We look at some of the best pub gardens in London, where the alfresco space is more than matched by a great food menu.
Jump to: West London | South London | North London | East London
West London
Duke of Sussex - Chiswick
Duke of Sussex - ChiswickWhere: 75 South Parade, Chiswick, London W4 5LF
Right on the edge of Acton Green Common, this Chiswick pub is a little slice of Spain in London. Enjoy a gilda or three with your pint or go large with a bowl of hake and clams. The garden’s quite lovely - a real London oasis.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thedukew4
The Greyhound - Kew
The Greyhound - KewWhere: 82 Kew Green, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AP
If you’re wanting to catch a sporting fixture whilst drinking alfresco this is the pub for you - with bookable garden booths complete with heaters - and TVs. Pub snacks are a cut above average - ham hock Scotch egg anyone? And here as well as fish and chips, there’s lobster and chips on offer.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thegreyhoundkew
The Hero of Maida
The Hero of MaidaWhere: 55 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JD
Seasonal menus are the order of the day at this Maida Vale pub - so expect Jersey royals with asparagus to kick off the menus and Cornish day boat fish on offer too. They’ve long had a stellar reputation for their Sunday lunches and there’s both a pavement terrace and garden to enjoy one of their cocktails in.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @theheroofmaida
Old Ship - Hammersmith
Old Ship - HammersmithWhere: 25 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, London W6 9TD
With two riverside terraces and an extensive garden at the site, this Thameside Young’s pub is blessed with alfresco spaces aplenty. The food may be standard pub fare, but it’s pub food done well and with thought - and there are even quinoa scotch rolls for vegan treats.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @oldshiphammersmith
The Phene - Chelsea
The Phene - ChelseaWhere: 9 Phene Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NY
This Victorian pub has been a mainstay of the Made in Chelsea set for years. The garden is stupidly pretty - all floral banquettes and rose arches. Chef Sidy Kounta ensures there’s plenty of plant-based dishes for veggies and vegans and the Sunday roasts are unmissable.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thephenesw3
Station House - Acton
Station House - ActonWhere: The Station Buildings, Churchfield Rd, Acton, London W3 6BH
This recently renovated Acton pub has a large covered beer garden - perfect for showery weather. On the food front pizzas are a big deal here, but the main menu also merits consideration - takeaway treats during lockdown give you an idea of what to expect, including dishes like Zuppa di Pesce and Rabbit Ragôut Pappardelle.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thestationhousew3
The Swan - Chiswick
The Swan - ChiswickWhere: 119 Evershed Walk, Acton Ln, London W4 5HH
The Swan is a carnivore’s delight with its steak nights promising 28-day aged Limousin T-bone steaks. But there’s also a distinct Med-feel to the menu here too. The garden is leafy, spacious and sheltered - just perfect.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @theswanchiswick
The Troubadour - Earl’s Court
The Troubadour - Earl’s CourtWhere: 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, Earl's Court, London SW5 9JA
An iconic pub in every sense of the word - the first Private Eyes were produced here, Bob Dylan played his first London gig here and even Led Zeppelin were known to throw after parties at this Earls Court pub. The menu is simple, but good - mainly tarte flambees and charcuterie boards - and the walled garden at the back is a hidden secret worth knowing.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @troubadourlondon
White Swan - Richmond
White Swan - RichmondWhere: 26 Old Palace Ln, Richmond TW9 1PG
This historic pub (it dates back to the late 18th century) is a perfect place to stop after a riverside walk down the Thames. Find a space in the large beer garden and enjoy treats like haggis Scotch eggs and baharat-spiced lamb flatbreads with your bottle of St Emilion Grand Cru Classé.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @whiteswanrichmond
Also in West London
- The Crabtree (Fulham) - Choose from a riverside restaurant terrace or Orchard pub garden complete with BBQ for the summer.
- Crown and Sceptre (Shepherds Bush) - You can always count on this pub for a decent Thai menu and the garden’s nice too.
- The Grove (Ealing) - Not one but two beer gardens at this Ealing pub with above-average pub grub on offer.
- Eagle (Ravenscourt Park) - This pub garden is covered and heated during the winter and spacious for summer months.
