London · City guide
A rainy day computed by Traceflap: everything indoors, with food and coffee in between. Below, all places that work in the rain.
4 min walk, open until 17:15, indoors, in case it rains
Lunch, 3 min walk – reservation recommended
4 min walk, open until 17:00, indoors, in case it rains
Sunset 16:37, best seen from here
Coffee break, 11 min walk
29 min walk, open until 19:00, indoors, in case it rains, free
Dinner, 19 min walk
Links marked * are partner links: if you book there we earn a commission, your price stays the same.
Daily 10 am–5.50 pm, last entry 5.30 pm
Natural history museum in a Romanesque terracotta cathedral, with a blue whale skeleton in the Hintze Hall.
Free entry. A free timed ticket online guarantees entry. Queues form at weekends and in the school holidays.
Daily 10 am–5.45 pm, Fridays until 10 pm
The world's largest museum of design and the decorative arts, from fashion and jewellery to plaster casts.
Free, only special exhibitions charge. Open until 10 pm on Fridays. The courtyard garden is a good place for a break.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5.15 pm
Museum of technology from the steam engine to the Apollo capsule, with plenty of hands-on exhibits.
Free with a timed ticket. Wonderlab costs extra and is cheaper in advance. From 24 to 30 October it opens at 9 am.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, Fri until 9 pm; closed 24–26 Dec and 1 Jan.
Van Gogh, Turner and Velázquez for free, right on Trafalgar Square.
Free. A free ticket gets you through the queue faster; quieter on Fridays until 9 pm.
Mon–Sat from 8.30 am (Wed from 10 am), last entry usually 4 pm; Sun services only
Wren's dome from inside and on top: the Whispering Gallery and a panorama over the City.
The dome galleries are included in the ticket (£27). No sightseeing on Sundays; services are free.
Sightseeing usually 9.30 am–3.30 pm, check the daily calendar; Sun services only
Coronation church with the graves of Newton and Darwin and Poets' Corner.
Book a time slot in advance. The daily services are free (Great West Door).
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5.30 pm
British art since 1500, with the world's largest Turner collection in the Clore Gallery.
The collection is free. The Millbank entrance is closed until 2027; you go in through the Manton entrance on Atterbury Street. Usually quieter than Tate Modern.
Daily 10 am–5 pm
Townhouse full of Old Masters, armour and French furniture, including Fragonard's ‘The Swing’.
Free. Weekday mornings are pleasantly quiet. The café in the glazed courtyard is good for a break.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5.15 pm
Manet's ‘Bar aux Folies-Bergère’ and plenty of Impressionism in Somerset House.
Card only, no cash. Tickets online or at the desk, last entry 5.15 pm.
Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm, closed Mon
Museum about medicine, the body and being human, with curious objects and a lovely reading room.
Free, closed Mondays. In the Reading Room on the 2nd floor you can read and rest on the sofas.
Tue–Sun 10 am–5 pm, closed Mon
Living rooms from 400 years in 18th-century almshouses in Hoxton, with gardens from every era.
Free, no booking needed. Closed Mondays except bank holidays. Combines well with a wander through Shoreditch.
Daily, Thu antiques from 8 am
Covered Victorian market hall with fashion, design and food stalls, whatever the weather.
Thursday is antiques day from 8 am. A good choice in the rain; Brick Lane is right next door.
Tue–Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun 11 am–5 pm, closed Mon
The story of London's first foundling hospital, with works by Hogarth and Handel memorabilia.
Online £13.50, at the desk £14.50. Closed Mondays. The little tokens left by the mothers are the most moving part.
Daily 10 am–5.30 pm
Covered market in the centre of Greenwich with crafts, bric-a-brac and lots of food stalls.
Good for lunch before the climb up through Greenwich Park. Which stalls are there varies by day.
Thu–Sun 10.30 am–5 pm, last entry 4.15 pm
Europe's oldest surviving operating theatre, from 1822, hidden in the roof space of a church.
Adults £10. Open Thu–Sun only. A narrow spiral staircase leads to the entrance; it is not step-free.
Daily 7.30 am–7 pm
Catholic cathedral in Byzantine style in red and white brick, with an interior full of mosaics.
Entry is free. The lift up the bell tower costs extra; price and hours unverified. Only 5 minutes on foot from Victoria station.
