Bars
The 6 Best Outdoor Bars in London
Six London bars and pubs built around a garden, a terrace or the riverbank rather than a rooftop, from a Thames side pub founded in 1786 to a converted Dutch barge on the River Lea.
In short: our top picks are The Crabtree, Barge East and Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Rooftop bars get most of the attention, but London has a separate, older tradition of drinking outdoors that has nothing to do with height, riverside pub gardens that have been serving pints since the 1700s, a converted barge moored on a canal, a courtyard tucked behind a department store’s old nursery site. These places trade the skyline view for something closer to actual nature, water, trees, open grass, and they tend to be considerably less choreographed than the average rooftop bar. We have deliberately left rooftop venues off this list, since they get their own separate guide, and focused instead on ground level gardens, terraces and riverside spots.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Crabtree | Fulham | ££ |
| Barge East | Hackney Wick | £££ |
| Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden | Covent Garden | £££ |
| Hackney Bridge | Hackney Wick | ££ |
| The Ship | Wandsworth | ££ |
| The Anchor Bankside | Bankside | ££ |
-
Editor’s choice
The Crabtree
Why we pick itSitting on one of the quietest stretches of the river between Hammersmith and Putney bridges, The Crabtree has a proper Thames Dining Room plus terraces that catch the river view directly, and sits close enough to Craven Cottage to fill up fast on Fulham match days.
Thames side pub garden and terrace
-
Barge East
Why we pick itThe bar and restaurant occupy an actual historic Dutch barge moored on the River Lea, with an outdoor towpath side terrace covered in foliage that runs along the water rather than looking down on it from above.
Worth knowingA walk from the nearest station rather than somewhere you stumble upon, and the deck seating is genuinely weather dependent.
Converted Dutch barge moored on the River Lea
-
Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden
Why we pick itSet inside a secluded courtyard just off King and Floral Street, this is a genuine plant nursery turned restaurant and bar rather than a themed garden built for photographs, and its small private terrace can be booked for drinks receptions as well as meals.
Courtyard terrace tucked off Floral Street
-
Hackney Bridge
Why we pick itRoughly the size of three football pitches, the landscaped garden here runs straight along the Hackney Wick canal, with long communal tables that stay busy well into the evening through the warmer months and a rotating line up of food traders alongside the bars.
Canal side food and drink hub with a huge lawn
-
The Ship
Why we pick itA working Thames side pub since 1786, The Ship serves a proper Sunday roast and real ale on an outdoor terrace right on the water near Wandsworth Bridge, with the kind of unfussy, dog friendly atmosphere that has nothing to do with the recent wave of design led outdoor bars.
Riverside pub since 1786
-
The Anchor Bankside
Why we pick itRebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1676, this is the sole survivor of Bankside's old river taverns from Shakespeare's time, and its terrace looks straight across the Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and Tower Bridge.
Historic riverside terrace opposite the City
Before you book
Riverside pubs like The Ship and The Crabtree get extremely busy on the first warm weekend of the year, so arrive early on a Saturday if you want a table with a river view rather than standing room. Barge East takes bookings for its main seating but the towpath side often works on a walk in basis, and Petersham Nurseries’ courtyard is worth booking ahead for lunch given how small the space actually is.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Crabtree is our editor's choice: Sitting on one of the quietest stretches of the river between Hammersmith and Putney bridges, The Crabtree has a proper Thames Dining Room plus terraces that catch the river view directly, and sits close enough to Craven Cottage to fill up fast on Fulham match days. The Crabtree, Barge East and Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
Related guides
Bars The Best Rooftop Bars in London
The terraces worth the lift, for the view, the crowd, or both, the moment London opens up.
5 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Bars in London
Our pick of the best bars in London, from world-ranked cocktail rooms to quiet hotel classics.
4 places Read guide →
Experiences Things to Do in London
Our considered guide to doing London well: the experiences, views and evenings worth your time.
5 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Bars in Angel
Angel after dark: the backstreet cocktail dens, Irish whiskey rooms and wine bars that drink far better than Upper Street lets on.
6 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Pubs in Hammersmith
Riverside terraces, a record-breaking snug and a Brackenbury roast: Hammersmith drinks far better than its flyover suggests.
6 places Read guide →From the Journal
How to Do Afternoon Tea Properly
Tiered stands, proper brews and grand rooms: a short guide to London's most theatrical ritual.
10 Jul 2026Read →
An Excuse for Champagne
Nobody really needs a reason for champagne. That is the secret of it. A glass of something cold and serious turns a Tuesday into an occasion, and the only thing standing between you and that small ceremony is the deciding to do it. London understands this better than most cities. We will toast a promotion, […]
16 Jun 2026Read →
London in Summer: The Terrace Months
London does not do summer by halves, but it does do it briefly. For a few weeks the city forgets itself: the light stretches past nine, the pavements warm up, and everyone you know suddenly has plans that involve being outside. This is the season the rest of the year is quietly jealous of. It […]
11 Jun 2026Read →Readers also viewed
Bars The Best Private Members Clubs in London
Six of London's notable private members clubs, from Annabel's to 5 Hertford Street, with honest notes on what each is for and how membership actually works.
6 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Pubs in Waterloo
Cask ale on Roupell Street, whole roasts on The Cut and a river terrace by Blackfriars: Waterloo drinks far better than its commuter reputation suggests.
6 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Bars in Canary Wharf
Skyline rooftops, a floating steakhouse bar, a velvet-lined speakeasy and a Nelson-era riverside pub: the Wharf after the trading floors empty.
6 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Bars in Mayfair
The hotel bars, hidden rooms and grand classics that make Mayfair London's best drinking quarter.
5 places Read guide →