- The Marlborough (Richmond) - After a stroll through Richmond Park, this pub’s gardens are perfect for a cold beer and hot pie
- Princess Victoria (Shepherds Bush) - There’s a covered terrace and a courtyard garden at this popular pub and a short, but interesting food menu with particularly good bar snacks.
- Thatched House (Hammersmith) - The walled garden of this Hammersmith pub is just the ticket on a sunny day. Food-wise it’s all about seafood here, with the menu dictated by what’s good at Billingsgate.
- The Sun Inn (Barnes) - The huge garden at this riverside pub is a natural draw, but the food is good too.
East London
The Birds - Leytonstone
The Birds - LeytonstoneWhere: 692 High Rd Leytonstone, London E11 3AA
Both covered and screened for social distancing, the pub garden at The Birds is ready for action. They specialise in vegan food, although you can just as easily order a bucket of chicken wings as VFC, and the tater tots with cheeze couldn’t be bettered as pub snacks.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thebirdsleytonstone
The Coach - Clerkenwell
The Coach - ClerkenwellWhere: 26-28 Ray St, Farringdon, London EC1R 3DJ
With a food menu devised by chef Henry Harris, this historic Clerkenwell pub is well worth a detour, more so if you manage to nab a seat in the lovely courtyard garden at the rear of the dining room. It has a menu celebrating seasonal British produce with dishes like wild garlic soup, lamb rump with peas and broad beans. The wine list is great here too.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thecoachlondon
Coach & Horses - Leytonstone
Coach & Horses - LeytonstoneWhere: 391 High Road Leyton, E10 5NA
The pub garden here has everything from an outside bar and DJ booth to BBQ on offer. The food is several steps up from normal pub grub - so steak and chips is flat iron steak with fat chips, chimichurri, bone marrow, bacon salt and watercress salad - to give you an idea.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thecoachleyton.
The Crooked Billet - Clapton
The Crooked Billet - ClaptonWhere: 84 Upper Clapton Rd, Clapton, London E5 9JP
The huge garden’s not the only draw to this gussied up Clapton pub - everything else is great from the must-have bar snacks menu (chips and curry sauce sit alongside spiced aubergine flatbreads) to the thoughtful wine list and extensive beer options supporting local breweries.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @crookedbilletclaptone5
Dog & Duck - Walthamstow
Dog & Duck - WalthamstowWhere: 222 Chingford Road, London E17 5AL
It’s all about the sourdough pizza at this welcoming Walthamstow boozer and if you’re looking for somewhere alfresco to enjoy it, this is the place with an astroturfed yard complete with tiki ‘isolation huts’ along with a capacious beer garden..
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thedogandducke17
People’s Park Tavern, Hackney
People’s Park Tavern, HackneyWhere: 360 Victoria Park Rd, London E9 7BT
This huge pub garden is right on (or should that be in) the park. They say “you won’t want to be anywhere else this summer” - we say the humongous Yorkshire puddings that come with their Sunday roasts all but demand a visit. They have their own microbrewery on-site alongside an extensive list of draught, bottled and canned beers.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @peoplestavern
More about People’s Park Tavern
Owl and Pussycat - Shoreditch
Owl and Pussycat - ShoreditchWhere: 34 Redchurch St, Shoreditch, London E2 7DP
The tucked-away garden here is both covered and heated - perfect for warding off any spring (or summer) showers and there’s a separate bar outside, which is handy. Plus, you’ve got to love any pub which includes tempura samphire as one of its sides.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @theowlpubshoreditch
The Scolt Head, Dalston
The Scolt Head, DalstonWhere: 107A Culford Rd, London N1 4HT
The bucolic garden at this Dalston pub makes you feel like you’ve found your own secret garden to while away a sunny afternoon. The food is very good - you don’t want to miss the Nuno Mendes weekend brunch - and they have an impressive list of suppliers from Rare Breed in Essex through to Dusty Knuckle, Rinkoff and Neals Yard.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thescolthead
The Spread Eagle - Homerton
The Spread Eagle - HomertonWhere: 224 Homerton High St, Homerton, London E9 6AS
This award-winning high street pub has a particularly pretty pub garden tucked away at the back. Its USP is in being London’s only vegan pub - from the food and drink through to fixtures and fittings. Expect innovative vegan fare - including a proper Sunday roast selection.
How to book in the garden: Book online or email hello@thespreadeaglelondon.co.uk.
Follow on Instagram: @thespreadeaglelondon.
