King's Cross
The Queen's Head is a snug corner pub between King's Cross and Gray's Inn Road with a crackling fire in winter. The beer list is carefully chosen and there are...
King's Cross St Pancras 9 min · Walk-in
Walk-in
Cover story
Cosy pubs with real fires in London
On the first properly cold evening, a pub with a real fire is the only sensible plan. These London pubs have open fires or wood burners, from the Holly Bush and the Spaniards Inn by Hampstead Heath to the Chesham Arms in Hackney, the Ivy House in Nunhead and the Dove on the Thames at Hammersmith. They suit a long winter catch-up, a first cold Sunday or a drink after a muddy walk. Fires are seasonal, so check before...
The little black book
Cosy pubs with real fires in London
On the first properly cold evening, a pub with a real fire is the only sensible plan. These London pubs have open fires or wood burners, from the Holly Bush and the Spaniards Inn by Hampstead Heath to the Chesham Arms in Hackney, the Ivy House in Nunhead and the Dove on the Thames at Hammersmith. They suit a long winter catch-up, a first cold Sunday or a drink after a muddy walk. Fires are seasonal, so check before...
Central London
Chapter 1 · 1 pub
North London
Chapter 2 · 8 pubs
King's Cross
King Charles I is a small, wood-panelled backstreet pub a few minutes from King's Cross, owned by its community. In winter there is a little fire going under...
King's Cross St Pancras 7 min · Walk-in
Walk-in
Kentish Town
The Pineapple is a much-loved Victorian local on Leverton Street, a quiet backstreet a few minutes from Kentish Town station. It has four working fires, which...
Kentish Town 7 min · Walk-in
Walk-in
Hampstead
The Spaniards Inn is a 16th-century coaching inn on the northern edge of Hampstead Heath, with log fires lit through the winter. The smell of wood smoke greets...
Hampstead 21 min · Bookable
Hampstead
The Holly Bush is an 18th-century pub tucked up a lane above Hampstead's high street, with an open fire, dark wood panels and pew-style seats. Very little has...
Hampstead 3 min · Bookable
Highgate
The Wrestlers is a snug, wood-panelled Highgate pub that claims to date back to 1547. The fire really roars in winter, and you can put your feet up beside it...
Highgate 9 min · Bookable
Highgate
The Flask in Highgate village lights its fireplaces and candles once the weather turns, which makes its low historic rooms very atmospheric. Byron, Shelley and...
Highgate 16 min · Bookable
Islington
The Albion is a handsome Georgian pub on a quiet Barnsbury corner, best known for its big garden but just as good in winter. There is an open fire inside and a...
Caledonian Road & Barnsbury 11 min · Bookable
Stoke Newington
The Rose & Crown on Stoke Newington Church Street is a wood-panelled, flagstoned corner pub with a fire that roars all winter. Logs wait beside the hearth...
Stoke Newington 15 min · Bookable
East London
Chapter 3 · 4 pubs
Hackney
The Chesham Arms is a backstreet Hackney local that residents campaigned to save. Its wood-burning stove sits under a carving of Pomona, goddess of fruitful...
Hackney Central 9 min · Walk-in
Walk-in
Bethnal Green
The Approach Tavern is a big, high-ceilinged Victorian pub on a leafy road leading up to Victoria Park. In autumn and winter the best seat in the house is by...
Cambridge Heath 8 min · Bookable
Docklands
The Gun is an Isle of Dogs institution that blends a proper boozer with a serious gastropub. Deep leather armchairs flank a fine fireplace, and the river...
Blackwall 11 min · Bookable
Eltham
The Park Tavern is an independent Victorian pub just off Eltham High Street, with a pretty fireplace and a smart, traditional interior. There are no TVs or...
Eltham 12 min · Walk-in
Walk-in
South London
Chapter 4 · 5 pubs
Wimbledon
The Crooked Billet sits on the edge of Wimbledon Common and feels more like a country pub than a London one. There are two open fires waiting once you are done...
Raynes Park 21 min · Bookable
Clapham
The Clapham Tap is a craft beer pub on a residential street near Clapham North, with lines from breweries such as DEYA and Kernel. Come winter there is a cosy...
Clapham High Street 7 min · Walk-in
Walk-in
Wandsworth
The Old Sergeant is a characterful Wandsworth pub mixing quirky decor with traditional seating and a crackling fire when the weather demands it. The kitchen...
Wandsworth Town 17 min · Bookable
Crystal Palace
The Alma is a Crystal Palace freehouse with a seriously good selection of beers. In winter the fleecy chairs by the open fire are the ones to grab, ideally...
Crystal Palace 13 min · Bookable
Nunhead
The Ivy House is a Grade II-listed 1930s pub in Nunhead, saved by its community in 2013 and now co-operatively owned. It has a glitzy old stage, a bench-lined...
Nunhead 17 min · Walk-in
Walk-in
West London
Chapter 5 · 9 pubs
Hammersmith
The Dove is a 17th-century pub on the Thames at Hammersmith, all gnarly beams and cosy corners. In winter you can sit by the open fire in a proper pub chair...
Ravenscourt Park 9 min · Bookable
Holland Park
The Mitre was redesigned in 2023 and now looks more country estate than city pub, with heavy leather chairs and chandeliers. The fireplace is the best thing...
Holland Park 4 min · Bookable
Maida Vale
The Hero is a four-storey pub in Maida Vale from the Public House group, with an open fire on the ground floor. Upstairs, The Library is a small cocktail bar...
Warwick Avenue 7 min · Bookable
Notting Hill
The Walmer Castle is a classic Notting Hill corner pub a few yards from Portobello Road. It is heavy on wood and full of cosy nooks, with cask ales and a fire...
Westbourne Park 11 min · Bookable
Notting Hill
The Pelican on All Saints Road is one of the best-loved pubs in west London, and it lights its fires as soon as the weather turns. You can choose the buzzy pub...
Westbourne Park 6 min · Bookable
Parsons Green
The White Horse on Parsons Green has long been one of west London's best pubs for beer, with at least eight on tap and over 80 by the bottle. In winter a...
Parsons Green 3 min · Bookable
Chelsea
The Cadogan Arms on the King's Road has been restored with a hand-carved bar, ornate timber panelling and crystal chandeliers. It comes into its own in winter,...
South Kensington 16 min · Bookable
Chelsea
The Surprise is a proudly independent Chelsea local, beautifully refurbished, just off the King's Road. It has been a landmark since 1853, and in winter the...
Sloane Square 15 min · Bookable
Barnes
The Bull's Head in Barnes is an old riverside pub with a long history of live jazz, soul and blues. You can make a whole Sunday of it here, with a beer by the...
Barnes Bridge 4 min · Bookable
Frequently asked questions
How do we pick a fair pub for the group?
This Placelist is a set of pubs suited to group meets. Add everyone's work or station origins in FairWhere and it ranks the shortlist by journey fairness, so the person in Zone 4 is not always the one with the worst commute.
Can the group vote on the shortlist?
Yes. Start a plan from this Placelist, invite the group, and use FairWhere's share and voting flows to agree on a venue after the fairness ranking.
How are these ranked?
By how evenly the journey is shared across your group, not by popularity, sponsorship or who suggested the place first. Start a plan from this Placelist, add where everyone is starting from, and see the ranked shortlist.
Do I need everyone in the same area of London?
No. FairWhere is built for groups coming from different zones. Add each person's start location and it ranks venues so the travel burden is as fair as possible across the group.
Is this free to use?
Browsing Placelists and creating a basic plan with estimate-only ranking is free in the London beta. Optional live checks and deeper routing may use credits where offered.