Hours set week by week; week from 19 Oct: Mon 8.30 am–5 pm, Tue 12.30–5 pm, Wed until 7.30 pm, Sun until 8 pm
Light-filled church on Trafalgar Square, with a café in the vaulted crypt below.
Free. The café in the crypt is a good stop even when it rains.
Daily 10 am–5 pm, Fri until 8.30 pm
The Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures. Ideal for a rainy day.
Collection free, special exhibitions charge. Fridays until 8.30 pm with free time slots.
Daily 9.30 am–6 pm (Fri/Sat from 9 am), last entry 5 pm
Bunker beneath Whitehall preserved in its original state, from which Churchill directed the Second World War.
Adults £34. Book a time slot online beforehand, otherwise you wait a long time. Open from 9 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm
Second World War cruiser moored in front of Tower Bridge. You can explore it across nine decks.
Adults £26.80 without donation. Cheaper online. In winter it may close at 5 pm. You need good shoes for the steep ladders.
Hours vary by day, at weekends and in holidays often 9 am–8 pm; last entry around 2 hours before closing
The famous waxworks on Marylebone Road with royals, film stars and sports stars to photograph up close.
Book online with a time slot; it is much cheaper than at the desk (from approx. £27 instead of around £40). Weekday mornings are quietest.
Daily 10 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm
Buses, trams and Tube carriages from 200 years in the old flower market hall of Covent Garden.
The adult ticket costs £27 and is valid for a year. Children are free but need a timed ticket. The shop can be visited without a ticket.
Daily 9.30 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm
Victorian bascule bridge, with glass-floored walkways above and the old steam engines below.
Crossing the bridge itself costs nothing. The exhibition charges admission, bookable up to 6 weeks ahead. Lift times are on the website.
Wed–Mon 10 am–5.30 pm, last entry 4.30 pm, closed Tue
Studio house of the painter Frederic Leighton with a golden tiled Arab Hall and a mosaic.
Closed Tuesdays. Tickets online. A hidden gem in Holland Park, good to combine with the Design Museum.
Wed–Sun 10 am–5 pm, last entry 4 pm
The house where Dickens wrote ‘Oliver Twist’, furnished as in his day.
Adults £14. Closed Monday and Tuesday. In December there are longer opening hours and Christmas readings.
Wed–Sun 10 am–5 pm, last entry 4.30 pm; closed Mon/Tue
An architect's house crammed with mirrors, skylit domes and an Egyptian sarcophagus.
Free, no booking needed. Little space, so often a wait. Closed Mon and Tue.
Booked time slots only, see calendar
Huguenot house in Spitalfields, arranged like a living still life from the 18th century.
Timed tickets only, often sold out. The Silent Visit costs around £16, more in the evening by candlelight. No talking inside the house.
Tue–Sat 10 am–5 pm, last entry 4 pm
Anatomical collection of the surgeon John Hunter on Lincoln's Inn Fields, not for the faint-hearted.
Free, a timed ticket is recommended. Closed Sunday and Monday. Close to the Soane Museum.
Usually daily, check regular hours on the website
The City's municipal art collection. In the basement lie the remains of London's Roman amphitheatre.
Free. Tours Tue–Sun at 12.15 and 1.15 pm. Closed on some days, e.g. 16 November and 7 December.
Mon–Sat 9 am–6 pm, Sun 8.30 am–5 pm
London's oldest Gothic church, right next to Borough Market, with a Shakespeare memorial.
Enter quietly during services. Best combined with Borough Market and a walk along the river.
Mon–Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun between services
Norman church of 1123 with a dark, atmospheric interior, well known as a film location.
There is an admission charge; the amount is unverified. On Sundays open only between services. You enter the church through a half-timbered gatehouse on Smithfield.
Variable, usually weekdays approx. 10 am–4 pm (unverified)
Round 12th-century Templar church, hidden among the lawyers' courtyards.
£5. Hours vary, check the website beforehand.
Mon/Tue 7 am–10 pm, Wed–Fri 7 am–11 pm, Sat 8 am–11 pm, Sun 8 am–10 pm
Breakfast in the style of a Viennese grand café beneath a high vaulted ceiling.
Breakfast weekdays 7–11.30 am, weekends from 8 am. Booking recommended, some tables walk-in.
Mon 7 am–10 pm, Tue–Fri 7 am–10.30 pm, Sat 8 am–10.30 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm
Viennese-style grand café on the Aldwych; breakfast with egg dishes, pastries and coffee.
