Kensington.
The Uxbridge Arms
Street: 13 Uxbridge Street
Operator: Independent
Open:
12:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Kensington Crawl
No homepage
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (3min)
Central
About the pub:
A world away from nearby Portobello Road, this popular back-street local dates from 1836 as a beer house. Up to four real ales, and the pub also has an extensive range of gins; the food offering is small but varied and includes sandwiches and salads.
The pub re-opened under new management after light refurbishment in early 2017 - the collection of old prints, plates, maps and other knick-knacks has, if anything, been extended, and the Lieutenant-Colonel's uniform jacket has happily been retained.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Windsor Castle
Street: 114 Campden Hill Road
Operator: Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)
Open:
12:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Kensington Crawl
Hompage
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (7min)
Central
About the pub:
This corner pub, tucked away in the back streets of Kensington, contrasts an old world feel that you might expect to find in a more rural setting, with a modern up-market service and menu style. The name of the pub is a reminder of when it was possible to have the excitement of seeing Windsor Castle from the top of Campden Hill, although the dray horses who had to pull the beer up there may not have shared the sentiment.
The bar room is divided into four drinking areas but, surprisingly, the partitions and other wood-panelling are not part of the original 1830 build by Fuller’s but date from a 1933 refurbishment. Included in CAMRA’s National Inventory and Grade II listed.
Up to four real ales may be on offer; the beer garden to the rear boasts its own bar.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Churchill Arms
Street: 119 Kensington Church Street
Operator: Fullers
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Kensington Crawl
Homepage
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (4min)
Central
About the pub:
Dating from 1824, it spent its first 18 months as the Bedford Arms. The winner of awards ranging from Boozers in Bloom to the Griffin Award for Fuller's Pub of the Year, this is also one of London's Real Heritage Pubs. The ceilings are packed with suspended bric-a-brac: you name it and it’s probably up there somewhere. There is also a framed collection of 1500 butterflies and many prints and photographs of the great wartime leader (after whom this pub is NOT named). Note the commemorative plaques to customers who are now spirits and the waterfall in the conservatory complete with fish. There is even a signpost in the middle in case you get lost!
The Thai food is recommended and this deservedly popular pub, with its range of Fuller's ales, can get extremely busy. At Christmas the pub sports a spectacular annual display which in the latest year was 100 Christmas trees covered in twenty-two thousand five hundred lights, and taking almost three weeks to set up.
A fitting tribute to the legendary Gerry O'Brien, the licensee who retired in July 2017 and whose thirtieth anniversary at the pub in July 2015 was celebrated with a street party complete with a magnificent Fuller's dray-horse team (see photos). Current manager James Keogh celebrated 35 years of working for Fuller's in 2022.
Branch Pub of the Year third-place runner-up in 2018.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Windsor Castle (5min)
The Windsor Castle Kensington
Holland Park (10min)
Holland Park
Kensington Palace (17min)
Kensington Palace
The Tower House (19min)
wikipedia The Tower House
wikipedia Melbury Road
The Elephant and Castle
Street: 40 Holland Street
Operator: Nicholson's (Mitchells & Butlers)
Open:
12:00 - 23:00 Monday
11:00 - 23:00 Tuesday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Kensington Crawl
Hompage
Underground: Notting Hill Gate (12min)
Central
About the pub:
First licensed in 1865 as a beer house in what were two adjacent houses and tucked away north-east of the Town Hall, this busy cosy, wood-panelled Nicholson's with its rural feel is a welcome refuge from the hurly-burly of Kensington High Street. Note the fine Charrington’s bar-back.
There are strong journalistic connections, and a light refurbishment broadened the decor to include historical prints and photos with local connections. Guest beers are from the wide-ranging Nicholson's portfolio including its own-brand ales.
Food, specialising in pies and sausages, is available all day, except 4pm-5pm.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Hansom Cab
Street: 84-86 Earls Court Road
Operator: Independent
Open:
12:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:00 Sunday
Map: Kensington Crawl
Hompage
Underground: Earls Court (11min)
District
Piccadilly
About the pub:
A Grade II listed pub with three distinctive split-level drinking areas and the closest real-ale pub to the Design Museum.
Built in 1832 as the Pembroke Arms and renamed in 1965 when refurbished with its present theme. It is still partly decorated with horse-drawn cab memorabilia. Unfortunately the genuine Hansom Cab (minus horse) which used to hang from the ceiling had to be removed at the decree of the health and safety thought police.
Trade is mainly local and with staff from the nearby police station. Up to changing five cask ales are on offer plus a good range of keg beers. There is a limited food menu including small plates and sharers, and a few pub classic mains plus pizzas and Burger Singh burgers.
See venue website for food/drink offers, and events such as quizzes
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Queens Arms
Street: 30 Queen Gate Mews
Operator: Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)
Open:
12:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Kensington Crawl
Hompage
Underground: South Kensington (9min)
Circle
About the pub:
Dating from 1859, a lovely corner mews pub that is well worth seeking out for its real ales and its large range of interesting bottled beers, craft beers and lagers, malt whiskies and other spirits. Note the very unusual curved doors. The L-shaped room features wood floors and panelling.
The clientele tends to reflect the location: well-heeled locals, students from Imperial College and musicians from, and visitors to, the nearby Royal Albert Hall. There are few tourists as the pub is off the beaten track.
The food menu and specials are of superior quality and the pub is very much food-led. You may well find that at lunchtime and early evening the tables are all laid out for diners, so be warned you may have to stand! Six handpumps generally have at least four ales plus a cider or two.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Royal Albert Hall (9min)
Royal Albert Hall
Natural History Museum (10min)
Natural History Museum
Anglesea Arms
Street: 15 Selwood Terrace
Operator: Metropolitan (Greene King)
Open:
12:00 - 22:00 Monday-Sunday
Map: Kensington Crawl
Hompage
Underground: South Kensington (8min)
District
Piccadilly
Circle
About the pub:
This was one of the few free houses in London to sell real ale in the early days of CAMRA and has appeared in many editions of the Good Beer Guide over the years. Built in 1827 and licensed two years later, it was reportedly frequented by authors Charles Dickens and DH Lawrence. For over a hundred years this was a Meux tied house but by the 1960s had become a family-owned free house, still later bought by Maxwell Joseph’s Lion Taverns. Now it is a Grade II-listed Greene King Metropolitan Pub Co establishment that looks like a country pub with its hanging baskets and benches outside.
Walk through the foliage and you discover a hidden gem. The bar you enter has much preserved from the pub's history, its previous division into smaller rooms being indicated by full-height raised-and-fielded panelling on one side and matchboarding to dado level on the other.
These walls are decorated with a diverse collection of mirrors, prints, photographs and paintings, including a particularly large and striking one of a naked lady above the (non-working) fireplace. The room is furnished with a mixture of high tables and stools, dining tables and chairs and leather upholstered benches. Beside the side door leading to a narrow patio of tables and chairs are steps leading down to the panelled restaurant, with another fireplace, this one complete with a gas fire.
The wooden bar counter and back bar are simply carved, the latter surmounted by a rather magnificent clock, in between two screens which occasionally show (terrestial broadcast) sporting events.
Post-pandemic the previous larger range of ales is reported reduced; further updates welcome.
The menu offers a tempting variety of food at reasonable prices for the area. At busy eating times many of the tables may be laid for dining though drinkers-only are always welcome.
Listed in the Estrella Damm top 100 gastropub awards 2022; and prices may reflect the pub's status and location.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Stamford Bridge (24min)
wikipedia
