It’s hard to beat a good pub. These communal living rooms can be found on high streets and side streets throughout London, and they’re some of my favorite places to spend time with friends. Whether we go to a modern gastropub or an inn with rich history, the city’s watering holes are always a treat. I’ve spent time discovering the top ones over the years, and today I’m going to share my guide to the best pubs in Clerkenwell with you. Read on for a list of my go-to places in this part of central London. I’ve included an interactive map as well.
Clerkenwell Pubs
Clerkenwell is one of my favorite places in London. The area manages to strike a balance between being central and being local, and I’ve been coming here since I moved to the UK capital.
In so doing I’ve frequented a good number of pubs. They’re some of the best places in the neighborhood, and the top ones are worth coming back to again and again.
Whether I’m here to spend a warm afternoon at an outdoor table, a cold evening cozying up in a wood-paneled room, or a Sunday lunch enjoying a roast, there’s always something to tempt me to spend time in the pubs in this part of the city center.
Which is to say I’ve come to know a fair few Clerkenwell pubs since moving to London (it helps that I have plenty of local friends who live in the area). Today I want to tell you about my favorites.
Whether you’re after traditional British fare or classic English drinks, or you want to find Clerkenwell pubs that are historic or ones with international style, this area has you sorted.
Each pub on my list is worth a dedicated trip in its own right, but you can see several in one visit by going on my free self-guided Clerkenwell walking tour. It’s a great way to discover the neighborhood and stop for food and drinks as you explore.
If you want to have enough time to give each pub its due, there’s a lot of good accommodation in this part of central London. My top pick is The Rookery. This Georgian boutique hotel is in a great location near Farringdon station, and it’s one of my favorite quirky hotels in London. You can book a room here.
You can see other options for places to stay and book one here, too. And if you want to call a pub home-away-from-home, you can take a look at my guide to the best pubs with rooms in London (it mentions a couple places on this list!).
1. The Fox & Anchor
I’ll start my list of the best pubs in Clerkenwell with the Fox and Anchor. Located just off Charterhouse Square, this place features a narrow front room with a long bar, lots of dark wood, and plenty of Victorian details.
Behind it you’ll find a warren of historic wood-paneled spaces where you can hide away for an evening. The pub is a great place if you want to immerse yourself in all things traditionally British. It does good fish and chips, too.
The Fox & Anchor has guest rooms upstairs. They’re cozy and stylishly decorated. I’ve enjoyed a great stay here, and it’s one of my top picks for unique accommodation in London. If you want to follow in my footsteps, you can book a room here.
2. The Eagle
Next on my list of the best Clerkenwell pubs is The Eagle. This watering hole on Farringdon Road is known for being the UK’s first gastropub.
Back in 1991, The Eagle started serving good food instead of the usual uninspiring pub fare. It sparked a culinary revolution that most of us now take for granted. The cuisine continues to impress, and the atmosphere is always buzzing.
Inside, this traditional British pub has a cozy dining room with rustic wooden furniture and lots of natural light. There are tables outside if you want to enjoy food or drinks al fresco, too.
3. Old Red Cow
The Old Red Cow is another of my top picks for pubs in Clerkenwell. Located on Long Lane, this Victorian number features a simple split-level interior.
The Old Red Cow is a pub lover’s pub. With few frills and little ornamentation, it focuses on good food and drinks.
This place serves classic British pub food, including fish and chips, hearty pies, and traditional Sunday roasts. It’s also known for its range of craft beers, both on draft and in bottles.
4. The George & Monkey
The George & Monkey is another of my favorite pubs in Clerkenwell. Located on pretty Amwell Street, this traditional independent London watering hole is a great place to get into the area’s neighborhood spirit.
A corner pub, it features a brick facade with eye-catching signage. Colorful awnings shade outdoor tables that are perfect for sunny afternoons.
Inside, The George & Monkey features a classic pub atmosphere with a good craft beer menu and a strong wine list. Make sure to arrive hungry, as the kitchen serves great stone-baked pizzas.
5. Craft Beer Co.
Next on my list is the Craft Beer Co. Located on Leather Lane, this place is all about, well, beer. From micro-brewed cask ales to small-batch craft beers and hundreds of bottles from all over the world, it has your inner hops lover covered.
