To a casual outsider unfamiliar with the traditions and behaviour of Londoners, it may seem unusual to see so many patrons of London pubs drinking in the open air. Wherever you look, you will find groups of people making their gatherings or post-work get-togethers into an alfresco affair, come rain or shine. The hum, noise and vibrant energy this adds to a place creates an atmosphere that is difficult to replicate in any other city, or indeed country.
Beer gardens are the ultimate representation of this quintessentially English of practices. For many restaurants, bars and pubs, they are an opportunity to make the most of the sunlit evenings and stunning scenery that a London summer provides. The humble beer garden has cemented its place in the very fabric of the capital’s culture and definitely deserves its status on the must-do list for London in August.
Here we take a look at a collection of the very best beer gardens in London.
The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
The Finsbury Park neighbourhood has been alive with standout pubs for hundreds of years and the 21st century has seen a renaissance in their popularity here. This place was known as the Sir Walter Scott until it was given its distinctive new name in the mid-1990s as part of a rebrand that has made it a staple of the Finsbury Park pub scene. The Faltering Fullback is a regular on every list of the best pubs in all of London and despite its subsequent tourist appeal, it manages to retain a wonderful authenticity and charm.
The beer garden is undoubtedly the jewel in its crown, set over four tiers of decking, intimate booths and ‘cubbyholes’ stacked on top of each other like a joyful labyrinth, where finding the perfect spot is part of the experience. The Crow’s Nest section is prized for its elevated views on the top tier, with the amusingly named Bermuda spot designed around a trio of tables in a similarly playful way. As a result, the Faltering Fullback is a favourite for families looking for a weekend afternoon in the sun that offers a little adventure. For any Guinness aficionados, this pub tops the list for the perfect pint too.
Read More: Best Beers In The UK
The Duke of Edinburgh, Brixton
The Duke of Edinburgh in Brixton remains a brilliant example of inter-war architecture in the city of London, designed by A.E Sewell specifically as a public house for the Truman’s Brewery company. In the almost 100 years since, it has been recognised with a coveted Grade II-listed status that duly speaks to its history and aesthetic elegance. Its beer garden can easily count itself amongst the largest in South London, with a space that stretches far behind the pub to accommodate many more patrons than the building itself. Rows and rows of long wooden benches offer the opportunity for connections between groups and certainly add to a friendly and community-minded environment, particularly in the height of summer. With the world-famous Brixton Academy, just a short stroll away, it regularly fills with concert-goers enjoying a pre-show drink, something that only adds to the exciting energy that’s well-crafted here. Sun coverage and suitable shelter also make it a great choice for any unpredictable weather. It would take something special to eclipse such a storied and impressive interior as the Duke of Edinburgh, but the beer garden seems to manage exactly that, in some style.
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The Flask, Highgate
So many of the very best London hotspots in any category carry stories with them that are almost as important as the facilities themselves. The Flask on Highgate West Hill has almost 400 years of them to draw upon, including famous names such as the romantic hearts of Byron, Shelley, Keats and Coleridge and the great minds of Karl Marx and William Hogarth. Legend has it that the highwayman Dick Turpin even hid amongst the barrels in the cellar here. Once upon a time, visitors would buy flasks to fill with water from the springs of Hampstead and now they are more likely to be drawn to the place by its incredible beer garden. It unfolds with open-air seating and covered shelters that make the most of verdant surroundings for the literary, historical and artistic minds that have made this place the perfect pub as a cultural hub. Neighbouring Highgate Cemetery and the beauty of Hampstead Heath mean that there is a constant stream of weary walkers and active families filling up the benches at all times of the day. This is a suitably grand place to match the stunning scenery that it surveys from every angle.
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The Canonbury Tavern, Islington
The Canonbury district of Islington is tied to the Tudor and Georgian influences that make this place so well renowned in the city. For over 300 years, The Canonbury Tavern has served drinks, and more recently, excellent food to the residents and visitors of North London in comfort and style. It also manages to achieve the rarest of feats with a secluded ambience despite being just steps away from the central location of Highbury & Islington underground station. The extended rear and side beer garden make it one of the largest in the area but due to the elegant and serene design, it never feels too overwhelming or abstract from the building itself. With strong community roots and local produce that includes beer from independent London craft brewers like Sambrook’s and Hammerton, there is a welcoming refinement about The Canonbury that is well connected to a sense of place. The beer garden is also home to a tree that many sources suggest Orwell sat beneath while drafting his classic novel 1984. As references go, any beer garden in the world would struggle to match such a stellar seal of approval.
While the beer gardens of London are a dependable institution, built on generations of history and popularity, they are definitely something that has suitably moved with the times, too. All of the best examples provide so much more than pints of beer to be consumed under cloudy skies, with food options, stories, scenery and experiences that allow London to be viewed from an entirely different angle. Making the most of this summer in the city means making the alfresco option a serious consideration.