Open from 7 am on weekdays, ideal before a day of theatre or museums; Sundays only from 11 am.
Mon 7.30 am–9.30 pm, Tue–Fri 7.30 am–10 pm, Sat/Sun 9 am–10 pm (last orders)
Viennese coffee house on Marylebone High Street; breakfast with Bircher muesli, eggs and strudel.
From 7.30 am on weekdays; breakfast is served into the evening, and a coffee with strudel works without booking.
Mon–Fri 8 am–10 pm, Sat 9 am–10 pm, Sun 9 am–4 pm
Deli-restaurant of the well-known chef; breakfast, colourful salads at lunchtime and cakes from the counter.
Hot breakfast only until 11.45 am (weekends 11.30 am); book a table via SevenRooms, Sundays only until 4 pm.
Mon–Fri 8 am–5 pm, Sat/Sun 9 am–5 pm (kitchen until 4 pm)
Australian café in a side street; brunch with corn fritters, eggs and flat whites.
The kitchen closes as early as 4 pm; bookable online via OpenTable, worth doing at the weekend.
Daily 7 am–4 am
Espresso and pizza until 4 in the morning in Soho, family-run since 1949.
No bookings. Good after the theatre or after a late arrival.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–11 pm, Sat 9 am–11 pm, Sun 9 am–5 pm (unverified)
Relaxed brasserie café in Fitzrovia; breakfast and brunch with pancakes, eggs and avocado.
Brunch at the weekend; check the hours on riding.house beforehand, as third-party listings disagree.
Mon 8 am–9.30 pm, Tue/Wed 8 am–10 pm, Thu/Fri 8 am–10.30 pm, Sat 9 am–10.30 pm, Sun 9 am–4 pm
All-day restaurant with its own roastery; brunch with creative egg dishes and good coffee.
Weekend brunch is popular, book online; outside, Exmouth Market tempts with street-food stalls.
Mon–Sat 7 am–10.30 pm, Sun 8 am–9.30 pm (last orders)
Bright Australian-style café; famous for the ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter.
Bookings only from 5 pm, walk-ins only during the day; come early, a queue forms at the weekend.
Mon–Sat 8 am–3 pm, closed Sun
Italian-run workers' café since 1900 with marquetry panelling; order a full English or pasta.
Only until 3 pm and closed Sundays; small room, you often share a table. In Bethnal Green, 10 minutes from Shoreditch.
Daily 10 am–10 pm
Udon bar with hand-made noodles; Japanese breakfast in the morning, udon hot or cold at lunchtime.
Walk-in only; the English breakfast udon with bacon, egg and shiitake is the house speciality.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–4.30 pm, Sat 8 am–5 pm, Sun 9 am–5 pm
Pioneer of London's speciality coffee scene on Leather Lane; filter coffee or flat white.
From 7.30 am on weekdays; at lunchtime combine it with the street food of Leather Lane Market right outside the door.
Mon–Sat 8 am–7 pm, closed Sun
Small roastery bar in Covent Garden, filter coffee from single farms.
Card only, closed Sundays, short queue in the morning.
Mon–Fri 8.30 am–5 pm, Sat 9 am–6 pm, Sun 9.30 am–5.30 pm
Tiny café on Berwick Street that brought the flat white to London; order exactly that.
Only a few seats; take your cup and stroll through the Berwick Street market.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–4 pm, Sat/Sun 8.30 am–4 pm (kitchen until 3 pm)
Roastery with a café in a warehouse; coffee fresh from the roaster, plus brunch from the kitchen.
Bookable via OpenTable on weekdays, walk-in only at weekends and quickly full; kitchen until 3 pm.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–5 pm, Sat 8.30 am–5 pm, Sun 9 am–5 pm
Small Australian-style café near Oxford Circus; flat white and a sandwich from the counter.
A quiet antidote to Oxford Street; second branch on Great Titchfield Street with the same hours.
Mon–Fri 9 am–6.30 pm, Sat 10 am–6.30 pm, closed Sun
Tiny Swedish bakery in Covent Garden; cardamom buns, princess cake and coffee.
Closed Sundays; only a few seats, good as a sweet stop between Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Mon–Fri 6.30 am–5 pm, Sat 8 am–4 pm, closed Sun
Small speciality coffee bar in the City; a quick espresso or flat white to go.
