7 Best Riverside Pubs and Bars in London

You’ve just arrived in London with an evening free, a phone full of saved pins and no desire to spend the night crossing the city for a mediocre pint. Do you want a timbered pub with centuries of river history, a broad terrace beneath the skyline or a scenic Thames Path walk that ends at sunset? This guide compares seven distinctive riverside pubs and bars in London, organised by the kind of experience they offer rather than just by postcode. For each stop, you’ll get the atmosphere, an indicative price band rather than a fast-changing exact price, the best time to visit, transport guidance, nearby sights and an honest view of the drawbacks. London’s river corridor has real depth, with 3,620 pub and bar businesses recorded in 2025 by the London Assembly’s pub audit. 

1. The Mayflower in Rotherhithe

For a quiet Thames evening, make The Mayflower your destination. Hidden among Rotherhithe’s cobbles, it has a small jetty over the river and a compact interior built for slow pints rather than hurried rounds. Timber, historic photographs, snug corners and a candle-lit upstairs dining room create a convincing maritime atmosphere.

The pub links its history to the 1620 voyage of the Mayflower. Its own official site is the sensible place to check that story, along with current opening details. Claims about London’s oldest riverside pub remain disputed, so visit for the character and setting rather than a title no pub can settle.

Best for history and a quiet riverside pint

The deck is particularly good at sunset. It is small, however, and disappears quickly on warm evenings. Arrive early for outdoor seating, especially if you are travelling alone and want more than a spare corner beside a crowded table.

The kitchen serves seasonal British food, with real ales and craft beers to match. A proper meal makes the journey worthwhile, while the weekly pub quiz gives solo visitors an easy way to join the room’s social side. The upstairs dining space suits small groups better than spontaneous walk-ins.

• Atmosphere: Cosy, historic and distinctly maritime.
• Best time: A weekday late afternoon, or early evening before the deck fills.
• Getting there: Rotherhithe station is the practical rail connection, and London Overground makes the area straightforward from central interchanges.
• Nearby sights: Brunel Museum, St Mary’s Church and the Thames Path.
• Watch out for: Limited outdoor seating and a tucked-away location that takes longer to reach than Bankside.

Practical rule: Treat The Mayflower as a destination, then continue along the river. It works better as a Rotherhithe walk with one excellent stop than as a rushed opening to a central pub crawl.

Check The Mayflower’s official site before travelling for current food service, events and booking arrangements.

2. Prospect of Whitby in Wapping

For a pub stop with genuine East End character, make for Prospect of Whitby. The pewter bar, dark timber and replica gallows give the interior a theatrical edge, while the compact riverside terrace faces towards the City. It feels photogenic without looking manufactured for visitors.

The pub claims roots reaching back to the 1520s, and its character remains tied to Wapping’s working river. Treat it as the anchor for an East London history walk, not a quick detour from central London. The surrounding streets reward a slower approach, particularly if you are travelling alone and want a route with plenty to see between stops.

Order a cask ale or guest beer, then choose traditional British food. Sunday roast suits the setting, although weekends bring crowds and the riverside tables disappear quickly. Bookable tables and event space make group visits easier. Solo visitors should head for the bar or shared areas, where finding company is more realistic than securing the best view.

Best for an East End history crawl

Wapping station is the simplest connection. You can also walk from Tower Hill or Tower Gateway through historic dockside streets, but allow time for the route. After dark, the quieter stretches are atmospheric rather than especially convenient.

• Atmosphere: Dark, historic and theatrical, with a lively rush at popular times.
• Best time: Midweek afternoon or early Sunday lunch.
• Getting there: Wapping station is the nearest practical connection.
• Nearby sights: St Katharine Docks, Tower Bridge and the Thames Path.
• Watch out for: Limited seating and weekend crowds.

A solo visitor can build an east-to-west evening around this stop, starting here before continuing towards Tower Bridge and Bankside. Keep the price band to one drink or a modest meal if value matters, as the historic setting and busy riverside location are the main draw.

For extra London context before your walk, save this guide to things you probably didn’t know about London. Check the pub’s official Prospect of Whitby page for current menus, bookings and opening arrangements.

3. Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich

Choose Trafalgar Tavern when the riverside setting deserves a proper meal, not just a quick drink. Beside the Old Royal Naval College, its tall sash windows look across the Thames, while the period dining rooms give lunch or dinner a sense of occasion.

Greenwich makes this an excellent solo stop because the pub fits naturally into a full day. Visit the Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum and riverside first, then settle in for whitebait, a substantial roast or a drink in one of the less formal spaces. The Greenwich activity guide helps plan the wider visit.

