unusual/interesting pubs to visit in London

[Scottishthreeberry16]

Staying near Notting Hill next week for a long weekend but prepared to travel to interesting/quirky pubs.

Any suggestions?

[TheDowagerCuntess]

The Holly Bush in Hampstead is nice.

[DoctorTwo]

There's a pub opposite Borough Market called (IIRC) The Sothwark Tavern. It's a really gorgeous place with a gallery that's reputed to be the oldest galleried pub in England.

Failing that, The Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street for cheap (for London) beer

[rubybleu]

There's one really close to where you're staying, the Churchill Arms. The owners bedeck the pub in the most amazing floral displays.

The Windsor Castle (Holland Park/Notting Hill) is beautiful and great for celeb spotting.

The Prospect of Whitby is good as its got a lovely aspect on the river as Hesterton said, I also like The Grapes at Limehouse - owned by Ian McKellen.

[Yeahsure]

Fleet Street area is great for old pubs. Spaniards Inn is oldest pub in England (I think! that may not be right), that's in Hampstead. In terms of pretty tradiotnal-ish pubs - Engineer in Primrose Hill is just lovely and by canal. Richmond pubs on the river.

[GoldPlatedBacon]

Gordon's wine bar, Villiers street

[Ifailed]

Borough Market called (IIRC) The Sothwark Tavern
I think you mean The George?

[FruStefanOla]

I was going to suggest The Churchill too, ruby! If you like Thai food, Scottishthree, The Churchill is your ideal combo of quirky pub and Thai food www.churchillarmskensington.co.uk/!

If you're prepared to travel to Twickenham (easy by train) there are two pubs on Twickenham Riverside. The White Swan www.whiteswantwickenham.co.uk/ and the Barmy Arms www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/barmy-arms-twickenham/c0462/

In Greenwich there are The Trafalgar www.trafalgartavern.co.uk/ and The Cutty Sark www.cuttysarkse10.co.uk/ - both with views over the river.

[FruStefanOla]

Just remembered a couple more. These are in Richmond (also easy by train).

The White Cross thewhitecrossrichmond.com/ on the river - high tide can be interesting! The Victoria Inn www.vicinnrichmond.com/ sort-of half way up Richmond Hill - its website is a bit basic, but it's reputed to be the smallest pub in the area (or wherever?!) and you'll get a charming welcome from the staff. We took some overseas rellies there for a drink and did the photo of them 'serving' behind the bar!

[confusedofengland]

Shamelessly placemarking

Afraid I don't know of any interesting pubs as such, but I do know how you can get a free drink in lots of pubs around London

[FruStefanOla]

Another one, but I can't remember what it was called as I haven't been there for donkey's years, is in a small mews in the Little Venice area. Google hasn't yielded anything that has jogged my memory yet - maybe a MNer local to the area can help?

[Trills]

Ifailed Definitely the George not the Southwark Tavern!

[senua]

The Grapes at Limehouse. Has a terrace onto the river.
Frequented by Dickens, owned by Gandalf.

[bigfatfeet]

The Southwark Tavern, opposite the George, is pretty interesting too - it's an old debtor's prison, and still has the cells in the basement.

[LyndaNotLinda]

The Black Friar next to Blackfriars station is a beautiful Art Nouveau pub. Short walk from Fleet St's Old Cheshire Cheese

[Mooseville]

If you're in Notting Hill, the Cow is a great old boozer. There's a fab cocktail place called Trailer Happiness which is amazing!

[SeaLionsOnMyShirt]

The Grenadier, just off Belgrave Square round the back of Hyde Park Corner is lovely.

I'd also recommend as above, the Churchill Arms in Kensington, the Dove in Hammersmith and the Holly Bush in Hampstead.

[Ifailed]

I would just add a small warning, stay away from any of the central pubs in the early evening, especially on Fridays, as they will be absolutely rammed with after work drinkers. Unless you like waiting for 1/2 hour to be served and drinking on the pavement.

[Ifailed]

one other, if you like quirky, old pubs. Ye Olde Mitre, off Hatton Garden is nice, but small. Good to visit mid-afternoon. You can admire the really expensive jewellery in Hatton Garden before hand!

[limitedperiodonly]

I think it was the Prospect of Whitby that I ended up with my mum in one Saturday lunchtime. But any of those pubs facing the river in Wapping would be nice. It was this time of year, so very sunny but turned cold later. The tide was really high. It was wonderful eating fish and chips snug in a old wooden room with the river splashing against the windows. It's a bit of a trek from Notting Hill, but do-able. You go from Notting Hill to Whitechapel on the District line and the change to the East London line for Wapping.

[limitedperiodonly]

Canalside pubs round Little Venice and Paddington Basin are easier for where you are OP. Sorry, but I can't think of any atm though.

[superking]

Second Gordon's Wine Bar - it's like a pub in a cave! Very close to Charing Cross and Embankment.

[limitedperiodonly]

I've been to Gordon's a few times and liked it. I also like Sunday afternoons in the Cork & Bottle in Leicester Square. It seems like the waste of a sunny day to spend it in a basement, but it's cosy and the wine list is good. It's not what it was, of course, but that's what all the old London bores say

[NotEnoughTime]

Ladies and Gentlemen in Kentish Town is quirky and apparently they mix a great cocktail.

It used to be a toilet-I'm sure you would never have guessed from the name