London’s Top 30 Pubs for your first post lockdown pint

The bustling pub and bar scene makes London one of the top places in the world for socialising and drinking. From the traditional old English pubs, to the more lively contemporary venues, London has a spot to suit everyone.

However, the last three months have seen the country come to halt like never before, with the hospitality industry suffering heavily from lockdown restrictions. Nevertheless, the industry is back open for business, albeit with social distancing measures in place.

With this in mind, we have been on a mission to seek out the top pubs in London, which feature* beer gardens, to grab your socially distanced drink.

Using a 'scientific' formula that involves looking at the seating capacity, and satisfaction scores to create a Post Lockdown Pub Points for each venue, we have created the Top 30 pubs in London for a post lockdown tipple.

The Top 10 Pubs List

1.  The Duke of Edinburgh - Brixton - (22.6 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo source: Tony Lu Photography 

Taking the number one spot is the home to one of the most epic beer gardens in London. The Duke of Edinburgh's huge outdoor space makes it a great spot to grab your long-awaited draft pint. The range of cocktails, beers and famous Jerk Chicken makes for a guaranteed great night. With BBQ's and live DJ sets at the weekend, this Brixton hotspot is guaranteed to deliver a great night out.

The Duke of Edinburgh reopened their doors Saturday 4th July. Weekends are currently reservations only and on Saturday guests will be booked into timed sessions. Please visit the website to discover more.

2. The Prince - West Brompton - (22 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo Source: Kevin Eleady Cole | Dreamstime.com

Converted from an Old Victorian pub, this popular South-West London venue features stunning decor, that varies room to room; from floral to marble. The Prince's beer garden also features a retractable roof making it the perfect destination, whatever the weather.

The Prince reopened their doors Saturday 4th July. Visit the website here to reserve your spot and discover more.

3. The Aeronaut - Acton - (19.4 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo Source: Aeronaut.pub

The Aeronaut is truly one of the most unique pub experiences in London. At first sight, it looks like your typical English pub however, it is an experience like no other. The Aeronaut's circus theme offers live performances, from themed brunches to circus acts. The beer garden is a great size to enjoy your first pub trip post lockdown.

The Aeronaut reopened their doors Saturday 4th July. They are looking forward to welcoming guests back and have put safety measures in place to do so. Visit the website here to reserve your spot.

4. Hope & Anchor - Brixton - (18 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo Source: Sqauremeal.co.uk

In the heart of Brixton, The Hope & Anchor boasts an excellent wine list, seasonal British classic dishes and a unique beer garden. Kitted out with tiki huts and colourful furniture, the great size of this outdoor space makes it the ideal spot for a socially distanced drink. 

The Hope & Anchor reopen their doors Monday 20th July. They are looking forward to welcoming guests back responsibly. Visit the website here to reserve your spot and discover more about their ordering app.

5. People's Park Tavern - Victoria Park - (16 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo Source: Laine.co.uk

Featuring its award-winning beer garden, the People's Park Tavern makes for the perfect summer’s hangout. With their own developed brewed beer and delicious roasts, it's a great spot for lunch and dinner too. At the weekends, revellers can enjoy live DJ sets in the garden while the sun sets over the park.

People's Park Tavern reopened their doors Saturday 4th July. They are prioritising first come first serve reservations, and request guests give as much information about needs as possible. Please visit the website here to reserve your spot.

6. The Edinboro Castle - Camden - (15 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo Source: TripAdvisor

The Edinboro Castle is the perfect family spot, nested in between London Zoo and Camden. Visitors are welcomed to a laid back English Pub setting, consisting of a lively beer garden and great food menu. The garden matches Camden's buzzing social scene, with a big space for chalet-style booths and a barbecue.

The Edinboro Castle reopened their doors Saturday 4th July. Visit the website here to reserve your spot and discover more.

7. The Crabtree - Fulham & Hammersmith - (14.6 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo source: TimeOut

The Crabtree is a stylish London pub, with a relaxed country feel to it. Placed within a picturesque location next to the river, it is great for long summer afternoons. The large beer garden means guests are treated to delicious BBQs and live music regularly.

The Crabtree reopened their doors Monday 6th July. They have put steps in place to ensure guests are spaced out, and request they make a booking prior to turning up. Visit the website to reserve your spot.

8. The Falcon - Clapham - (14.5 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo source: thefalconclapham.com

Located on buzzy Clapham high street, the Falcon is a lively drinking spot. With its long bar and large beer garden complete with airy lights, palm trees and picnic tables, it is a great option to catch up over some socially distanced drinks.

The Falcon reopened their doors Saturday 4th July. They are looking forward to welcoming guests back. Visit the website here to reserve your spot.

=9. The Stag - Hampstead - (13 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo source: thestagnw3.com

The Stag is a cosy gastropub on Hampstead Hill. North Londoners know the venue for its excellent food quality and wide range of craft beers, cocktails and wines. With plenty of garden seating, cabanas and outdoor heating, it's the perfect place to spend long summer evenings with friends. 

The Stag reopened their doors Saturday 4th July. Tables are currently on the basis of reservations only and guests will be seated in three-hour slots. Please visit the website to discover more.

=9. The Castle - Tooting - (13 Post Lockdown Pub Points)

Photo source: Castletooting.com

Established in 1832, The Castle is an old treasure in Tooting. While the front of the venue offers a traditional cosy pub for relaxed drinks, further back features a more modern bar area and a beautiful table serviced Orangery restaurant. The beer garden provides guests huts for hire, outdoor heaters and a delicious burger bar.

The Castle reopen their doors Monday 20th July. They are looking forward to welcoming guests back responsibly. Visit the website here to reserve your spot.

The Top 30 Pubs List

See below the top 30 pubs, alongside their social distancing score. We have taken into account both capacity and customer satisfaction, to assure you have both a fun and safe welcome back to the pub!

With social distancing restrictions in place, pubs are mostly insisting on going cashless. Remember where possible to make a contactless payment, to help adhere to social distancing measures.

For information on how to keep your wallet and cards clean as lockdown restrictions are lifted, visit our useful guide: https://www.money.co.uk/guides/can-you-get-coronavirus-from-your-wallet.htm

Methodology: We analysed various "Top pubs in London" listicles. Within these lists, we pulled out the ones which featured beer gardens. We then investigated further the pubs that had their seating capacity detailed online. Of these, we looked at their customer satisfaction rating to determine their points score. Following this, we pulled together the top 30 list.

*Post Lockdown Pub Points= (seating capacity ÷ 50) + (TripAdvisor customer satisfaction rate x 2)