Open from 6.30 am, closed Sundays; a short queue of office workers around 8.30 am, then quickly served.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–6 pm, Sat 9 am–5.30 pm, Sun 9.30 am–5 pm
Bright café in Bloomsbury near the British Museum; espresso from changing roasteries, plus pastries.
A good stop on the way to the British Museum; lots of laptop customers, seats are easiest to find in the morning.
Mon–Fri 7.30 am–5.30 pm, Sat 9 am–7 pm, Sun 9.30 am–6 pm
London roastery with a café on New Row; flat white or filter coffee from its own roast.
Open until 7 pm on Saturdays, good for a break between Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Mon–Fri 8 am–5 pm, Sat/Sun 8 am–4 pm (unverified)
Flagship of the Cornish roastery on Charlotte Road; filter coffee or an espresso tasting.
Hours taken only from the search snippet of the official site, check briefly on site; beans available to take home.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–11 pm, Thu 12 noon–12 midnight, Fri 12 noon–1 am, Sat 11 am–1 am, Sun 11 am–10 pm
Big market hall in Elephant & Castle with stalls from around the world, with an Italian focus.
Main market only from 12 noon (Sat/Sun 11 am); in the morning only the café in the Italian Corner is open, from 8 am.
Mon/Tue 12 noon–10 pm, Wed–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm
Market hall in an old banana warehouse with around 20 street-food stalls and two bars.
Mon/Tue only from 12 noon; bookable for groups of 5 or more. Book ahead via Tock for the cheese conveyor belt at Pick & Cheese.
Bar Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–5 pm; kitchen 12 noon–3 pm and Mon–Sat 6.30–10.30 pm
Regarded as London's first gastropub; daily menu on the blackboard, the classic is the steak sandwich.
Small tables cannot be booked, come early; kitchen at lunchtime 12 noon–3 pm, groups of 5 or more book by phone.
Mon–Sat 10 am–7 pm, Sun 11 am–6 pm
Italian deli since 1944; panini, fresh pasta and antipasti to take away.
Card only, no cash; pick up a panino and eat it in nearby Golden Square.
Around the clock (according to OpenStreetMap, unverified)
24-hour bagel bakery on Brick Lane; order the salt beef bagel with mustard.
The queue moves fast; have cash ready (unverified) and eat your bagel outside on Brick Lane.
daily 11 am–11 pm
Belgian-Dutch beer café on Drury Lane with plenty of draught beers and a café atmosphere.
A good meeting point before a musical on Drury Lane.
Mon–Wed 11.30 am–10 pm, Thu–Sat 11.30 am–10.30 pm, Sun 11.30 am–9.30 pm
Pasta bar with a counter onto the open kitchen; the speciality is silk handkerchief pasta with walnut butter.
Book via SevenRooms; alone or as a pair, sit at the counter and watch the chefs.
Breakfast, lunch until 3 pm, dinner from 5 pm (last booking Mon–Sat 10.45 pm, Sun 9.45 pm)
British institution since 1828; roast beef carved at the table from the silver trolley.
Book 1–2 weeks ahead; last booking Mon–Sat 10.45 pm. After the theatre: late menu at Romano's from 9.45 pm.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Wood-panelled fish restaurant in the theatre district; famous for its fish pie and oysters.
For pre-theatre, book 1–2 weeks in advance. Last entry Mon–Sat 10.45 pm, Sun 8.45 pm.
Kitchen: Mon dinner only 6–9.45 pm, Tue–Sat lunch and dinner until 9.45 pm, Sun lunch only 12 noon–3.30 pm
Working-class dining rooms of 1869 with the original wooden pews; chops and the famous confit potatoes.
For Fri/Sat book 1–2 weeks ahead; the kitchen only runs until 9.45 pm in the evening. Sun lunch only.
Lunch Mon–Sat 12 noon–3 pm, Sun 12 noon–4 pm; dinner Mon–Sat 6–10.30 pm
British nose-to-tail cooking in a former smokehouse; order the bone marrow and the madeleines.
The lunch menu goes online at 11 am; book a table, the bar at the front offers wine and small bites without booking.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–3 pm and 5 pm–12 midnight (kitchen until 11 pm), Sun 12 noon–3.30 pm and 5–11.30 pm (kitchen until 9.30 pm)
Italian regional cooking in Soho; dishes in small or large portions, pasta and grills.
