36 PLACES TO DRINK OUTSIDE IN LONDON

36 Places to Drink Outside in London

Summer is coming, and with it, a chance to – responsibly head out to drink outside in London and enjoy ourselves once more.

We’ve tried to check that all of these venues are opening up in a Covid-secure way from 12 April, though some will be opening late run May – so do check in advance before you make plans, and remember to stay safe and follow the rules. NOW, GET OUTSIDE!

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 1
The Aeronaut, Acton

The Aeronaut
Acton

If you’re not drawn to The Aeronaut by the circus shows, bingo, quizzes and bottomless brunches, the gardens (yes, plural) should definitely lure you in.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 2
Bar Story, Peckham

Bar Story
Peckham

We’ve been dropping in to Bar Story in Peckham for years. Perfect all year round, whenever you’re in need of some awesome railway-arch based cocktails. Ideal from sunset onwards – pull up a bench outside and booze the night away.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 3
Barge East, Hackney Wick

Barge East
Hackney Wick

Beautiful canal-side gardens alongside a floating Dutch Barge restaurant – and a view of the London Stadium – make Barge East a must for anyone wondering how they ended up so far from Westfield Shopping Centre.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 4
Bussey Rooftop Bar, Peckham

Bussey Rooftop Bar
Peckham

Frank’s Cafe (below) may have got there first, but the Peckham roof bar scene really became a scene with the arrival of the Bussey Rooftop Bar – serving up cocktails, tasty pizza and 360-degree views of London’s skyline.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 5
Clissold Park Tavern, Clissold Park

Clissold Park Tavern
Clissold Park

Just look at that picture and tell us you’re not already dreaming of being there, in that beer garden, living life as it should be lived.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 6
CRATE, Hackney Wick

CRATE Bar
Hackney Wick

A perfect canal-side oasis in the heart of Hackney Wick, with views of the Olympic Stadium and the Arcelor Mittal Orbit… That is, if you’re not swooning over the CRATE Brewery beers, munching your way through epic, freshly cooked pizzas, and discussing the latest provocative theatre show at The Yard theatre.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 7
Dalston Roof Park, Dalston

Dalston Roof Park
Dalston

Perfect for a weekday evening or a weekend afternoon, Dalston’s only rooftop bar and music venue sends all profits back into empowering young people and businesses.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 8
The Duke of Edinburgh, Brixton

The Duke of Edinburgh
Brixton

A big ol’ eff off beer garden in Brixton – if you don’t manage to get a seat, who’ve you got to blame but yourself, eh?

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 9
The Founders Arms, Bankside

The Founders Arms
Bankside

A Tate Modern-adjacent money-maker, no doubt, but if you’re feeling generous, treat yourself and similarly cash-rich friends to a great location looking out over the river.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 10
Four Thieves, Battersea

Four Thieves
Battersea

A short walk from the Battersea Arts Centre – so perhaps ideal for a pre-show drink and nibble – the Four Thieves is a fun and atmospheric pub perfect for whiling away an afternoon with remote controlled racing from Moonshine Racing, VR booths, and retro arcade games. And, obv, there’s a snazzy outdoor space.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 11
Frank’s Cafe, Peckham

Frank’s Cafe
Peckham

We’ve always thought that what most multi-storey car parks really lack is a good bar. Problem solved in Peckham at Frank’s, part of the Bold Tendencies Project. No 10th floor of a car park has ever been this cool. Ever.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 12
George Inn, Borough

George Inn
Borough

A National Trust pub a short walk away from London Bridge station. Busy on a warm summer evening, so arrive early if you want a seat – but the atmosphere is definitely worth it.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 13
Golden Bee, Shoreditch

Golden Bee
Shoreditch

They say: “An oasis of excitement and elegance in London’s trendiest neighbourhood, featuring three floors of space and one of the capital’s most sought-after rooftop terraces”.

If the first part of that sentence didn’t make you vom, head to the Golden Bee to be seen with those who want to be seen – worth it for that roof terrace though.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 14
The Gun, Docklands

The Gun
Docklands

We’ve never actually been to The Gun – we walked to it once, to find it was closed for a wedding. We’ll give it another try though, as it is excellent by all accounts.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 15
The Hare & Billet, Blackheath

The Hare & Billet
Blackheath

Pretty much the closest you can get to the very centre of the heath and still be in a pub! One of our Blackheath haunts – in the summer, take your pint outside and across the road to sit on the grass and while away another sunny evening. The food is good too.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 16
The Lamb Tavern, Leadenhall Market

The Lamb Tavern
Leadenhall Market

Stretching the definition of outside, perhaps, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more architecturally spectacular drinking spot in London.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 17
The Magic Garden, Battersea

The Magic Garden
Battersea

The Magic Garden aims to create a welcoming community of festival-goers, foodies, DJs and musicians – and nowhere is this more obvious than the amazing garden itself! Oh, and if it gets a bit nippy, furry blankets and hot water bottles are on hand.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 18
Mercato Metropolitano, Elephant & Castle

Mercato Metropolitano
Elephant & Castle

An Italo-disco maze full of fine foods and industrial glamour, home to more than 40 vendors, a micro-brewery and a number of community projects.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 19
The Midnight Apothecary, Rotherhithe

The Midnight Apothecary
Rotherhithe

The Brunel Museum roof garden is host to The Midnight Apothecary – think fire-pits, marshmallows, hot toddies and more!

