A sunny afternoon by the Regent’s Canal, on the banks of the Thames or on a quiet stretch of the River Lea makes anyone feel like they’re on holiday, even if only half an hour from home.
In warmer weather, little beats a lazy afternoon by water, watching boaters fly by and dog walkers stroll beneath trees. There is just something about the river that feels a little special in the summer. Maybe it’s the sun dappling on the waves.
Here are London’s best waterside drinking spots. More into dining by the river? We’ve a guide for that too.
Mayflower
One of the most historic pubs in the city — the famed ship of the same name set off from old moorings at the site — inside is a cosy den of dark wood, stained glass and stained candles. Outside, on the riverside deck, is a pirate-like wooden enclave perched above the swirling Thames.
117 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 4N, mayflowerpub.co.uk
Palm Tree
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The bar at the Palm Tree is a beautiful thing, oval and replete with beers; there's low, moody cabaret-style lighting and plenty of peculiars to admire while waiting for a pretty good pint. One or more might be enjoyed outside, not far from Regent’s Canal, where they might be a handful of regulars congregating.
127 Grove Road, Bow, E3 5BH, 020 8980 2918
Sea Containers
Outside Sea Containers on the South Bank is a new terrace metres from the river. The restaurant has partnered with Lauren-Perrier to open an alfresco cocktail bar, which will run throughout summer 2024. Lookout for the rooftop bar too, which overlooks the city, its bridges and the Thames.
20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD, seacontainerslondon.com
The Angel
Smugglers, thieves, sailors and artists called in at The Angel in bygone times. JMW Turner is purported to have painted The Fighting Temeraire here. Today it is charming still, a Sam Smith’s boozer detached from other properties, granting the place the feel of something out of a movie.
101 Bermondsey Wall East, SE16 4NB, 020 7394 3214
The Lighterman
This pub, bar and dining room sits on the edge of Coal Drops Yard, adjacent to the canal and across from the St Pancras Basin. It is a modern gastropub, though outside it is mostly a leafy, alfresco terrace perfectly suited to long, breezy afternoons with a bottle of light rose.
3 Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH, thelighterman.co.uk
The Narrowboat
As its name suggests, the Narrowboat is a long, thin pub, mirroring the boats that meander past it along Regent’s Canal running parallel. Here is an upmarket, highly Islington pub, one with fish and chips, good pints, and windows running along almost the entirety of the south-facing wall and balconies.
119 St Peter's Street, Islington, N1 8PZ, thenarrowboatpub.com
The Princess of Wales
Over in Clapton is the Princess of Wales. The garden is among the largest in London (bar the suburbs), with old-style benches, some under a canopy, and all among fairy lights, flowers and bushy trees. It overlooks the River Lea, the pathway along which is always busy with dog walkers and cyclists.
146 Lea Bridge Road, Lower Clapton, E5 9RB, princessofwalesclapton.co.uk
The Grapes
There is tranquillity to be found at the Grapes, a neighbourhood boozer in the back-end of Limehouse, near the shipping basin and owned by one Sir Ian McKellen. One of the oldest pubs in the city — it dates back to the 16th century — it is a charming place for a pint or two and all the better for its waterside locale. A good pub quiz to boot.
76 Narrow Street, Limehouse, E14 8BP, thegrapes.co.uk
The Ship
A young, busy, endlessly convivial party of a place, the Ship sits neatly between Wandsworth and the Thames, a place where the youth of south-west London congregate to drink spritzes and pints galore. Live music, dancing, burgers for those who need to relax.
41 Jews Row, Wandsworth, SW18 1TB, theship.co.uk/
The Bell & Crown
A countryside pub transposed to the city. In the Cotswolds, somewhere? Actually, you’re only in Chiswick. While away a Sunday afternoon here, a charming 18th century pub on the banks of the Thames.
11-13 Thames Road, Chiswick, W4 3PL, bell-and-crown.co.uk
Number 90 Bar & Kitchen
A canalside drink doesn’t have to be sedate. Keep the party going as the sun sets over Hackney Wick at Number 90, as much a canalside spot as it is a late-night bar, even club. This is where to go if the plan is to see the afternoon through and the evening, too.
90 Main Yard, Wallis Road, Hackney, E9 5LN, number90bar.co.uk
The Prospect of Whitby
You don’t get much more authentically London than briefly featuring in an episode of Only Fools and Horses. The Prospect is an old-school (built way back in 1520, or thereabouts) pub with an in-demand beer garden with views of a wide stretch of the Thames.
57 Wapping Wall, Wapping, E1W 3SH, taylor-walker.co.uk
The Dove
This hugely characterful Hammersmith spot is cosy and characterful on the inside with a fantastic drinking terrace overlooking the Thames out the back. It's one of the very best places to enjoy a drink by the river in west London.
19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TA, dovehammersmith.co.uk
HotTug
Sure, riverside drinking terraces are great, but if you want to get really close to the water you can't beat HotTug. The company offer the chance to take a hot tub out on a central London canal and enjoy a glass of fizz or two along the way. Just don’t fall in.
16-35 Graham Street, Islington, N1 8JX, hottuguk.com
The Gun
This stylish Canary Wharf pub boasts some of the best riverside views in East London and has a proud maritime history to boot. Ahoy, quite frankly. It's also said to have been a favourite of Lord Horatio Nelson in the 1700s.
27 Coldharbour, Poplar, E14 9NS, thegundocklands.com
The Trafalgar Tavern
The Trafalgar Tavern has been a focal point for Greenwich revellers since 1821 and the grandeur of the enormous venue is only bettered by the fantastic waterside views. Be warned: this is one of the pubs that shocked Londoners with the plus-£8 pint. Still, a beautiful spot in a well-heeled part of town.
