There is perhaps nothing so quintessentially English as a good ol’ fashion pub! And during the Christmas Season, London pubs are the perfect place to escape the cold. Sit down and relax with a warm glass of mulled wine or a tickle of sherry. Many pubs make a big fuss of decorating for Christmas as everywhere you look in London seems to be covered in a swath of festive cheer. And the old taverns are no different. From festive menus filled with Christmas classics to holiday-inspired cocktails and Christmas trees galore, there is nothing better to warm your heart than a London Pub at Christmas.
As themed Advent Calendars have become all the rage, I wanted to make a living advent calendar of sorts. So here are 12 of my favourite Christmas Pubs in London that you can visit over the course of your holiday visit to Londinium. These old taverns are some of the coziest and most beautifully decorated places in the city to fill your heart with the Christmas spirit! So come with me now on this jolly quest and discover all this city has to offer!
TIPS
Since Christmas is such a busy time in London with locals and tourists flocking to the capital, you should check in advance to see if you can book a lunch or dinner reservation. Many of the taverns on this list have incredible festive-themed menus that you won’t want to miss! Making a reservation will mean you won’t have to waste precious vacation time waiting for a table. But if you want to stop in for a drink, chances are you won’t have a problem.
Unlike the rest of London, many pubs are actually open on Christmas Day! They welcome in their locals to celebrate along with rogue tourists looking for a hot meal. Not all are open so its worth calling in advance to check. And remember, London public transport doesn’t run on Christmas Day. So it is best to plan on visiting the pub closest to your hotel or accommodation so you can easily make your way their and back on foot. Although you can always hire a black cab or Uber on Christmas Day, they are usually expensive and few and far between when you can find them. So I always advise planning something within walking distance. Just to be safe.
Map of the 12 Pubs of Christmas
The Churchill Arms
The Churchill Arms is perhaps the most beautiful old English pub located in the heart of Kensington. The old pub has been around since Victorian times. And while the interior is absolutely amazing, it is the spectacle of the outside facade that draws people in. The Churchill Arms facade is covered in hundreds of flower boxes, with blooming buds and greenery literally dripping down over the building. But at Christmas, they take things to another level. By adding real Christmas trees hung on each of the three levels of the old tavern. Add to that a few million Christmas lights, and you’ve got one of the finest displays of Christmas cheer I’ve ever seen!
The interior is bursting at the seams with antiques and old ephemera that dates back to the age of Queen Victoria. Union Jack flags are hung from every corner, and the festive atmosphere inside is just as decadent out the outside. Unlike most bars which feature traditional pub fare, the Churchill Arms is home to a charming Thai restaurant. I absolutely adore curry, and the spicier the better! Nothing warms you up like hot food on a brisk windy day! If you can find yourself here on a night when they play live music you’ll fully get the complete Churchill Arms experience!
The Grenadier
The Grenadier is a great place to celebrate Christmas in London if you’re looking for a pub with a lot of history and a great local legend. Established in 1876, it was originally known as The Grenadier Hotel. And a popular meeting place for members of the British Army. A grenadier is a specialist soldier who usually has the job of throwing hand grenades in battle. The bar’s legend is that it was named after a young Grenadier named Cedric. One night, a group of soldiers were gathered in the bar playing cards when Cedric was accused of cheating. The soldiers were enraged and punished the poor boy by beating him to death.
Whether true or not, visitors have clung to the story and even claim to have seen the ghost of the young Grenadier. Locals would hang money on the ceiling in order to potentially pay off the debt and send the ghost home. People still leave money to this day, and the entire ceiling in this place is covered in a wallpaper of different currencies.
The Grenadier is famous for their great selection of beers, amazing fish and chips, and its festive celebrations. The tavern hosts a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day event that includes a Christmas carol sing-along, mulled wine, seasonal food specials, and even a visit from Father Christmas himself. Sit beside one of their roaring fires to enjoy a day of festivities for all!
The Grazing Goat
The Grazing Goat, located in the quaint neighbourhood of Marylebone, is a classic country pub with an authentic British atmosphere. This place makes for the perfect setting to enjoy a Christmas meal in London. And while the interior is decorated to feel like a rustic tavern, the food itself is supremely elevated. The roaring fires, the smell of the fresh fir trees, friendly neighbourhood dogs sitting at the feet of their owners, all are elements that make this place really feels like a home away from home.
Before you even step inside, you just have to marvel at the adorable “goat” decorations outside. These goats are made of fir tree branches and greet you at the door! While some people might find winter in London a bit gloomy, this snuggly tavern makes all that bleak weather outside simply disappear. The Grazing Goat does a stupendous English breakfast and I implore you to start your day off right with a plate of their finest white pudding, homemade baked beans and roasted tomatoes with beef-fat!
