Americans can you recommend a pub you visited in London, England?

Question

Americans can you recommend a pub you visited in London, England?

Answer 1

I have three favourites:

1. The Sherlock Holmes, which is just off Trafalgar Square.

2. The Opera Pub, which is in Covent Garden

3. The Tattershall, which is a converted ship docked at Victoria Embankment. This is really my favourite. Sitting on the open deck, hoisting a pint, watching the traffic on the Thames, with Parliament and Big Ben in one direction, and St. Paul's and the city in the other, is one of the things I do every time I am in London. And in case you think it sounds too touristy ... the pub / ship is filled nightly with locals.

Answer 2

Although I'm fundamentally against chain restaurants, I highly recommend any of the JD Wetherspoon's pubs across London.  There are many, so find locations nearest you at their website http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/.  Though this is a chain of pubs, each pub is different and they range from modern appearance to that of a traditional English pub.  The reason I'm highly recommending them is because their food is excellent and dirt cheap.  It's one of the cheapest ways to eat traditional English pub fare.  They have menu specials where you can get 2 meals for around 6 pounds (varies slightly with the pub location) and full traditional English Breakfast is only 3 pounds.  Specifically I like the Penderel's Oak Wetherspoons at 283–288 High Holborn, Holborn, London.  The closest tube to this pub is Chancery Lane but Holborn is also close.  This pub is large so you never have trouble finding seating and is just outside the busy city center so you get the cheapest special prices.

One non-chain pub I enjoy is the Anchor located in Southwark at 34 Park Street, Bankside, Southwark, London, SE1 9EF.  This pub is very traditional, but still large so even when it's crowded you can find a space (though when I've been there during the day it's usually quiet and not very crowded).  Apparently the Oxford dictionary was written in this historic pub.  The location in Southwark is great because it gets you on the south bank, which many tourists hardly visit, and you're near tower bridge, the globe theatre and the beautiful Southwark Cathedral.  So this pub is a great one to include in a day of sightseeing.

The last one I'm going to recommend is the Blackfriar pub which is located just of the blackfriars tube stop, pretty much across the river from Southwark.  The address is 174 Queen Street, The City, London EC4V 4EG.  This pub is in the City of London so you're near the London Monument and St. Paul's Cathedral.  It's smaller and very homey and traditional feeling.  I enjoy the wooden booths that are carved into corners, they give some privacy and space.  Also this pub is included in a historic pub tour.  Last time I was there the bartenders had fliers that gave the location and info of other pubs of historic significance.  I would ask about this type of self-guided tour at any historic pub you visit.  It is a great way to find wonderful pubs and explore the city!

Sorry that I’ve rambled on so long!  Cheers!