The Victoria - Mile End
The Victoria - Mile EndWhere: 110 Grove Rd, Mile End, London E3 5TH
Not only does this Mile End pub have a rather lovely beer garden, but food-wise they’re supporting our day boats with a seafood-focused menu that could feature Cornish sardines with panko and chilli, halibut fillet with chickpea dahl and freshly shucked oysters.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thevicmileend
Also in East London
- Chesham Arms (Hackney) - This highly rated CAMRA pub has a lovely tented garden where you can get Yard Sale pizzas delivered.
- The Crate Brewery (Hackney) - Not a pub with a garden as such, but an extensive canalside terrace where you can enjoy Crate’s beer and exemplary pizzas.
- The Culpeper (Aldgate) - Perched up on the top of the pub, the rooftop garden is a City oasis with great food to boot.
- The Narrow (Limehouse) - Gordon Ramsay’s east London gastropub has plenty of outside space overlooking the Thames.
- Princess of Wales (Clapton) - With a garden overlooking the river Lea, this Clapton pub’s always popular.
- Pub on the Park (London Fields) - The clue’s in the name - they have great decked areas overlooking the park and a kitchen run by The Big Belly Chefs.
South London
The Avalon, Clapham
The Avalon, ClaphamWhere: 16 Balham Hill, Clapham South, London SW12 9EB
There’s plenty of alfresco choice at this Balham Hill pub - from the covered and heated front terrace and courtyard to the extensive summer garden with its own outdoors bar. The seasonally changing menu has a special pizza section and it’s also great for vegetarians and vegans.
How to book in the garden: Book online
The Brookmill - Deptford
The Brookmill - DeptfordWhere: 65 Cranbrook Rd, Saint John's, London SE8 4EJ
Strewn with hanging baskets, the heated beer garden at The Brookmill is a great place to enjoy dishes like vegan cobb salad or a great shortcrust pie. They pride themselves on using local suppliers like Jones The Butcher on Herne Hill and their breads are by Chas & Momo in nearby Penge.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @brookmillse8
The Duke of Edinburgh - Brixton
The Duke of Edinburgh - BrixtonWhere: 204 Ferndale Rd, Ferndale, London SW9 8AG
South London’s biggest beer garden could easily coast by on the size of its alfresco offering alone, but the food here is as full-on as the space itself. White Men Can’t Jerk supply the goods here - with their amazing smoked jerk chicken and loaded fries. Veggie offerings include cauliflower poppers with vegan ackee mayo and jerk halloumi.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @dukebrixton
More about The Duke of Edinburgh
Four Thieves - Battersea
Four Thieves - BatterseaWhere: 51 Lavender Gardens, London SW11 1DJ
While the delights of the Four Thieves’ Games Arcade will have to wait until full reopening, in the meantime you can enjoy their Gin Yard. They serve up 350 variations on the G&T to entice you in, and the food menu is split between sourdough pizzas and a pop-up taqueria El Comelon serving tacos, mole and - of course - churros.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @fourthievespub
Park Tavern - Southfields
Park Tavern - SouthfieldsWhere: 212 Merton Rd, Southfields, London SW18 5SW
This pub is from the same team behind South African BBQ restaurant Hammer & Tongs and there's a South African touch to the food here too. Alongside the biltong and droewors, there's plenty of meat on the barbecue including a huge 700g T Bone as well as boerewors sausage, braaibroodjie cheese toasties and more. They have two pub gardens - so there's plenty of alfresco space.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @parktavernsw18
The Perry Hill - Catford
The Perry Hill - CatfordWhere: 78-80 Perry Hill, London SE6 4EY
As a brand new pub, you could say the Perry Hill is unproven, but the background of Jamie Younger who runs the kitchen here and also owns The Begging Bowl (and the late lamented The Palmerston) isn’t in doubt. He’s promising beef shin croquettes and jam doughnut ice-cream sarnies for you to enjoy in the fully revamped - and large - garden space here. There’s a mix of covered and uncovered tables to choose from.
How to book in the garden: Book a covered table online - others are walk-ins.
Follow on Instagram: @perryhillpub.