Coach & Horses
In the heart of Mayfair is one of the oldest surviving unreconstructed taverns in the city of London; Coach & Horses. The building is an old Tudor-style structure built in the 1770s, that still features the iconic white plaster and black timber. At Christmas time, the original glass windows sparkle with twinkle lights that drape the entire building in an ethereal glow. Inside you’ll find the place decked to the nines with boughs of holly and Christmas trees galore.
They change up their menu during the holiday season and serve some delightful festive favourites! Their pie with turkey, cranberry, chesnuts and pork stuffing is like Christmas dinner all stuffed into a delicious pastry crust! If you’re looking for a drink but want something different, try their Rudolph beer, a full-bodied, malty and fruity ale to put you in the festive mood. And if you’re in town on Sundays, stop for their iconic Sunday roast. It is a freshly cooked roast paired with a glass of Bloody Mary for the ultimate Sunday treat.
The Argyll Arms
This gorgeous Victorian-era pub boasts one of London’s finest interiors. The Argyll Arms dates back to 1868, and stepping inside feels like stepping back in time. The mirrored walls, vintage decorative ceilings, etched glass partitions, and Victorian wood bar are all spectacularly preserved. The pub’s name comes from the fact that the second Duke of Argyll once owned this land. And he would frequent the original pub that first stood here. Rumour has it that there was even a secret tunnel that connected his mansion down the road to the pub itself. A handy way to sneak off without being seen for a late-night drink!
In addition to getting all decked out for the holidays, the Argyll Arms features a cheery Festive Menu. The 3-course menu offers up traditional British classics like pigs-in-blankets, bubble & squeak, glazed parsnips and a traditional Christmas pudding. And if you pre-book your 3-course Christmas dinner and don your favourite Christmas sweater the pub will even welcome you with a special Christmas treat.
Fox & Anchor Pub
The Fox & Anchor Pub, located near Smithfields Market, is a vintage-chic Victorian pub that really comes alive at Christmas! During the holidays, stepping inside feels like walking into a Charles Dickens novel. The building’s old wooden beams and antique decorative panelling sparkle in the candlelight that glows inside. Pop into one of their cozy booths where you can marvel at the stained glass that dots even the interior.
The Fox and Anchor are famous for their Sunday roasts. The meal features a crown of turkey, pigs in a blanket, goose fat roast potatoes, crushed winter vegetables, and of course, lots of gravy. Drooling yet? Me too! Pair this with a plate of handmade mince pies from the Smithfield Market and a glass of mulled wine for the perfect Christmas feast. They are also open for breakfast if you’re not up for their filling dinner menu. So you can enjoy the atmosphere early in the morning, setting yourself up for a brilliant day out in London.
The Sherlock Pub
A name synonymous with London has got to be Sherlock Holmes. And although Holmes was a fictional character, his name lives on in the city. So much so that there is even a pub named after the famous detective. Located just off the Embankment, the Sherlock Pub is a Victorian-style tavern featuring rustic-themed interiors pulled right out of Conan Doyle’s universe.
At Christmastime, the Sherlock Holmes Pub featurse a festive menu and some incredible special cocktails and concoctions that will warm you from the inside out! Grab a pitcher of mulled wine to share with the table. Since Sherlock Holme is so popular with the entire family, this pub is one of those places you can definitely bring the kids. They even feature a festive kids’ menu that caters to the youngins’ appetite. And since the pub really draws in tourists, it also goes all out on their Christmas decor. To make sure anyone feels like they have a Holmes away from Homes this Christmas.
The Red Lion Pub
Standing on the corner of Parliament street, in the heart of Westminster, the Red Lion Pub sits on the site of London’s oldest medieval tavern. The Hopping Hall was where medieval Londoners would gather for their own Christmas drinks back in 1434! Although the name has changed over the years, the building itself feels like a piece of history. Even Charles Dickens, the Victorian Christmas writer, was known to be a frequent visitor. And being so close to 10 Downing Street, the pub is also popular with everyone from Prime ministers to visiting dignitaries.
The Red Lion already feels so festive with their glowing chandeliers but at the holidays they cover the interior with boughs and baubles. Their Christmas trees are all decked out in red and gold ornaments to match their already stunning interior.
