What are some good pubs in the West end of London?

Question

I would appreciate any information our UK friends can provide. I will be there at the end of July alone on vacation for a week so I am sure good pubs and eating places will come in handy. Thanks again.

Answer 1

So many of them - if you know where to look!

I really recommend looking at the reviews and descriptions on www.fancyapint.com for advice...

Some of the ones I would favour in or near the West End....

The Red Lion, Crown Passage (near Green Park tube & St James's palace) - small, traditional pub down an alleyway in the heart of "clubland" (in the sense of Gentlemen's Clubs - ie the type that PG Wodehouse characters hung out in)

http://fancyapint.com/pubs/pub845.html

The Nag's Head, Kinnerton Street (near Knightbridge station) - another fair small pub, with good beer, also hidden down a mews, a lot of character (the landlord also has a lot of character, for better or for worse - don't dare use a mobile phone there). Decent enough pubh food, too.

http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub385.ht...

The Victoria, Strathearn Place (near Paddington or Lancaster Gate stations)

Ah! Some say it is one of the very best pubs in London, if not the best. A lovely, welcoming, place. Run by the only large independent brewery left in London, Fullers, a good range of excellent beers (in many different styles), good food, lots of atmosphere. One of the rooms upstairs has a bar that used to be in a west end theatre.

http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub1359.h...

The Windsor Castle, Crawford Place (near Marylebone or Edgware Road stations)

A magical place! Filled with royal nick-nacks (plates, mugs, photos) to commemorate all manner of anniversaries or other occasions - even with a big mocked-up soldier in 18th century dress in a mock guard-box outside. As well as some decent beers, they also sell Thai food (although not, if i remember correctly, on Saturday lunchtimes)

http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub3176.h...

The Warrington, Warrington Crescent (near Warwick Avenue or Maida Vale tubes and near Little Venice)

I've not been to this one since it had a make-over last year, but it's an amazing, grand, colonial building, with an excellent range of drinks - often very busy (but is fairly large, with drinking space outside as well). Food at the restaurant upstairs is by a noted chef

http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub1282.h...

But, yeah, the list is endless...

Answer 2

There are so many interesting pubs it's hard to choose but here are a couple of traditional ones that are good for a drink in the West End:

The Lamb (WC1N 3LZ, Lamb's Conduit Street) is an unspoilt Victorian pub with a good atmosphere.

The Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden (WC2E 9EB, Rose Street, off Garrick Street)  has a fascinating history

The Old Bank of England (EC4A 2LT, Fleet Street) is

an impressively converted former bank building with chandeliers.

Olde Cheshire Cheese (EC4A 2BU, near 145 Fleet Street) is 17th-c with a warren of atmospheric rooms.

The Chandos (WC2N 4ER, St Martins Lane) is very popular and has reasonably priced beers.