The Rye - Peckham
The Rye - PeckhamWhere: 31 Peckham Rye, Peckham, London SE15 3NX
The beer garden here is pretty darned big - with a covered terrace and BBQ. In addition to a mean Scotch egg, the menu here is seasonal and a cut over average - so halloumi fries are made with spiced buttermilk and come with maple gravy, while the pub’s burger is a short rib and flank version.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @TheRyeSE15
The Selkirk - Tooting
The Selkirk - TootingWhere: 60 Selkirk Road, London SW17 0ES
The Selkirk’s garden is both capacious and covered - making it a lovely spot to enjoy dishes like their Spiced butternut squash soup which comes with a crispy pakora and curry oil or Cornish hake with a crab croquette, kale colcannon and seaweed butter sauce. Sunday roasts here are legendary.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @theselkirktooting
The Ship - Wandsworth
The Ship - WandsworthWhere: 41 Jews Row, Wandsworth, London SW18 1TB
This riverside pub has tonnes of outside space - loads of which is also covered. It’s a grand place to sit and enjoy a beer overlooking the Thames, but the food menu’s also worthy of note. Outside there’s a special burger shack, or the main menu features well-considered sharing plates with Dorset coppa, and Cobble lane saucisson.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @theshipwandsworth
White Swan - Twickenham
White Swan - TwickenhamWhere: Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3DN
Perched on a turn of the Thames overlooking Eel Pie Island, the White Swan’s covered riverside patio can’t be booked, so come early if you want a coveted spot. The tiny kitchen serves up a short, but good, menu of seasonal dishes whether you’re after their spiced chicken thighs with coriander couscous or crispy fried whitebait with garlic mayo.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @whiteswantwick
The Woolpack - Bermondsey
The Woolpack - BermondseyWhere: 98 Bermondsey St, Bermondsey, London SE1 3UB
The beer garden at this pub right by Borough Market is both covered and heated, so great for whatever the British weather throws at you. Their burgers are properly worth crossing town for, but they also do a mean Sunday roast and their pies and sausage rolls are also very good.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @woolpackbermondsey
Also in South London
- The Castle (Tooting) - A high street pub with an extensive covered garden - the garden sheds are particularly cute.
- The County Arms (Wandsworth) - The recently revamped garden has bookable huts and plenty of cover for inclement weather.
- Fentiman Arms (Vauxhall) - The covered heated garden at this Young's pub is particularly cosy.
- Honor Oak (Forest Hill) - There’s a lovely large garden here, with some covered booths available.
- Kings Arms (Wandsworth) - The garden here is quite something - covered like a huge circus tent with private huts for booking and even a riverside events section for when parties are allowed again.
- The Landor (Clapham) - The garden here is tented until the May bank holiday - till then you can enjoy pints without being rained on.
- The Leather Bottle (Earlsfield) - This Earlsfield pub’s alfresco space is huge and award-winning to boot.
- Magic Garden (Battersea) - They describe themselves as a festival in a pub - the music’s good and so is the food.
- Queen Adelaide (Wandsworth) - Right now their covered beer garden is rocking a Bavarian beer tent vibe.
- The Rosendale (West Dulwich) - Your only problem with this pub is choosing which of the many alfresco options to go for.
North London
The Albion, Islington
The Albion, IslingtonWhere: 10 Thornhill Rd, Islington, London N1 1HW
Come at the right time of year and you’ll find the back garden here covered in wisteria and it’s also been weatherproofed for spring. The front looks crazily pretty too. Food-wise you can stick to pub standards like beer-battered cod or Texel lamb croquette with Tewkesbury mustard & ale relish.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thealbionpub.
The Bank of Friendship, Highbury
The Bank of Friendship, HighburyWhere: 226 Blackstock Rd, Highbury, London N5 1EA
Popular with both Arsenal fans and locals alike, this Highbury local doesn’t cook its own food, but does have a handy arrangement with Yard Sale Pizza down the road, who deliver right to your table. This year, they’re adding new opening Rabieng Thai to the delivery list. The garden is pretty big, having had a recent makeover, and is entirely covered at the moment, with heaters in booths too.
How to book in the garden: They’re not taking bookings - and there's a maximum four people per group
Follow on Instagram: @bof_n5.
More about The Bank of Friendship
The Beehive, Tottenham
The Beehive, TottenhamWhere: Stoneleigh Rd, Tottenham, London N17 9BQ
Bruce Stove Kitchen are currently in residency at The Beehive, and they’ve got a banging BBQ menu for the summer. In addition to a selection of burgers, there are treats like southern fried cauliflower bites and crab & lobster rolls plus aubergine and falafel skewers to enjoy.