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 20
New Cross House, New Cross

New Cross House
New Cross

A To Do List local – we love the pizzas, and the drink selection, but we had to include this pub because of its great  beer garden out the back. You wouldn’t even know it was there! (But it is, plus a cute barn-conversion type thing to hide away in… and did we mention the pizzas?)

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 21
Ninety One Living Room, Shoreditch

Ninety One Living Room
Shoreditch

A Jazz Club first and foremost, but with a great little outdoor drinking space which feels like a real escape from the hustle and bustle of Brick Lane.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 22
Number 90 Bar, Hackney Wick

Number 90 Bar
Hackney Wick

A fab canal side bar/restaurant at 90 Main Yard in Hackney Wick. Fill up on super tasty food (including yummy Sunday roasts) and an ace selection of drinks, relax listening to some cool music, or maybe even hop on a boat trip from the canal-side terrace. Perfect for a warm evening as the sun goes down.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 23
The Old Thameside Inn, London Bridge

The Old Thameside Inn
London Bridge

Surprisingly not as tourist-trap-y as you might expect. A perfect spot by the river (if you can nab a table), and after a few drinks, you’ll be formulating a cunning plan to refloat the Golden Hinde on the Thames.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 24
Peckham Riviera, Peckham

Peckham Riviera
Peckham

A spot of sunshine amidst the arches near Peckham Rye station (and a short walk from several other bars on this list), Peckham Riviera features “an outdoor heated foliage-canopied cobbled yard, a greenhouse fauna surround, a craft and cocktail container bar, and a rotation of local foodies”. Knock yourselves out.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 25
People’s Park Tavern, Victoria Park

People’s Park Tavern
Victoria Park

Nestled on the Homerton side of Victoria Park, the People’s Park Tavern is ALL about the garden – huge, with covered, heated area in winter, fire pits, comfy seating… Pretty much perfect. And when the sun is out, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more vibrant, buzzing beer garden.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 26
The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping

The Prospect of Whitby
Wapping

Supposedly London’s oldest riverside pub, The Prospect of Whitby is just a short walk from Wapping station. There’s not a huge amount to do in Wapping (!), but on a warm afternoon there’s nothing more chilled than sitting out on an historic pub terrace drinking cold beer and watching the river race by.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 27
Pub on the Park, London Fields

Pub on the Park
London Fields

The best park-side pubs turn the park into one huge beer garden – and this pub definitely achieves that. Soak up some rays while soaking up the units after a Saturday morning stroll through Broadway Market.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 28
Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch

Queen of Hoxton
Shoreditch

Bright colours and beer tables, ice cold drinks and juicy burgers – what’s not to like?

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 29
Riverside Terrace, Southbank Centre

Riverside Terrace
Southbank Centre

Where culture and binge drinking meet. Scrabble your way to the bar, beg/steal/borrow a drink, and then reap the rewards – a huge outdoor terrace overlooking the river.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 30
View from The Roebuck, Richmond

The Roebuck
Richmond

There’s not much in the way of sunshine inside this pub – but on a nice day, take your drinks outside and across the road for one of the best views you’ll find inside the M25.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 31
The Rose, New Cross

The Rose
New Cross

Another of our New Cross locals, The Rose is the former Hobgoblin pub repackaged and smartened up. There’s a mouthwatering food menu, a chilled interior, and best of all, a beer garden to soak up some rays (and a pint or four).

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 32
Skylight at Tobacco Dock, Wapping

Skylight at Tobacco Dock
Wapping

A hidden rooftop in the gorgeous Tobacco Dock, with lots to do including three floors of bars, street food, live entertainment, croquet, pétanque, screens & DJs.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 33
The Strongroom, Shoreditch

The Strongroom
Shoreditch

A To Do List haunt in the summer months – the courtyard can be packed when it’s sunny, although if you pick your moments (i.e. go when you really should be working) you can have a quiet drink in the sun, with some great food too. Maybe pop in after brunch at Duck & Waffle (15 minute walk away) – you’ll need a drink after the lift experience!

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 34
The Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment

The Tattershall Castle
Victoria Embankment

A bar. On a boat. What’s not to like?

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 35
Tola, Peckham

Tola
Peckham

One of those rare bar and music venues in Peckham… But, kidding aside, this addition to the neighbourhood brings its own unique vibe and a great outdoor drinking area too.

36 Places to Drink Outside in London 36
Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich

Trafalgar Tavern
Greenwich

One of our favourite pubs in London, which would be higher on the list if it had more outdoor seating (always in high demand, even in winter). Still, the windows looking out on the river are so massive, so you can bask in the sunshine even sitting inside. Arrive early for the best seats next to the windows, and at high-tide, you’ll feel like you’re at sea (or river).