The Best Riverside Pubs in London

“No matter what kind of challenge you’re up for, whether it’s getting your step count or your blood alcohol level up, there’s something for everybody along the Thames.”

I don’t know about you, but nothing screams AUTUMN to me more than a stroll down the Thames. Watching tourists and locals mingle, eating all the weird and wonderful street food London has to offer, and generally taking in all the beautiful landscapes of London. It doesn’t matter whether you’re east, west, or somewhere in the middle, the Thames is never dull. Something else that I love about a Thamespath stroll is that you’re never more than a few hundred yards away from a boozer (that’s scientifically proven, by the way). Yep, if there’s one thing we do well in this city, it’s going down the pub.

The only thing better than an afternoon down the pub, is an afternoon down the pub with a view (as that ancient proverb goes…) With this in mind, I’ve rounded up some of the best riverside pubs in London. Feel free to see this list as your guide - take it out with you on your next walk! I promise you won’t regret it.

 

1. The White Swan, Twickenham

You may be unwilling to venture this far west – Twickenham lies west of Richmond, south of Kew, and north of Kingston, but if you are prepared to take a trip out west, you will surely be rewarded with one of the prettiest pubs in London. Twickenham's White Swan is a hidden from the main throughfare, and this actually only adds to its charm. When you visit The White Swan, you get the feeling that you’ve found a secret place – west London locals have certainly tried to keep this place shrouded from the usual throng of London’s drunken rabble.

This 17th century pub has a beautiful terrace that sits right along on the river, laden with flowers and topped by those familiar green umbrellas that immediately make you think ‘pint of bitter please’. The White Swan has its quirks though - at high tide the garden can become completely submerged, making it very difficult to enjoy your Sunday afternoon pint. However, such design flaws really only add to its appeal. Plus, it’s hard to argue that this isn’t truly a riverside pub when the waters coming up to your kneecaps!

Credit: The White Swan

 

2. City Barge, Chiswick

Coming slightly further in now, we find ourselves at The City Barge. The City Barge dates back to the 14th century – just in case all you history buffs out there were wondering – and it’s perfectly-positioned beer garden is second to none. Right alongside the Thames, it offers views stretching from Kew Bridge to Chiswick Bridge and even Oliver’s Island right in the middle. Tucked away beneath the Kew Rail Bridge, City Barge has to be one of the best located pubs in all of London.

The City Barge also happens to be a well-known gastro pub, offering a fantastically sophisticated selection of food and drink. Created in-house from scratch, their Head Chef prioritises seasonal dishes mixed with the usual pub classics, bringing you some of the best food Chiswick has to offer. There’s nothing better than a steaming plate of cider-battered sole fillet and dripping chips after a bracing stroll down the Thames, right?!

Credit: The City Barge

 

3. The Old Thameside Inn, Borough Market

Sliding our way further up the Thames, we have the famous Old Thameside Inn. I’ve included this one on my list, not because they need any more publicity, but rather because it’s the kind of place that everybody in London needs to visit at least once. Probably one of the most popular pubs in London with tourists and locals alike, The Old Thameside Inn is right next to Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, and the Golden Hinde II. From their beer deck on the water, you can catch some great angles of St Paul’s Cathedral and the skyscrapers of the City, so the views aren’t half bad…

I’ve been here for some traumatic Freshers mingling events in my first year of uni, some great nights with my friends that I met via said traumatic Freshers mingling events, and some lovely dinners when my family came to visit me at my student halls. Every time I visit here, I find something new about this place, and that’s what I love about it – and about London in general, for that matter! It’s an ideal place to rest and escape the chaos and crowds of the market on sunny Saturdays.

Credit: Hire Space

 

4. The Mayflower, Rotherhithe

We’ve now reached beyond the midway point on our journey along the Thames, and it wouldn’t be a proper Thameside stroll if we didn’t stop at The Mayflower in Rotherhithe. The Mayflower is one of those pubs that tries to lay claim to the title of the oldest pub on the Thames – whether or not that is true remains to be seen, but The Mayflower certainly has a long and eclectic history! It was founded in 1550 as The Shippe and is said to be in the same location where its namesake was docked before departing for the New World in 1620. Visitors who can trace their ancestors back to the ship are welcome to sign the Mayflower Descendants book. 

Putting this pub’s contentious history to one side for a second, The Mayflower is a beautiful pub with a fantastic beer garden overlooking the Thames. Just like The White Swan, tens of miles away back along the Thames, if you stray out onto the terrace at high tide you’re going to get your feet wet – so don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Credit: The Mayflower

 

5. The Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich

The Trafalgar Tavern is the last stop on our whistle-stop tour of London’s prettiest riverside pubs, and it certainly does not disappoint. Located right alongside the Thames, the Trafalgar Tavern has an expansive roof terrace offering 360-degree views of London; with Canary Wharf to one side, Greenwich Park to the other, Woolwich to the east, and Deptford to the west, you really are spoilt for choice.

A grand old pub, The Trafalgar Tavern boasts an impressive history. Through Victoria’s reign it was frequented by Charles Dickens who chose the tavern as the setting for the wedding breakfast in Our Mutual Friend, his final novel. Set over an impressive six floors (including the roof terrace and a late-night basement bar), each room is named after great naval victories or celebrated officers. On the ground floor you’ll find The Nile Restaurant and Trafalgar Bar open to all for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Upstairs, you’ll find the the Nelson Room, the Hawke, and the Howe bar. In the basement is Cribb's Parlour, a late-night bar and private event space. There’s so much to see and do at this pub, you’d be mad not to take a peak.

Credit: Square Meal

I’ve calculated that if you made it through this entire list in one day, it would take 8 hours and you’d have to walk over 18 miles… I’m not sure how dedicated you are to a riverside pint, but that certainly would keep you entertained on a gloomy autumnal weekend. No matter what kind of challenge you're up for, whether it’s getting your step count or your blood alcohol level up, there’s something for everybody along the Thames. Thank you for joining me in this boozy, ambling journey along the Thames. 

 

Words by Rebecca Clayton