The large garden has the covers up and is usually 50/50 bookable versus walk-ins (except on key match days where it’s all walk-ins only).
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @beehiven17.
The Bull, Highgate
The Bull, HighgateWhere: 13 North Hill, Highgate, London N6 4AB
This indie pub on Highgate’s North Hill has two gardens, front and back, and both are covered and heated during the colder months. Dishes coming on the menu at the time of writing include roasted cod fillet with curry sauce and a cauliflower pakora along with chicken, carrot and black pudding terrine.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @the_bull_pub.
The Colonel Fawcett, Camden
The Colonel Fawcett, CamdenWhere: 1 Randolph Street, London NW1 0SS
Both back gardens here are heated, with booths available and plenty of measures to aid social distancing. In addition to serving up an award-winning roast at the weekends, this Camden pub prides itself on using great suppliers for seasonal produce, so the fish and chips is Hammerton ale-battered coley and grilled asparagus with wild garlic gremolata, hazelnuts is on the spring menu.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @thecolonelfawcett.
Drapers Arms, Islington
Drapers Arms, IslingtonWhere: 44 Barnsbury St, Islington, London N1 1ER
“A determination to serve rewarding food and drink” is how this well regarded Islington gastropub sets out its stall. They have a particularly lovely back garden, which is well protected from the elements. Enjoy superb pies and a particularly good wine list, which recently saw the pub added to the prestigious Star Wine List.
How to book in the garden: Email info@thedrapersarms.com
Follow on Instagram: @thedrapersarms.
The Flask, Highgate
The Flask, HighgateWhere: 77 Highgate W Hill, Highgate, London N6 6BU
This Fuller's pub serves great gastropub food - so a starter could be native dry-aged beef tartare with shaved black truffle, Tunworth soft cheese, sorrel oil and beef dripping toast. The huge courtyard garden is one of Highgate’s loveliest spots for a weekend lunch.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Lion & Unicorn, Kentish Town
Lion & Unicorn, Kentish TownWhere: 42-44 Gaisford St, Kentish Town, London NW5 2ED
This Young’s pub in Kentish Town has a decent-sized terrace at the front and an astroturfed and covered back garden at the back. Food-wise there’s usually a great pie on the menu, along with dishes like Devonshire crab on toast and the Sunday roasts are deservedly popular.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @lionandunicornnw5.
More about the Lion and Unicorn
The Londesborough, Stoke Newington
The Londesborough, Stoke NewingtonWhere: 36 Barbauld Rd, Stoke Newington, London N16 0SS
Owned and managed by the Wright Brothers who are also behind the Peasant pub in Clerkenwell, this idiosyncratic Stokey pub serves up amazing Sunday roasts, proper pork pies and they even make their own lavender custard to go with dessert. The very pretty back garden is also a popular location for small London weddings.
How to book in the garden: email eat@thelondesborough.com
Follow on Instagram: @thelondesborough.
Red Lion & Sun, Highgate
Red Lion & Sun, HighgateWhere: 25 North Rd, Highgate, London N6 4BE
One of our personal favourite spots in the whole of London, this award-winning Highgate pub has two great spaces for alfresco dining. The front garden is covered by a marquee while the sheltered back garden is uncovered. There’s usually great Cornish seafood on the menu and the wine list here is one of the best in London. Note that you can only book for dining.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @theredlionandsun.
Smokehouse, Islington
Smokehouse, IslingtonWhere: 63-69 Canonbury Rd, Islington, London N1 2DG
As the name suggests, the menu here focuses on smoked and grilled food. If you fancy a steak, they butcher on site every day - but there’s also plenty of plant-forward dishes too. The garden may be sandwiched between two roads but it’s fringed by jasmine hedges and this year boasts a cover for inclement weather.
How to book in the garden: Book online
Follow on Instagram: @smokehousen1.
Also in North London
- The Canonbury Tavern - a Young's pub hidden in a residential area with one of the largest pub gardens in Islington.
- The Compton Arms - it's a tiny garden, much like the pub, but you can get a Four Legs burger here.
- The Faltering Fullback - a hidden garden in Finsbury Park with a Thai food menu.
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