The most impressive part of the building is the Victorian Gin palace located in the main dining room. This interior captures the glorious grandeur of the period. Their Christmas dinner menu features a favourite of mine; Hereford beef, ox cheek and beauvale blue cheese pie! I love a blue cheese pie! But if that might be a little adventurous for you, their Chesnut mac and cheese is a favourite with everyone who tries it! Really unique but super delicious. Finish it off with sticky ginger pudding with chocolate sauce and glazed mandarin for a sweet seasonal treat.
The Roebuck
The Roebuck is one of those pubs that feels like a complete secret and yet a complete stunner. The Victorian three-storey red brick building is awe-inspiring. Accented in green wooden timber, it almost looks like a red and green Christmas present all year round. But in November, when the twinkle lights turn on, and it is decorated for the season, there is an added layer of glamour. But despite all its fantastical appearances, the atmosphere inside is really laid back and relaxed.
With mismatched chairs and custom works of art featuring the iconic ‘buck’, this place is such a good watering hole for trendy Londoners to gather. During the festive season, they host a lovely Christmas menu featuring local meat, sustainably sourced fish & seasonal vegetables. This is the spot to come if you want to feel like a local.
The Jugged Hare
Walking up to the doors of this former bank-turned-pub, a visit to the Jugged Hare genuinely feels like dining inside a regal palace interior. The towering stone-columned facade leads into a sky-high tavern covered in exquisite paintings, shimmering chandeliers and antique Victorian woodwork. Decorating all the walls are a variety of taxidermied animals; this definitely isn’t the place to bring a vegan… At Christmastime, the animals were ever given seasonal trimming with an ornament hung from their antlers and their heads serving as hangers for large wreaths.
The pub’s name comes from the traditional British dish of jugged hare, where a rabbit was simmered inside a ceramic jug. The original recipe leaves much to be desired, so the restaurant has adapted it into a Jugged Hare Pie served with braised meat, veggies and port and redcurrant gravy.
But at Christmas, you must try their gourmet Christmas Menu! Although a little pricey at 65£ pp, it includes three courses and Christmas mince pies, finished with coffee and tea. For starters, you should ensure you try their pigeon with rhubarb and beetroot and nosh on their wild Suffolk red deer loin for your mains. Nothing is better to finish it than the Christmas pudding with brandy custard! The Jugged Hare is also famous for its Saturday Bottomless Brunch!
Mayflower Pub
The Mayflower pub is a hidden gem in the heart of Rotherhithe. It is a charming traditional English pub surrounded by old cobbled streets. Sitting inside by the candlelit, you have a beautiful view of the Thames River. The pub’s name, ‘the Mayflower,’ was given to the tavern as it was from the docks just along the river opposite the pub that the ship Pilgrim Father’s Mayflower was moored before setting off to America in 1620. For over 400 years, people have been coming here for a drink and to warm themselves by the fire. Thanks to this, the Mayflowers boasts the oldest pub on the Thames River! They also claim to have the best fish and chips in London! But this is a claim I’ve seen in multiple places, so it’s a matter of personal choice. But always worth a try!
At Christmas, there is something so classic and simple about the decorations that fill the inside and out of the Mayflower. They even have a few real Christmas trees outside to greet their guests as they come indoors. Once you walk inside, you’ll be overwhelmed by the nostalgic atmosphere and vintage decorations that swirls around the cozy interior. Sit down with a pint of beer and a Christmas cheese board (one of my personal favourites) to enjoy with a group of friends. Catching up with old friends is one of the best parts of the holidays, and there is no better place than the Mayflower to while the night away.
Cadogan Arms
Deep in the heart of Chelsea, the Cadogan Arms recently reopened after a much-needed renovation to restore the historic pub to its former glory! What was once a humble neighbourhood pub is now a stylish and modern public house. The Cadogan Arms focuses on bespoke beers, classic cocktails and British food that highlight seasonality and traceability. This place is the most upscale bar on the list, but I wanted to ensure there was a little bit of everything on this list to suit all tastes and budgets.
Feathers, dried flowers, huge vases full of green branches, and leaves seem to heave from every corner. The natural decor contrasts the beautifully rich woodwork and incredible stained glass behind the bar. Starting in November, the Cadogan Arms starts serving its hot drinks menu! This features mulled wine, hot buttered rum, Chartreuse hot chocolate, Irish coffees and fresh mince pies to pair alongside them! The hot drinks menu runs until the end of the year, perfect for drawing out every last day of the holiday season, long past Christmas Day!
I hope you enjoyed this list of the 12 best London Pubs to visit this Christmas! I hope their joyous atmosphere, beautiful decorations and delicious festive cuisine all helped add to the wonder of travelling during the holidays. Let me know in the comment which one looked the most appealing to you or your favourite Christmas day activity in your hometown!
Happy Travels, Adventurers
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