Book 1 week ahead for the evening; the seats at the counter are the nicest. Kitchen Mon–Sat until 11 pm, ideal after the theatre.
Sun–Wed 7 pm–1 am, Thu–Sat 7 pm–3 am
Speakeasy-style basement bar on City Road; elaborate cocktails and jazz or swing every night.
Book a table online, walk-ins only if there is space. Live music from 9 pm; open until 3 am Thu–Sat.
daily from 4 pm
Bar in the Rosewood London on High Holborn with a fireplace, bookshelves and caricatures by Gerald Scarfe.
Often live music in the evening; booking is worthwhile.
Wed 4 pm–12 midnight, Thu–Fri 4 pm–2 am, Sat 5 pm–2 am; Tue and Sun see website; closed Mon
Bar and club on Curtain Road with a big roof terrace above Shoreditch, with a heated yurt in winter.
Closed Mondays. The roof terrace fills up fast in good weather.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10 pm; kitchen until 10 pm and 9 pm respectively
Candlelight in a vaulted cellar since 1890, sherry and a cheese board.
No bookings, come early. The terrace has patio heaters.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–10.30 pm, Thu–Sat 11.30 am–11 pm, Sun 11.30 am–10 pm (last orders in each case)
Parisian brasserie in an art deco hall beneath Piccadilly; steak haché, onion soup, cheap set menu.
Always tables free for walk-ins; still book for Fri/Sat. Afterwards head to the Bar Américain next door.
Sun–Mon 12 noon–3 pm and 5–10 pm, Tue–Sat 12 noon–3 pm and 5–11 pm
Spanish tapas counter in Soho; tortilla, grills from the daily specials and fish from the ice counter.
You sit at the counter; plenty of seats for walk-ins, come early in the evening. Daily specials on the board.
Mon–Thu 5 pm–12 midnight, Fri 4 pm–12 midnight, Sat 3 pm–12.30 am, Sun 4–11 pm
Art deco bar in the basement of Brasserie Zédel near Piccadilly Circus, with classic cocktails and Parisian flair.
Combines well with dinner in the brasserie or cabaret at Crazy Coqs next door.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Legendary cocktail bar in the Savoy Hotel since 1893; white jackets, piano and classics from the history of bartending.
Entry from age 16; expect a wait, dress smartly.
Mon–Sat 4 pm–1 am
Elegant hotel bar in the Connaught in Mayfair, known for the martini trolley mixed at your table.
No bookings; come early in the evening. Order a martini from the trolley.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–1 am, Sun 12 noon–12 midnight
Art deco bar at Claridge's with champagne, classic cocktails and plenty of glamour.
Children only until 6 pm and only with hotel guests. Dress smartly.
Sun–Wed 11 am–11 pm, Thu–Sat 11 am–12 midnight; kitchen daily 11 am–10 pm
London's last galleried coaching inn from the 17th century; a pint of ale in the yard or a pie inside.
No booking needed for drinks; sit inside in the old parlours. Kitchen daily until 10 pm.
Mon–Sat 11.30 am–11 pm, Sun 11.30 am–10.30 pm
Honest Soho pub by Berwick Street Market with regulars from the neighbourhood and good beer.
Standing outside on the pavement is the norm here.
Mon–Thu 12 noon–11.30 pm, Fri–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Cramped, rambling bar on Hanway Street with a vinyl jukebox, Spanish beer and a mixed crowd.
The basement is usually fuller; cash and card accepted.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–8 pm
Narrow pub near Trafalgar Square with a big choice of real ales and ciders; a small, quiet room upstairs.
In the early evening the crowd spills out into the alley.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Victorian pub on the winding Shepherd Market in Mayfair, cosy and less polished than the neighbourhood.
In fine weather everyone stands outside on the little square.
Mon–Fri 11 am–11 pm, Sat 12 noon–8 pm, closed Sun
Victorian gin palace opposite the Old Bailey with a richly decorated interior.
Closed Sundays, Saturdays only until 8 pm.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–4 pm and 6–11 pm, Sat–Sun 12 noon–11 pm; other days see website
Narrow 18th-century pub on the Thames in Limehouse with a small terrace over the river; Ian McKellen is one of the owners.
Pub quiz on Mondays from 8 pm. No entry under 18.
Sun–Thu 12 noon–12 midnight, Fri–Sat 12 noon–1 am
Rock pub near Camden Lock with a roof terrace; once the local of Amy Winehouse and many musicians.
