Best-of list · Insider Guide
Discover where London locals actually drink. 10 insider picks from Hammersmith to Hackney, avoiding tourist bars. Speakeasies, real ale, gastropubs.
The short answer
10 ranked rooms follow. How we picked is at the end of this guide.
The bars that Londoners actually return to rarely make the tourism guides. They're in Bermondsey railway arches, Hackney side streets, and Islington pubs that haven't changed their carpets since 1987. We've spent considerable time in this city separating the places that perform for visitors from the ones that work for residents. This is where locals drink in London — and the distinction matters more than most people realise.
How we picked
London's best local bars are scattered, deliberate, and require a tube journey. The ones that last are the ones that serve regulars rather than tourists, and regulars are unforgiving. The Bermondsey, Hackney, and Hammersmith picks on this list have all been operating for at least five years; none of them are in their first generation of regulars. That's the test.
Insider picks, new discoveries, and what locals are actually drinking right now.
Sofia has been navigating European bar scenes for over a decade, contributing to several publications and with particular expertise in Paris, Amsterdam, and London's drinking cultures.
Last reviewed 2025-09-24 · The editors recheck hours and closures against current local coverage.