Five Of The Best Cosy Pubs in London

Take the edge off these chilly autumn nights with a visit to one of these cosy pubs, each boasting crackling fires, comfy sofas and hearty food.

Three Kings of Clerkenwell

Based in a building that dates back to 1791, the cosy main room of this fabulously bohemian Georgian pub is chock-full of random knickknacks, including a rhino head, fairy lights, old maps of Islington, an Egyptian pharaoh’s cat sculpture, and autographed baseball photos. If you’re feeling cold, warm up by the toasty real fire and serves reasonably priced pub grub, including old favourite comfort food, bangers and mash. Don’t leave without taking a peek upstairs to play a tune on the vinyl jukebox!

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Follow in the footsteps of royals by supping a pint in this seventeenth-century, Grade II listed pub. Tucked away down a narrow alleyway off London’s famous Fleet Street, this olde worlde watering hole has a clutch of bars and dining rooms that are reached via a labyrinth of passages and narrow staircases. Snuggle up to a crackling fire during the winter months while enjoying some hearty food washed down with some ale (the pub’s on the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors).

Jerusalem Tavern

Regularly topping lists of London’s best pubs, this tiny Farringdon-based pub is super-cosy with its homely interior, open fireplaces and wooden floors. Based in a building that dates back to the early eighteenth century, the pub was first a coffee house, then a watch shop, before becoming a coffee house again after World War II. It didn’t become a pub until the 1990s. Its small size means that it often gets crowded, so arrive early in the evening to secure a seat and enjoy a fruity beer from the Suffolk-based St Peter’s Brewery, for which this pub is the only London outlet.

Clapton Hart

Decked out with pianos, old sewing machines and rickety furniture, this friendly pub oozes vintage charm. And as the chilly winter nights set in, the pub’s three wood fires, exposed brick walls and board games lend a cosy atmosphere to this Clapton-based boozer. The pub serves up a range of craft beer and real ale from microbreweries in East London and beyond, including Hackney Brewery, Beavertown, Saltaire, Pressure Drop and more. The pub’s Sunday roasts are top-notch, especially when complemented with a home-infused Bloody Mary.

Holly Bush

While away a chilly evening in this Dickensian pub, which has two wood and coal-burning fires. Sited in leafy Hampstead, the pub’s first floor dining room was originally the studio of 18th century portrait artist George Romney. As well as a lengthy hand-picked wine list, there’s plenty to impress ale aficionados, from London Pride to guest brews from Gales and Adnams. On the menu are an array of hearty treats, including plump pheasant, wild venison and sausages.

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