Very full at the weekend after the market.
Tue–Wed 5 pm–12 midnight, Thu 5 pm–1 am, Fri 5 pm–2 am, closed Mon; weekend see website
Small cocktail bar with no sign, also known as the ‘Bar with no name’; experimental drinks in a plain room.
Only a few tables, booking is worthwhile.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–11 pm, Thu–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Craft beer pub in a side street off Angel with a long board of taps and a small garden.
Garden tables cannot be booked.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Facade smothered in flowers, Victorian cosiness inside and a Thai kitchen at the back.
Photos of the flower-covered facade are best in daylight.
Mon 12 noon–10 pm, Tue–Fri 12 noon–11 pm, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Pub in a quiet mews in Belgravia; the Great Train Robbery of 1963 is said to have been planned here.
Away from the main roads, with a fireplace and board games.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
18th-century pub in the lanes of Hampstead with a fireplace, creaking floors and small parlours.
Combines well with a walk across Hampstead Heath.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Riverside pub in Hammersmith with a terrace on the Thames and a tiny snug at the front.
Head for the terrace at low tide and sunset.
Mon–Fri 12 noon–9 pm, Sat–Sun 12 noon–8 pm
Long-established fish and chip shop near Covent Garden; cod or haddock with mushy peas.
No bookings; come early, as the kitchen closes about an hour before closing time (Sat/Sun as early as 8 pm).
Mon–Thu 12 noon–3 pm and 5–10 pm, Fri/Sat 12 noon–10.30 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Small Taiwanese restaurant; steamed bao buns, the classic filled with braised pork belly.
Walk-in only according to the website; come just after 12 noon, otherwise there is a queue on Lexington Street.
Mon–Fri 11 am–11 pm, Sat 11 am–9 pm, closed Sun; food Mon–Fri until 9.30 pm
Tiny pub of 1546 in a hidden alley near Hatton Garden; real ale and a toastie.
Find the entrance via the narrow Ely Court. Closed Sun, Sat only until 9 pm. A cherry tree trunk stands in the corner.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm; food Mon–Sat until 9.30 pm, Sun until 8.30 pm
One of the oldest pubs in Covent Garden, tucked away on Rose Street; ale and pub classics.
In the evening you often stand outside in the alley; the Dickens Room upstairs is more likely to have seats. Kitchen until 9.30 pm.
Unverified: according to OSM Mon–Sat 12 noon–11.30 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Game and pies in red plush since 1798, a few steps from the Strand.
Booking recommended. Sources disagree on whether it is open on Mondays.
daily from midday until late (details on the website)
Two-storey cocktail bar on Old Compton Street: bright and quick upstairs, dimly lit downstairs in the cellar with a big whisky selection.
Live jazz on Sundays 6–9 pm. The cellar can be booked from the afternoon.
evenings from 6 pm, later on party nights (according to OSM and website)
Playful cocktail bar on Rivington Street inspired by Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky; creative drinks and party nights.
Programme of DJ nights on the website; book at the weekend.
evenings, see website for hours
Small cocktail bar in Bethnal Green with a menu that changes daily and a relaxed mood.
Some of the seats are kept for walk-ins.
Mon–Thu 5 pm–12 midnight, Fri–Sat 2 pm–1 am, Sun 5–11 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Basement bar near Spitalfields in a former suit storeroom; classic drinks to Northern Soul and rock 'n' roll.
Small and quickly full; book a table online.
Mon 4–11 pm, Tue–Thu 12 noon–11 pm, Fri–Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–11 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Craft beer taproom beneath the railway arches on Paradise Row with a long wall of fridges and lots of taps.
In fine weather sit outside at the wooden tables.
daily, see website for hours
Long-established Soho pub on Greek Street, for years the haunt of journalists, artists and night owls.
Still room at the bar in the early evening, very full later.
Mon–Wed 12 noon–11 pm, Thu 12 noon–11.30 pm, Fri 12 noon–12 midnight, Sat 11.30 am–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Small Victorian corner pub in Soho with gleaming tiles, mirrors and real ales.
There is a quieter room upstairs when everything downstairs is full.
daily, see website for hours
Pub on the Strand in the Savoy complex with an Edwardian interior and a small cellar room.
Handy before or after a show at the Savoy Theatre or the Adelphi.
