchill ArmsThe Churchill Arms is an instantly recognizable, flower-covered Kensington pub serving cask ale and Thai food among dense Churchill memorabilia.
  • Sun in SplendourSun in Splendour is the practical Notting Hill Gate pub for meeting up, Sunday roasts, cask ale, and starting or ending a Portobello walk without pushing the day into a reservation.
  • The Anchor BanksideThe Anchor Bankside is a Thameside pub dating back to 1615, serving real ale and food across the bar and restaurant with outdoor seating between Borough Market and Tate Modern.
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