Our guide to an easy-breezy summer in the city

9th July 2024

Our guide to an easy-breezy summer in the city

Summer is here – and here to stay it is (yippee).

Before we know it, we’ll be busy busy-ing ourselves, planning lovely days out and making the most of those blissful balmy afternoons… did someone say pub garden?

And doesn’t the city seriously come alive in the summer? It’s our hometown, born and brewed, so we might be a little biased (who’d blame us), but we really think it’s the time London shines its brightest.

So instead of escaping the city, we think it’s the perfect time to escape to the city.

Read on for our top-picks for cool city summer stays.

The Alma – Wandsworth

This green-tiled goddess of a pub sits right across from Wandsworth Town train station, which means that if you tire of all the local loveliness, you’ll be into Central London in a jiffy.

Take Battersea Power Station, for example: a short and sweet 20-minute train ride away, and recently transformed into the ultimate city hotspot, with over 140 (yes, one hundred and forty) shops, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues. There’s a cool events calendar with year-round not-to-be-skipped things to do. Top tip: Lift 109 will take you to the top of the northwest chimney, where you’ll bask in 360-degree skyline views.

Back to The Alma, their sell-out Sunday roast is an absolute can’t-miss. Particularly, their famed Thor Hammer (we won’t name-drop but its pulled in a few A-listers), which will feed 5-6 of you.

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The Station, Hither Green

This characterful corner-plot pub sits just opposite Hither Green train station (aptly named, you see) and is just a short stroll from Blackheath and Greenwich Park, and again, only 10-minutes out from Central London.

You’ll be a short train or cab ride away from Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, which is held every August and September – it’s London’s leading festival of theatre, circus, dance and street arts. It’s spectacular, thought-provoking, magical, and moving. All the events are outdoors, and most of them are free (think a theatre on the shore of the Thames, an eight-hour aerial performance on top of a melting block of ice, and much more).

Back to The Station, in-house artist Charlotte hosts an ever-so-popular Drink & Draw event on the last Wednesday or Thursday of the month – it’s loved by locals and anyone is welcome (whether you’re a novice or a natural).

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Orange Tree, Richmond

A few miles out outside of London, this iconic pubs sets the scene as the starting point of Richmond High Street. Right next to West London’s famous Orange Tree Theatre (the home of independent theatre), and just a hop, skip and jump from leafy Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, with even more green gorgeousness in nearby Bushy Park.

Speaking of Bushy Park, here you’ll find Hampton Court Palace. Magnificent is an understatement when it comes to this historic royal residence, and it’s a truly fabulous day out, for adults and kiddies alike. You can tour its majestic Tudor halls, explore over 800 acres of gardens and parkland, and get lost in the 300-year-old maze (the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze, and the most famous maze in the world, we’ll have you know). It’ll take on average, 20-minutes to reach the centre – so get on down and see if you beat that.

Back to the Orange Tree, if you’re a rugby fan, this is the place to be. Twickenham Stadium, the mighty home of England Rugby is only a walk away and worth a visit, even if not on game days. On game days, plot yourself in the pub, if not to catch all the action, then at least to bask in the electric atmosphere.

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Fox & Anchor, Farringdon

This traditional and down-right beautiful historic London pub takes pride of place just on the corner of Smithfield Market (centuries-old, and the UK’s largest meat market). Top tip, if you’re after a snoop around, you’ll be in need of a really, really early rise.

Take a mooch and meander through the bustling streets of London and within 30-munites you’ll happen upon Shoreditch (a hipster hotspot in Hoxton), famed for its street art. In summer, this part of town is especially colourful and full-of-fun, with hundreds of trendy bars and restaurants, and vintage shops to get lost in.

Back to Fox & Anchor. They’re pretty famous for their gut-busting ‘City Boy’ breakfast (perfectly-paired with the obligatory pint of Guinness), so be sure to put this on your foodie wish-list.

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Spread Eagle, Wandsworth

This grand and gorgeous Victorian pub (voted one of The Times best places to stay 2024) sits in the heart of Wandsworth – if a little pub/ rooms tour is on the cards, Spread Eagle is just a short stroll from The Alma – you’ll even pass Brewer’s Inn on the way too (a hattrick of pub-y wins).

You’ll be right in the heart of Wandsworth here, with heaps of to-dos just on the doorstep. And, like The Alma, you’ll be into Central London in no time. If you’re a tennis fan, this one’s definitely for you – July sees the Wimbledon Tennis Championships (the oldest tennis tournament in the world) kick off, and a 15-minute bus or cab ride will get you out to the centre of the action.

Back to Spread Eagle, their homemade pies have become the talk of the town. This, and their acclaimed award as one of the best places to stay this year. Go on, you know you want to…

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So there you have it, a five-pub-guide to an easy-breezy summer in the city. But that’s not all, we’ve got a barrel-load of city pubs with rooms, and not just in London – you’ll find more city break hotspots in Bristol, Exeter and Cheltenham and beyond.

Take a peek at all of our city-based pubs, hit the button below.

CITY STAYS

Our guide to an easy-breezy summer in the city

Our guide to an easy-breezy summer in the city

The Alma – Wandsworth

The Station, Hither Green

Orange Tree, Richmond

Fox & Anchor, Farringdon

Spread Eagle, Wandsworth

Featured Pubs

Fox & Anchor

Orange Tree

Spread Eagle

The Alma

The Station