10 Cities for Legendary Pub Crawls: London-Style Nights Out Worldwide

Every Londoner knows the city isn’t short of a good night that usually starts at the pub and might end with chips at dawn. But what if you fancy swapping Soho for something a bit spicier? Welcome to a roundup of the world’s top ten cities for pub crawls—exploring everywhere from Berlin’s techno bars to Tokyo’s basement izakayas—with a Londoner’s curiosity in mind. Before grabbing your Oyster card for a local crawl down Shoreditch High Street, let’s see how other cities measure up and what you can bring back to up your own London pub game. Stay tuned: you might even find the next perfect stag do or birthday trip destination.

London: Old-School Tradition Meets Next-Level Nightlife

Of course, no list can even get started without nodding to the homeland of the word ‘pub’—London. Here, the pub crawl isn’t just a student ritual or a way to half-heartedly celebrate Friday; it’s pretty much a local art. Think about classic spots: The Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden has seen more spilled beer since 1772 than most city centres. Camden’s lockside bars serve up both ales and punk attitude, while Soho offers everything from dark Victorian gin joints to splashy cocktail dens. You’re never far from a round of Bombardier in a dark panelled room or a G&T under fairy lights in an East End courtyard. According to UKHospitality, London is still home to more than 3,500 pubs and bars as of 2025—even after the ups and downs of the pandemic and rising rents. That’s a higher concentration than the rest of the UK.

London pride shines brightest in local rituals: the proper queue at the bar, Sunday roasts (with pints), darts tournaments, and the unspoken etiquette for standing outside with your pint glass no matter the weather. The famous Monopoly Pub Crawl (26 stops, if you dare) is legendary among students, while newcomers love a Ripper-themed jaunt in Whitechapel or the endlessly Instagrammed trails through Notting Hill. Pro tip: Check if your favourite spot is tied to a brewery, as this can mean sharper deals on local pours. London’s Night Tube and plentiful night buses mean you’ll rarely get stranded, which is more than you can say about most cities on this list.

The city’s culture is woven into its pub patterns: you’ll spot suited bankers and giggling tourists all huddled around sticky tables. London also takes pride in its local craft beer scene—don’t miss South London’s ale trails or Hackney’s microbreweries. If you’re feeling competitive, look up a Camden or Shoreditch bar crawl package—many crowd-favourite options come with free drinks, club entry, and a ready-made squad. As someone who’s tripped down the King’s Road after a few too many, trust me: nothing beats London’s intoxicating mix of history and late-night chaos.

Dublin: The Craic Is Just Different in Ireland

If London is the king of the pub crawl, Dublin is its lovable, rowdy cousin. Visit Temple Bar, and you’ll see what the fuss is about. Yes, it’s touristy—and yes, the Guinness tastes better where it’s brewed. Dublin’s pub crawl concept leans more into banter than big clubbing; think roaring fires, live folk bands, and locals who’ll chat your ear off like you’re old friends. For Londoners, it’ll feel familiar but with an extra warm hug. If you’re searching for something a little extra, ask for a singalong at The Cobblestone (critical for proper craic) or join an organised literary pub crawl that snakes through historic haunts where writers like James Joyce and Samuel Beckett once nursed their pints. Irish pubs tend to shut at midnight or 2:30am, so don’t dilly-dally if you want another round.

Londoners may notice less focus on fancy cocktails but more on a well-poured pint. Here’s a tip: don’t just stick to the main roads—venture into Georgian alleyways for a true locals’ experience. Good luck finding a table after 8pm on a Friday, though; Dublin’s pubs are packed, especially on a rugby weekend. If you’re keen to soak up local knowledge, chat up your bartender (who’s very likely to know half the city’s gossip) and listen for spontaneous trad music that makes even the most cynical London commuter tap their feet.

Staggering back to your Airbnb, you might notice a mythical friendliness that just doesn’t exist anywhere else. And, if you fancy the hangover cure locals swear by: Tayto crisps and strong tea in the morning. You’ll soon learn that Dubliners treat their pubs like an extension of their own living rooms—friendly, loud, sometimes a little chaotic, and always up for one more round.

Berlin and Prague: Two Contenders for the Wildest Nights

Let’s talk big energy. Berlin has built a nightlife scene with almost no rival, famous for all-night parties and a liberal attitude to last orders. You’ll move through smoky punk-rock bars, cross over into grungy techno clubs, and probably lose someone to a kebab stand before dawn. For a Londoner used to strict last-call, Berlin is spellbinding. Bars in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain can be open well past sunrise, and it’s entirely normal to see crowds still out and about as breakfast is being served. English is widely spoken, making it easy to ask for a decent Weissbier or a round of Berliner Luft shots.