The Craft Beer Co. was founded in Clerkenwell in 2011 by two London school friends. When the pub opened, it had the most beer taps in the UK (it was overtaken by their Covent Garden branch in 2014). It still plays host to some of the best breweries across the globe.
The interior of the pub is known for its unique glass ceiling and stunning chandelier. While sipping a pint in these historic surroundings, you can tuck into sharing platters, pies, Scotch eggs, and other snacks.
6. The Old China Hand
On Tysoe Street, the Old China Hand is another famous pub in Clerkenwell. Grade II-listed, this place is not only steeped in history, but also famous for being the only pub in the UK that serves an all-British drinks menu.
With a cozy, chill atmosphere, the low-lit pub with its simple interior is a great place to enjoy a round of drinks with friends. If it’s nice weather, you can head outdoors to one of the pub’s iconic barrel tables.
The Old China Hand is also known for having ping pong, darts, and a variety of board games. It’s a great place to come if you want some entertainment to go with your drinks (they don’t serve food here, but you can bring your own).
7. Clerk & Well
Next on my list is The Clerk & Well. Conveniently located on Clerkenwell Road near Farringdon station, it’s a great place to enjoy food and drinks if you’re looking for somewhere central.
The Clerk & Well claims to be one of the oldest pubs in central London. Refurbished in contemporary style, it has a modern atmosphere and great ambiance.
There are rooms you can stay in, too. Each one is uniquely decorated, and they all have great details. You can book a stay here.
8. Hand & Shears
On Middle Street near Barbican station, the Hand & Shears is another of Clerkenwell’s best watering holes. A rare Grade 1-listed pub, this traditional spot is known for everything from its classic exterior to its selection of real ales and craft beers.
Established in 1532, the Hand & Shears is now housed in a Victorian building from the 19th century. Outside you’ll see a brick facade with a big sign that reads “last ales before Newgate public executions”, a nod to the area’s grim past.
The dark-wood interior is on the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. While inside, you can enjoy award-winning pork pies and a range of other food and drinks.
9. The Exmouth Arms
In the heart of Exmouth Market, The Exmouth Arms is another of the best pubs in Clerkenwell. The bright green tiled exterior of this Victorian number is hard to miss.
Once in here, you’ll discover a range of craft beers, real ales, and pub food to enjoy (the burgers are their signature dish).
But what I really love about this place is its outdoor scene. On warm days, the area around the pub gets packed with people enjoying drinks in the sunshine. It’s a great vibe, and well worth a trip.
10. The Castle
Right by Farringdon station, The Castle is another of the neighborhood’s most popular pubs. Enjoying a corner location on Cowcross Street, this Grade II-listed public house is a local favorite.
Inside, you’ll find a historic-meets-modern interior and a bar serving everything from craft beers to wine and cocktails. The food menu features classics like burgers and fish and chips, too.
Uniquely, The Castle also has the right to trade as a pawnbroker. Legend has it that this privilege was granted to it by King George IV. You’ll even find the three gold balls of a pawnbroker on the pub’s facade.
11. The Dovetail
When I spent a summer working in Brussels, I was amazed by how many different kinds of beer Belgium produces. From Trappist ales to lambic brews, there’s something for every man, woman, and monk to enjoy.
So it’s pretty much a no-brainer that I would choose a Belgian pub to round out my selection of the top pubs in Clerkenwell.
With lots of Belgian beer signs decorating the walls and no shortage of brews on offer, The Dovetail is a great place to try some of Belgium’s famous exports.
Map of Pubs in Clerkenwell
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all the pubs I mentioned on my list. You can see it here. It can help you see where they are in relation to each other so you can find the ones that are convenient to you.
Best Pubs in Clerkenwell
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to my favorite Clerkenwell pubs. This area is a fun place to eat and drink in central London, and I’m sure you’ll love these spots as much as I do when you’re in the area.
There are lots more, too. From the Sutton Arms to The Sekforde, Clerkenwell has no shortage of watering holes to spend time in.
If you want to see more, I’ve written a lot about pubs in London. You can take a look at my pub itinerary and my guide to the best pubs in London for a start.
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