Our Top Five Outdoor Venues in London this April
April is coming, and with it comes… outdoor venues! After a grey, dull winter spent trapped inside our homes (on government’s orders!), venues in the UK will soon be able to open their outdoor spaces to everyone who has spent the last three months absolutely dying for a pint in the sun surrounded by strangers. Now we can show off those lockdown pounds we've all piled on - does dancing in beer gardens burn calories??
In no particular order, we’ve rounded up a list of the best beers gardens and rooftop terraces across our beloved capital to soak up the spring sunshine with your mates (rule-of-six still applies):
1. Bar Elba
(Credit: @barelba)
Where: Rooftop Mercury House, 109-117 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UL.
Nearest tube station: Waterloo.
When: They’re already taking bookings in advance of re-opening on the 12th April, so make sure to get in there fast as it’s bound to fill up quickly!
What makes it so great: You’d be forgiven for not realising that Bar Elba even exists – if it wasn’t for some sneaky signage, I could’ve stood right outside the entrance and not even realised there was a bar up there! If you actually manage to locate Bar Elba, you’re in for a treat - with daily happy hours, regular rooftop movie and brunch events, and a view across the Southbank that will make you gasp, Bar Elba has everything you could possibly want from a rooftop bar in central London. Their Caribbean-getaway inspired décor is also a plus, as it might help you forget that you haven’t been outside the confines of the M25 since last March…
Find out more: Waterloo Rooftop Bar Serving Cocktails & Wine | Bar Elba (bar-elba.co.uk)
2. The Ship
(Credit: @theship)
Where: 41 Jews Row, Wandsworth, London SW18 1TB.
Nearest tube station: Not strictly a tube station, but Wandsworth Town train station (zone 2) is less than 5 mins away.
When: The Ship are already taking bookings in anticipation of re-opening on the 12th April.
What makes it so great: Tucked away in leafy Wandsworth, The Ship boasts stunning views across the Thames, a drinks menu longer than my arm, and food that will make you remember why eating out is so much better than your own home-cooked goods. We love The Ship for their beer garden – it’s definitely worth turning up for the sunset views, as Wandsworth Bridge looks beautiful at dusk. Any south-west Londoner worth their salt will tell you that what really makes The Ship shine is their mouth-watering Sunday roasts – so get yourself down there to try their crispy duck-fat roasties, succulent gravy, and yorkies as big as your face.
Find out more: The Ship | Young's pub with the best beer garden in Wandsworth
3. Lord Nelson
(Credit: @lordnelson)
Where: 243 Union Street, London SE1 0LR.
Nearest tube station: Less than 5 mins from Southwark tube station.
When: Again, they’re taking bookings for the official re-opening on the 12th April.
What makes it so great: A favourite haunt of students in the area, Lord Nelson is one of those rare pubs just off the Southbank that is yet to be overrun by tourists. With a décor that truly has to be seen to be believed, this quirky and eclectic pub is an oasis of individuality just south of the river. Pop culture collectibles, 60s rock memorabilia, and a shrine to the pubs’ namesake Lord Horatio Nelson (coz why not?) adorn this pub’s walls, creating an atmosphere that we know you will want to spend all day soaking up. Serving up reasonably priced drinks and award-winning burgers in their cosy beer garden, Lord Nelson is definitely one of the those places for those ‘in the know’.
Find out more: The Lord Nelson Pub Southwark | The Lord Nelson Pub Southwark (lordnelsonsouthwark.com)
4. Skylight, Tobacco Dock
(Credit: @skylightlondon)
Where: Tobacco Dock, Tobacco Quay, Wapping Lane, London E1W 2SF.
Nearest tube station: Shadwell’s DLR station is close at hand. If that’s not so convenient, Tower Hill underground is about 15 mins away on foot.
When: Skylight will be opening its doors from the 12th April to groups of six, whilst their outdoor games will resume on the 17th May.
What makes it so great: Nestled between the City and Canary Wharf, Tobacco Dock’s Skylight has views for days. It’s definitely one of those venues that makes you excited about living in our capital city - there’s nowhere else that boasts a skyline quite so awe-inspiring. Officially London’s largest outdoor event space, Skylight is East London’s premium multi-tiered rooftop bar and sunshine garden extravaganza! With street food vendors, live DJ’s on Saturdays, and the chance to play outdoor Petanque in your group-of-six (whatever that is?!), there is no end to Skylight’s hidden treasures. If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Skylight will soon be opening a canal-side bar, and hosting regular outdoor sports screenings too.
Find out more: Skylight (tobaccodocklondon.com)
5. The Garden Gate, Hampstead
(Credit: @tripadvisor)
Where: 14 South End Road, London NW3 2QE
Nearest tube station: Mere seconds away from Hampstead Heath Overground station and a 10 minute stroll from Hampstead Heath underground station.
When: The Garden Gate will be accepting bookings from the 12th April.
What makes it so great: This is one for the North Londoners! Aptly named, The Garden Gate is reputed to be the proud owner of the best beer garden north of the river Thames. With a gorgeous mock Tudor décor, The Garden Gate is as serene and bohemian as you’d expect one of the finest bars in Hampstead to be. This quintessential English pub is located right beside Hampstead Heath, so if a sprawling beer garden isn’t enough for you, you also have the whole of Hampstead Heath to explore! Serving drinks, Sunday roasts, and boozy brunches in their pop-up outdoor bar The Garden Shed (pictured above), this is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the springtime sun when restrictions start to ease in just under a week.
Find out more: The Garden Gate in Hampstead (thegardengatehampstead.co.uk)
Words by: Rebecca Clayton