Prague offers its own brand of magic. Cheap beer—often less than a soft drink—means your quid stretches forever compared to anything you’ll manage in EC1 or W1. The Old Town’s winding streets conceal gothic bars and centuries-old cellars, and the city’s love of bold Czech lagers means every round feels like a bargain. Prague pub crawls are legendary for their exuberance, and between clubs sprawled across medieval squares and grinning students everywhere, there’s a constant pulse unlike anywhere else. Tip for seasoned Londoners: try U Zlateho Tygra for authentic pilsners (though it’s so local you’ll need your elbows ready to wiggle into a spot). Prague’s walkability rivals London’s West End, so you’ll never have to worry much about taxis or night buses.

Both cities are fantastic for mixed crews who can’t agree on the perfect night: Berlin brings the edge, Prague brings the stamina. My advice? Don’t wear your fanciest trainers, and maybe pace yourself: the shots go down easy, but so does pride at 4am.

Tokyo and New York: East Meets West After Dark

It’s a big jump from Camden’s sticky floors to Tokyo’s neon-soaked lanes, but if you ever get the chance, Tokyo should be near the top of your pub crawl bucket list. Izakayas (tiny, buzzing Japanese bars, sometimes hidden behind vending machines or up staircases you’d swear lead to nowhere) rule the night here. The drinks might be smaller than a London pint, but the atmosphere packs a punch—and the snacks (karaage fried chicken, grilled skewers) are leagues ahead of standard pub crisps. Start in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai: a warren of tiny bars, each with its own theme and regulars (a bit like Soho, but on a much funkier scale). Most spots fit about six people. Tokyoites take their after-work drinks seriously, so you’ll often see salarymen unwinding in their uniforms right alongside you. Pub crawling here means moving lightly and with curiosity—don’t be afraid to try something new off the shelf. It’s worth brushing up on a few phrases, but locals are friendly and typically more than happy to pour sake for a visiting Londoner.

Back across the pond, New York City welcomes crawlers with open arms from the leafy patios of Brooklyn to the jazz-soaked bars of Greenwich Village. Here’s where Londoners will feel right at home: New York pubs love a themed night, a bottomless brunch crawl, or a dive bar challenge. Manhattan’s “Hell’s Kitchen Pub Crawl” is a must-do if you like your drinks shaken with a side of local history. NYC law lets licensed bars serve until 4am, which means you can pack extra stops into your route. One savvy local told me, “Every block in the city has its pub you can call home, but every night out can turn wild in a heartbeat.” For Londoners, this feels almost like Soho minus the last train home anxiety. Taxis are everywhere, and the subway runs 24 hours.

Don’t forget to check out rooftop bars for skyline views, and be ready for photo ID checks at every stop (yes, even if you’re well past your uni days). Like London, New York takes neighbourhood identity seriously—East Village’s grungy spots are a world apart from fancy Midtown lounges. And if you miss a greasy London-style chip, grab a slice of NYC pizza to cap off your crawl.

The Icons: Budapest, Sydney, Barcelona, and Beyond

Let’s not pretend the list is exhaustive—there are dozens of worthy cities for a proper pub crawl. But four others stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Budapest comes out swinging with its ruin bars: think abandoned courtyards transformed into eclectic pubs, with fairy lights strung between carved stone and mismatched furniture. Szimpla Kert is the veteran, a place every London brew lover needs to see at least once, simply to appreciate how run-down glory becomes high art. Here, spirits run cheap (about a third of your usual round at a London Wetherspoons), and the crowds are young, energetic, and incredibly creative.

In Sydney, “the crawl” moves fast from relaxed harbourside pubs to thumping nightclubs, with glorious weather almost guaranteed. Most pubs have open-air spaces, and the beer scene is huge, with local craft dominating. You’ll notice a more relaxed rhythm than the all-or-nothing rush back home, with locals savouring drinks in the evening sun. Meanwhile, Barcelona, ever magnetic, is a tapas-pub crawl haven. Small plates mean more time for nibbling and less for standing in chip queues at the end, while the Gothic Quarter’s maze of alleyways offers dozens of stops—each with its own flavour (quite literally). Expect spontaneous flamenco and the kind of crowds that make Soho’s Berwick Street seem tame by comparison.

Of course, Amsterdam rounds off the classic crawl destinations. Dutch brown cafes—a little like London’s most charming locals—are the perfect spot for those who want both quality beer and a dash of canal-side romance. Amsterdam’s Red Light District also draws pub crawlers from all over, so expect English spoken everywhere. This is also the city where locals start their nights late, with most crowds not hitting the bars until at least 10pm. Don’t try racing through; savour every stroopwafel along the way.

“A pub crawl is never just about the drinks. It’s about the magic spaces between: the laughter in alleyways, music that makes you sway, and the memory of finding a new friend or favourite tipple in a place you just wandered into by chance.” – The Guardian Culture Desk, 2024

London teaches you that a true night out is part ritual, part adventure. Whether you fancy wandering historic streets with a Pimm’s, sinking shots in a Berlin dive, hunting down karaoke in Tokyo, or swapping stories over steins in Prague, remember: the world’s great pub cities have a lot to teach—and plenty to toast to. Get your mates together, plan smart (look up local laws, check for fancy dress bans, take cash to dodge dodgy card readers), and always have a backup for late-night snacks. The next epic crawl could be just a booking away.