32 Places to Drink Outside in London This Summer
At Last! Summer Is On The Way!
Let us waste no more time, and get on with what we enjoy most – drinking, outdoors, in the sun. Perfect.
Here are our 32 top places to drink outside in London. If you think we’ve missed any gems, just let us know – we’re all about democracy here!
Just Added
Mercato Metropolitano
Elephant & Castle
An Italo-disco maze full of fine foods and industrial glamour.
Pitch Stratford
Stratford
A technicolor feast of hip hop, cinema and of course sublime outdoor drinking.
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.
Wilton’s Music Hall
Tower Hill/Aldgate East/Shadwell
If you don’t mind standing you’re in for a treat outside the world’s oldest surviving Victorian Grand Music Hall. Ok it’s an alleyway but it’s gorgeous and hidden vibe is worth walking to.
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 (just nearby).
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, and it’s just a short walk across the heath to another of the pubs on our list, the Princess of Wales (see below).
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.
The Rose
New Cross
Our newest New Cross local, The Rose is the Hobgoblin pub repackaged and smartened up. There’s a mouthwatering food menu, a re-decorated interior, and best of all, a refurbished beer garden to soak up some rays (and a pint or four).
Bar Story
Peckham
The best bar in Peckham – simple. Perfect all year round really, 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. Oh, and amazing pizzas.
The Captain Kidd
Wapping
Our second Wapping pick, again right on the river, and this one is a Sam Smiths pub. We’ll be honest, there’s sometimes a funny smell inside, but it’s all about the outside seating here. Knock back the wheat bear and the pure brew, and hail passing boats with gusto. If you want.
The Carpenter’s Arms
Fitzrovia
The roof terrace at the top of this Fitzrovia pub is like an oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle – just keep heading up.
Dalston Roof Park
Dalston – From May
Perfect for a weekday evening or a weekend afternoon – ‘an urban utopian oasis’ with a full-to-bursting events list.
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.
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 Sculpture Project. No 10th floor of a car park has ever been this cool. Ever.
George Inn
London Bridge
A National Trust pub a short walk away from London Bridge station. Packed on a warm summer evening, so arrive early if you want a seat – but the atmosphere is definitely worth it.
Golden Bee
Shoreditch
They say: “A rare gem in the sky, enclosed by trees and comfy lounge seating – Golden Bee’s roof terrace is the ultimate in cool, relaxed entertaining.”
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.
The Midnight Apothecary
Brunel Museum
The Brunel Museum roof garden once again hosts The Midnight Apothecary – hailed in 2012 as ““the hottest pop-up cocktail bar in town”. Until the summer properly arrives, check out the special Saturday events…
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?)
Number 90 Bar
Hackney Wick
A fab canal side bar/restaurant at 90 Main Yard in Hackney Wick, open everyday from midday until 11.30pm.
Fill up on super tasty food (including yummy Sunday roasts) and an ace selection of drinks, relax listening to some cool music, catch a film on cinema night, or maybe even hop on a boat trip from the canal-side terrace. Perfect for a warm evening as the sun goes down.
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.
The Park
West Norwood
An old local – if you find yourself in West Norwood, and fancy some of the best hand-made pizzas in South London, do not miss The Park. There’s a cute beer garden out the back, and Norwood Park is an overlooked gem, with great views of London at sunset.
The Princess of Wales
Blackheath
On the edge of the heath, this pub comes into its own in the summer when you can sit outside, or even better, sneak your drinks away onto the heath itself.
The Prospect of Whitby
Wapping
One of two Wapping pubs on this list – just across from the fab Wapping Project. Supposedly London’s oldest riverside pub.
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.
Queen of Hoxton
Shoreditch
Frozen Cocktails? A super-tasty BBQ menu? Rooftop film club? All of the above, in one place (Shoreditch, not Hoxton).
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.
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.
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!
Trafalgar Tavern
Greenwich
One of our favourite pubs in London, which would be higher on the list if it had more outdoor seating. Still, the windows looking out on the river are so massive, 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).
Underbelly Festival Bar
Southbank Centre
The boozy gathering point at the centre of the Udderbelly Festival – pre- and post-show drinks-a-plenty for those entering the murky depths of the big purple cow, or just a jolly place to get drunk on the south bank for everyone else…
About Rupert & Stuart
Occasionally the To Do List team are forced to work together.
Rupert likes: free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
Stuart likes: nice pubs, film marathons, not doing real marathons, bad comedy, plays/musicals with shorter second halves, and the Oxford comma.
You missed out the Filling Station in King’s Cross! Fabulous spot by the Regent’s Canal, prosecco on tap, catches the warm evening light, canopy in case of rain. Definitely beats a good few on your list (sorry!). Yep.
Great tip! We want to expand the article so will be sure to include!
Re The filling Station…..just been demolished!