The larger layout is Trafalgar Tavern’s practical advantage. Dining rooms and bars suit solo guests, couples and groups, with more flexibility than the smaller historic pubs elsewhere in this guide. Book ahead for a celebration or a prime dining-room table. Expect busy periods, tourist demand and a bill that reflects the view and the setting.

Best for a destination meal by the river

Arrive in the late afternoon on a weekday for the best balance of atmosphere and access, or choose an early Sunday roast. A riverboat arrival adds theatre, while Greenwich station and Cutty Sark DLR are more straightforward for a timed booking. The Jubilee line to North Greenwich works too, but requires onward transport.

For tighter budgets, order one drink and pair the visit with free riverside wandering around Greenwich. A full meal suits a planned day out rather than an improvised bar stop.

• Atmosphere: Grand, scenic and lively.
• Best time: Late afternoon on a weekday, or an early Sunday roast.
• Getting there: Greenwich station, Cutty Sark DLR and river services all work, depending on your starting point.
• Nearby sights: Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Market and the Royal Observatory.
• Watch out for: Tourist demand, busy dining rooms and prices that reflect the view.

Solo traveller’s angle: Plan the pub between Greenwich’s museums and riverside sights, so the outing works well even without company.

It also makes a strong eastern stop before travelling west towards Bankside, Hammersmith and Richmond. Check the Trafalgar Tavern website before travelling, particularly if you want a dining-room table at a busy time.

4. The Dove in Hammersmith

Make The Dove your western Thames stop when the plan is a sunset walk followed by a quiet drink. Beside the Thames Path, just west of Hammersmith Bridge, it has low beams, wood panelling and small indoor nooks that feel far removed from the louder central riverfront.

The terrace delivers the best view, with rowing-club scenery and a romantic golden-hour outlook. Outdoor seating is limited, so arrive early on a warm evening. Inside, the narrow rooms suit couples or solo visitors far better than a large group trying to claim several tables.

Best for sunset and a Thames Path stroll

A weekday sunset visit gives you the strongest mix of atmosphere and access. If the terrace is full, order a drink inside and walk beside the river afterwards. The pub remains appealing in poor weather, when its low-beamed rooms create a slower, cosier setting.

Hammersmith station provides the main Underground and bus connections from central London, followed by a walk towards the river and bridge. For solo travellers, that route is easy to combine with a Thames Path stroll and a drink at your own pace. The Dove works best as a planned west London outing, or as the western end of a bar-hopping route before continuing towards central nightlife.

• Atmosphere: Traditional, intimate and relaxed.
• Best time: Weekday sunset or an early weekend afternoon.
• Getting there: Hammersmith Underground and bus connections are the most useful.
• Nearby sights: Hammersmith Bridge, the Thames Path and Riverside Studios.
• Watch out for: Limited outdoor seating and a tight interior.

If you are heading back into central London afterwards, use this guide to the best bars in London for happy hour to choose your next stop. For current food, booking and opening details, check The Dove’s official website.

5. Founders Arms in Bankside

Start here if you want a central Thames-side stop that combines sightseeing, food and easy transport. Founders Arms sits between Tate Modern and Blackfriars, with a glass-fronted dining room, a broad terrace and views across the river towards the City. It is the most practical choice for a first visit or a solo traveller who wants plenty to do nearby.

The terrace is the main draw. It gives groups a better chance of finding space than smaller riverside pubs, though sunny afternoons bring queues and a louder, less intimate atmosphere. Bankside prices are higher than at some neighbourhood pubs, so plan around a meal or one well-placed drink rather than a long budget session.

Food runs throughout the day, with brunch and Sunday roasts available. Pair it with Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market or a riverside walk towards Blackfriars Bridge. Solo diners can take a riverside seat, eat comfortably and continue on foot without arranging another connection.

Blackfriars is the simplest station for the pub, while Southwark and Waterloo work from different approaches. The Thames Path makes Founders Arms a useful middle stop on an east-to-west route. Try Borough Market first, continue along the river, then finish with a drink towards Westminster or Soho.

For a sunset visit, arrive before the warm-weather rush. In poor weather, the indoor room keeps the stop workable, although the best views belong outside.

• Atmosphere: Open, central and sociable.
• Best time: Late afternoon on a weekday, before the terrace fills.
• Getting there: Blackfriars is closest, with Southwark and Waterloo also practical.
• Nearby sights: Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market and Millennium Bridge.
• Watch out for: Queues, busy terrace seating and central London pricing.

Extend a Bankside afternoon with the top things to do in London Bridge. Check Founders Arms online for current dining times, bookings and terrace arrangements.

6. The Gun in Docklands

Choose The Gun when the riverside setting needs to justify the journey. This Grade II-listed Fuller’s pub sits on the Isle of Dogs, facing the Thames, the O2 and Greenwich Peninsula. Its terrace and polished dining room suit a proper occasion more than a quick after-work pint.

