Given my love of travel, I’ve scoured the UK capital for travel themed bars in London. In doing so, I’ve uncovered a number of great watering holes that transport guests to other worlds and underworlds from the convenience of our own metropolis. Read on to see what I’ve found.

Travel Themed Bars in London

Travel Themed Bars in London

London’s bar scene is hot. From exciting new openings to trendy pop-ups, hidden speakeasies to hip hotel bars, locals and visitors alike are spoiled for choice when it comes to London at night.

The travel themed bars I’ve found are dotted throughout the city and range from casual spots to upscale affairs. Whatever your style, there’s one to fit your taste.

Mr Fogg's Residence Bar in London

1. Cahoots

Cahoots is a speakeasy in a narrow alley leading to Kingly Court in Soho. This fun underground bar is also an Underground bar (yes, you read that right).

Cahoots Bar in London

Designed to look like a tube station turned World War II air-raid shelter, Cahoots has every detail—from ticket offices to train carriages—covered. This is one of the best travel themed bars in London when it comes to decor.

Not only does the bar transport me back to 1946, but it also takes me on a nostalgic ride on the London Underground. If only red-lipstick-wearing waitresses serving vintage cocktails from a newspaper menu were a thing on the actual tube.

Cahoots Bar in London

2. Mr Fogg’s Residence

Hidden away in a nook off Mayfair‘s Berkely Square, the exterior of Mr Fogg’s Residence is so subtle you’d never realize it was there.

But if you make a booking and ring the bell, the door opens onto the world of Phileas Fogg, 19th-century traveler extraordinaire.

Mr Fogg's Bar in London

A giant vintage hot air balloon hovers in one corner while penny-farthings and wicker birdcages hang suspended from the ceiling.

Mr Fogg's Bar in London

Shelves are lined with old books and antique globes, and the bar has enough nostalgia to transport guests to the world of Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days without making them leave the comfort of their green leather chairs.

Cocktail at Mr Fogg's Bar in London

Mr Fogg’s Residence is one of my favorite bars in London, not just for its travel theme, but also for its cocktails. With names like The Cape of Good Hope, even the drinks inspire me to see more of the world.

Cocktail at Mr Fogg's Bar in London

3. The Luggage Room

Not far from Mr Fogg’s Residence, the Luggage Room bar in the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square makes me equally nostalgic for a bygone era of travel.

An unmarked entrance on the side of the hotel where guests can knock for secret admission adds a certain clandestine feel, too.

Inside, brown leather chairs and walls studded with rivets are reminiscent of classic trunks that once transported their owners’ belongings on long seafaring voyages.

Cocktails like the Army & Navy go down a treat when I visit this travel themed bar, and that’s to say nothing of the nuts, which they mix themselves with moreish results.

Cocktail at the Luggage Room Bar in London

4. Bar Elba

In Waterloo, Bar Elba makes guests travel up a pretty intense flight of stairs just to be inspired to travel again. But it’s worth the journey to this south London roof terrace bar to have a tipple with a view.

Designed around Napoleon’s exile on the island of Elba in the Mediterranean, this rooftop bar in south London has great cocktails and a party atmosphere on summer days and nights.

It’s one of my favorite travel themed bars in London when the weather is warm and the sun is shining.

Bar Elba in London

5. Booking Office Bar

St Pancras International is one of London’s most beloved rail stations, not least because the trains from London to Paris, Brussels, and beyond leave from here.

But this station in King’s Cross isn’t just a departure point; it’s also a destination in itself.

This is not least because the Booking Office Bar in the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel is one of the best travel themed bars in London.

Cocktails at Booking Office Bar in London

Set in the original station’s ticket hall, the bar not only has an amazing interior with cathedral-like Gothic architecture, but also great Victorian cocktails and punches.

The Booking Office Bar inspires me to travel every time I set foot inside, which may be why I’m on the road so often.

Travel Bars in London

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some of the best travel themed bars in London. They’re great places for a night out in the UK capital, especially if you love to see the world as much as I do.

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Travel Themed Bars in London

46 Comments on Lady’s 5 Best Travel Themed Bars in London

  1. Oh wow I’ve never heard of Imperial Durbar (let alone ventured down to Tooting) but the decor is right up my boyfriend’s street. I might have to go down for decor inspiration when I decorate our house! x

    Jasiminne

    Reply

  2. Cahoots looks amazing! The parachute-style red and white fabric reminds us of a cafe here called Pudding. Aside from that, we love the decor and it makes us want to fly over to London and have a drink there tonight (if we can get reservations)!

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  3. These all look amazing! I haven’t been to London much but I’ll make sure to take my boyfriend to one of these next time we’re down! 🙂

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  4. I remember spending about 15 minutes in the Luggage Room struggling to actually choose a cocktail from their enormous menu & then giving up & just pointing to one – it was still fantastic though.. Now to try out these other options!

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  5. I’m loving that wallpaper in the Imperial Durbar, I’m a bit of a sucker for old colonial bars: something I search out when I travel. I’ve never thought to look for them in London! D’uh!

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  6. Wow, such an interesting post! London definitely has some of the most curious and incredible bars in the world. I hope someday I can visit one of them! Have a nice day,
    Vera

    Reply

  10. Was the Imperial Durbar the one that one of the Travel Massive events were held in? If so, I’m really disappointed I missed it looking at these pics! I’d love to see the old maps of India and look for the towns my parents are from on there 🙂

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  11. Good post here Julie 🙂 like the Imperial Darbar & will surely be going to it when I am down in London next. It’s always nice to see old maps of India especially going back generations. Thanks for posting once again.

    Reply

  14. These travel bars (and the cocktails) look fantastic! I definitely want to visit one or two the next time I’m in London. Thanks for putting together this list.

    Reply

  16. Very interesting list and haven’t been to any of these – I’m not far from Tooting so will go to the Durbar first!. My favourite ‘travel’ inspired bar is the American Bar at the Stafford Hotel. They serve the most amazing fishcakes in caper sauce!

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  17. This is so cool! Great tips. I’ve only been to the Imperial Durbar (Travel Massive of course…), so will definitely need to check out the others soon. And we still need to celebrate our HB feature, so any of these bars will do 😉

    Reply

  21. I LOVE your blog. I’m a newbie to it, yet recently anything I want to discover about London, you’re one step ahead! Thank you

    Reply

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