Bars
The 6 Best Pubs in Clapham
From a 240-foot Victorian bar to a garden that runs straight onto the Common, Clapham drinks well in every direction.
In short: our top picks are The Windmill on the Common, The Falcon and The Stonhouse. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Clapham gets written off as a chain-bar playground, which does its pubs a disservice. The good ones are genuinely good: a garden the size of a small park, a curved bar you could lose an evening walking around, roasts worth queuing for. We have skipped the identikit high-street barns in favour of places with real rooms and real cooking. Come hungry on a Sunday and thirsty any other day.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Windmill on the Common | Clapham Common | ££ |
| The Falcon | Clapham Junction | ££ |
| The Stonhouse | Clapham Common | £££ |
| The Abbeville | Abbeville Village, Clapham | £££ |
| The Bolingbroke | Northcote Road, Clapham | £££ |
| The Alexandra | Wimbledon | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Windmill on the Common
Why we pick itA big Young's garden runs straight onto Clapham Common, and the Sunday roast lands with giant Yorkshires and proper roast potatoes.
garden pub and hotel
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The Falcon
Why we pick itOnce in the Guinness records for Britain's longest bar, its 240-foot oval servery pours Nicholson's cask ales under stained glass and Victorian tilework.
historic Victorian pub
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The Stonhouse
Why we pick itBare brick, a real fire and a proper garden frame a modern British menu of aged beef, sustainable fish and a serious Sunday roast.
modern gastropub
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The Abbeville
Why we pick itA candlelit neighbourhood room on quiet Abbeville Road, doing free-range roasts, small-producer British plates and long lazy afternoons with the front doors flung open.
neighbourhood gastropub
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The Bolingbroke
Why we pick itThe Between the Commons favourite on Northcote Road, all colourful rooms and buggies, turning out free-range roasts and polished British cooking without fuss.
family gastropub
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The Alexandra
Why we pick itA 150-year-old corner boozer by the Common with craft taps, handmade pizza and the dartboards upstairs running as the Clapham Darts Club.
craft beer and darts pub
Before you book
Clapham Common and Clapham South are your tube stops for the Common-side pubs, while the Falcon and Bolingbroke sit closer to Clapham Junction rail. Book ahead for Sunday lunch everywhere, especially the Windmill and the Bolingbroke, and arrive early if you want garden seats in summer. Most are dog-friendly, though the gastropubs fill with families around midday.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Windmill on the Common is our editor's choice: A big Young's garden runs straight onto Clapham Common, and the Sunday roast lands with giant Yorkshires and proper roast potatoes. The Windmill on the Common, The Falcon and The Stonhouse 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/.
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