The menu centres on modern British food, with Fuller’s beers and private rooms for bookings or events. A casual drink is possible, but date-night dining or a leisurely meal makes better use of the location. Expect a higher spend than at a straightforward local pub.

A destination meal with dockside views

Allow time for the final approach. Canary Wharf is the practical transport hub, but the walk across the Isle of Dogs is less direct than the station map suggests. Check the route before leaving, particularly after dark or in poor weather. That extra effort keeps The Gun quieter than central riverside terraces.

Travel by Underground, DLR or Elizabeth line to Canary Wharf, then continue on foot. Arrive in daylight to make the dockside route easier, and stay into early evening as the view towards the O2 changes. Solo visitors should book ahead for dinner or settle at the bar, where a single drink feels more natural than claiming a large table.

The Gun works well as the eastern end of a Thames bar route. Start around Bankside, continue towards Canary Wharf by transport, then make this your destination meal rather than trying to walk the whole distance. Greenwich is a separate connection, not a sensible final leg on foot.

• Atmosphere: Historic, polished and calmer than central terraces.
• Best time: Early evening for dinner, especially on a weekday.
• Getting there: Canary Wharf, followed by a walk across the Isle of Dogs.
• Nearby sights: Canary Wharf, Greenwich Peninsula and views towards the O2.
• Watch out for: Higher costs, the longer walk and limited spontaneous seating.

Check the official Gun Docklands website for current menus, private-room details and reservations.

7. The White Cross in Richmond

Choose The White Cross when you want the Thames as your main attraction, not a quick view between central London landmarks. This historic Young’s pub sits beside Richmond’s towpath, with broad windows, a river-edge terrace and a relaxed local crowd. Its flood-prone setting is part of the character, though high water can affect access and make the riverside approach uncomfortable.

The reward is space to slow down. Walk beside the river, take a window seat and order traditional pub food with a Young’s ale. Dog-friendly tables and a strong community feel make it a good place to watch Richmond life unfold. Solo visitors can settle at the bar or choose a small table without feeling out of place.

A golden-hour finish beyond central London

Sunny weekends fill the terrace quickly, so arrive early for outdoor seating. Weekday afternoons offer the easiest balance of space, light and atmosphere, while golden hour gives the towpath its best look. Check river conditions before setting out, especially when high water is forecast.

Richmond station links with the Underground, Overground and National Rail. Walk downhill through Richmond towards the river and allow more time than you would for Bankside. The extra journey brings greener scenery, Richmond Green, Richmond Park and a broader stretch of towpath.

Use The White Cross as the western end of a Thames bar route. Travel west by rail from central London, rather than attempting to walk between venues, and make the pub your destination for a slower afternoon or early evening. If you are continuing elsewhere, check the return service before ordering another round.

The White Cross Richmond website has the latest information on opening arrangements and access.

Plan a Thames-Side Pub Crawl

Choose the route according to the kind of evening you want, not the number of venues you can force into it. For central culture and easy transport, begin at Founders Arms after Tate Modern or the Globe, then walk east along Bankside towards London Bridge. The river path is scenic, but the venues around the South Bank aren’t as densely pub-filled as many generic roundups suggest. CAMRA’s listing for the Old Thameside Inn places it at Pickfords Wharf on Clink Street, right on the Thames and a short walk from Borough Market, making it a useful nearby alternative if you want another river-facing stop.

For East London history, start at The Mayflower in Rotherhithe and continue towards Prospect of Whitby in Wapping. This works best as an afternoon-to-evening route, because the pubs are destinations rather than doors beside one another. Allow extra time for the river walk, and use public transport back rather than relying on a final long walk after dark.

Greenwich deserves its own outing. Spend the day around the Old Royal Naval College and the market, then make Trafalgar Tavern the main meal or drinks stop. If you want a more compact central alternative, CAMRA’s Riverfront Bar listing identifies a café, bar and restaurant in the BFI Southbank foyer, directly beneath Waterloo Bridge.

West London is all about the walk. Choose The Dove for a Hammersmith sunset, or travel further out to The White Cross for Richmond towpath scenery and a stronger local feel. Check current opening arrangements before leaving, arrive early for small terraces and decide your return transport before the final drink. Rivers-side licensing and operating arrangements can change, as current City of London alcohol licensing applications demonstrate.

Choose your price band before you set off. A riverside drink can stay budget-friendly when you pick one main venue, eat around the area rather than ordering a full meal at every stop.

St Christopher’s offers clean dorms and private rooms, central London locations, on-site bars and communal spaces designed for social travellers, with direct booking perks including a welcome drink and food savings. Use St Christopher’s as your base, then choose the riverside route that suits your evening and start exploring.