Mon–Wed 11 am–11 pm, Thu 11 am–11.30 pm, Fri 11 am–12 midnight, Sat 12 noon–12 midnight, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Magnificent Victorian pub on St Martin's Lane with etched glass, mirrors and art nouveau lamps in the heart of the theatre district.
Very full when the shows come out, quieter beforehand.
daily from midday (hours on the website)
Victorian pub on Lamb's Conduit Street with pivoting snob screens above the bar.
In fine weather the drinkers stand out on the traffic-free street.
daily, hours unverified
Victorian pub on High Holborn with mosaics, carved woodwork and small partitioned snugs; cheap beer from the Samuel Smith brewery.
No website; mobile phones and loud music are frowned upon at Samuel Smith pubs.
daily, hours unverified
Big pub on High Holborn with a lofty hall, barrels above the bar and wooden cubicles.
No website; there is another room in the cellar.
Sun–Wed 12 noon–12 midnight, Thu–Sat 12 noon–1 am (according to OSM, unverified)
Victorian corner pub opposite Spitalfields Market with tiled walls; closely tied to the history of Whitechapel.
Full of market-goers at the weekend.
daily, see website for hours
Said to be the oldest riverside pub on the Thames, in Wapping; flagstone floor, pewter bar and a terrace right on the water.
Take the Overground to Wapping, then a few minutes on foot.
Mon–Fri 12 noon–11 pm, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Tiny beer bar on the edge of Borough Market with a very good selection of craft beer from Britain and abroad.
Space is tight, so people are often out on the terrace.
Mon–Fri 6–9 am and 11 am–11 pm, Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Traditional pub opposite Borough Market with rotating real ales; open from early morning on weekdays for the market traders.
In the evening half of Borough stands in the street with a glass in hand.
daily, see website for hours
Victorian corner pub near the Regent's Canal, quieter than Upper Street.
Ideal after a walk along the canal.
daily, see website for hours
Old pub on Campden Hill with several small wood-panelled rooms and a garden.
Duck your head for the low doorways between the rooms.
Mon, Tue, Sat 11 am–11 pm, Wed–Fri 11 am–11.30 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Pub of 1875 with a magnificent art nouveau interior full of friars in marble and bronze.
Be sure to look at the vaulted room at the back. Packed after office hours; quieter from 8 pm.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Small pub of 1602 behind the Royal Courts of Justice, full of lawyers; ale and simple home cooking.
Very cramped, few seats; come early in the evening. The stairs to the toilet are notoriously steep.
Bar Mon–Sat 11.30 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm (Saturday not explicitly confirmed)
Legendary Soho pub of artists and French exiles; beer only by the half pint, plus pastis or wine.
No music, no mobile phones. No bookings for drinks; book the restaurant upstairs (Mon–Sat 6–9.30 pm).
Daily 11.30 am–11 pm (according to OSM, unverified)
Pub on Fleet Street rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1667, with dark parlours and vaulted cellars.
Walk through all the rooms and down into the cellars. Only beer from the Samuel Smith brewery, cheap.
Lunch daily 12 noon–2.45 pm; dinner Wed–Sat, entry 5.30–7.30 pm, closes 10 pm
Seasonal British cooking in the former bike shed of a school in Shoreditch, hidden behind a wall.
Dinner only Wed–Sat with entry 5.30–7.30 pm, so book 1–2 weeks ahead. Ring the bell at the gate.
Wed–Thu 6 pm–1 am, Fri–Sat 5 pm–2 am, Sun 6 pm–1 am
Low-lit basement bar in the hotel One Hundred Shoreditch with wood, rugs and precise, pared-back cocktails.
Booking recommended, walk-ins if there is space. Over-18s only.
Mon–Thu 8 am–11 pm, Fri/Sat 8 am–12 midnight, Sun 9 am–11 pm
Bombay café in the style of the old Irani cafés; for breakfast a bacon naan roll with chai.
Hardly any wait in the morning, queues of up to 1 hr in the evening and at weekends; bookable for any group size during the day.
Lunch daily 11.30 am–3.45 pm, dinner Mon–Sat 5–10.30 pm, Sun 5–9 pm
Small pasta bar by Borough Market; fresh pasta such as pappardelle with beef shin ragu, cheap.
No bookings; join the virtual queue via the website and wait nearby.
Kitchen Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–9 pm
Thai grill cooking at the counter in front of an open fire; glass noodles from the clay pot, fiery curries.
Takes bookings and walk-ins; sit at the counter in front of the fire. Kitchen Mon–Sat until 11 pm. Very spicy, ask first.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 11 am–9 pm
Small Young's pub in a quiet mews in Mayfair, with the well-known grill restaurant at the back.
Book for steak and pie in the grill; the pub at the front is walk-in.
Mon–Sat 12 noon–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10 pm
Wood-panelled pub in Rotherhithe near the spot where the Mayflower set sail in 1620; a jetty at the back over the Thames.
Sit on the jetty at sunset. Dogs welcome in the pub.
Mon–Sat 11 am–11 pm, Sun 12 noon–10.30 pm
Irish-style pub on Westbourne Park Road, known for oysters and Guinness.
There is a dining room upstairs and the saloon bar downstairs.
Daily 11.45 am–10 pm (last table 9.45 pm)
Malaysian basement restaurant near Euston and King's Cross; fresh roti canai with dhal or curry.
No bookings, often a queue on the stairs; last table 9.45 pm. Very cheap.
Lunch Mon–Fri from 12 noon, Sat from 12.30 pm, Sun 1–4 pm; dinner Mon–Sat 5.30–10.30 pm, Sun 6–10.30 pm
Candlelit bistro in a Georgian townhouse in Soho; seasonal cooking and a big wine list.
Few tables, book 1–2 weeks ahead. Sit on the ground floor; the wines are fairly priced.
Lunch and dinner, check hours on the website
Upmarket Indian cooking in the style of a colonial club in Mayfair; biryani, tandoori and kebabs.
In great demand: book 3–4 weeks in advance, earlier still for weekends. Smart dress recommended.
Mon–Fri 5 pm–12 midnight, Sat–Sun 12 noon–12 midnight (according to OSM, unverified)
Wine bar on Hackney Road with wines by the glass from small producers and candlelight.
Book ahead for groups.
daily, gigs according to the programme
Music pub on Parkway, a stage for young bands for decades; the small gig room at the back, then DJs.
Bands usually from 7.15 pm, admission on the door; cheaper drinks before 6 pm.
Mon–Tue 12 noon–11 pm, Wed–Thu 12 noon–12 midnight, Fri–Sat 12 noon–12.30 am, Sun 12 noon–10 pm; kitchen Thu–Sat until 10.30 pm
American basement theatre restaurant since 1977, a haunt of actors; burgers and Caesar salad.
After the theatre Thu–Sat: kitchen until 10.30 pm, last booking 10.30 pm. Mon–Tue the kitchen closes as early as 8 pm.
Mon–Wed 4 pm–12 midnight, Thu 12 noon–1 am, Fri 12 noon–2 am, Sat 12 noon–3 am, Sun 12 noon–12 midnight
Big pub on Essex Road with DJs and a karaoke room; open deep into the night at weekends.
Book the karaoke room in advance.
Open around the clock
24-hour restaurant on the 40th floor above the City; duck with waffle and a fried egg.
Often space without booking after 11 pm; book for the evening. Dress code smart casual: no tracksuit bottoms, no flip-flops.
Mon–Wed 8 am–1 am, Thu 8 am–2 am, Fri 8 am–3 am, Sat 9 am–3 am, Sun 9 am–12 midnight
French café-bistro on Old Compton Street; croque monsieur or steak frites until late.
Tables are kept back for walk-ins in the evening; open until 3 am Fri–Sat, with its own late-night menu.
Around the clock (according to OSM, unverified)
Family-run café near Liverpool Street with a long history; English breakfast at any hour.
One of the few genuine places to eat in the City at night; just turn up, no booking needed.
Traceflap turns arrival, departure, opening hours and weather into a day plan and accompanies the whole trip live.
Traceflap for iPhoneSources: Selection and texts: Traceflap. Hours and prices from the official websites, as of 21 Oct 2026. Coordinates: Wikidata (CC0), some venues © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). No guarantee, please check before visiting. Map: OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, author and licence with each picture.
Tap “Save” on places and your plan appears here.
On a computer: scan the QR code with the iPhone camera, Traceflap takes the places into the trip guide. No account, nothing is stored, everything is in the link.
May we load partner offers from Travelpayouts and Stay22? The script turns links to travel providers into partner links, shows previews and sets cookies. Privacy
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
_(9899954683).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpeg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpeg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}