Pub Crawl London: Best Bars, Hidden Speakeasies, and Nightlife Routes

When you think of a pub crawl London, a social drinking tour through the city’s most lively bars and historic pubs. Also known as bar hopping London, it’s not just about drinking—it’s about moving through neighborhoods, discovering hidden spots, and feeling the rhythm of the city after dark. This isn’t a tourist trap with neon signs and overpriced shots. Real pub crawls in London start in Soho, wind through Shoreditch, dip into Bermondsey’s craft beer dens, and sometimes end up on a rooftop with a view of the Thames.

What makes a great London nightlife, the collection of bars, clubs, and informal gatherings that define the city’s after-hours culture isn’t the name on the door. It’s the mix of history and rebellion. You’ll find 300-year-old pubs where Dickens once drank next to basement bars where DJs spin vinyl until sunrise. The London bars, the physical spaces where people gather to drink, talk, and connect over beer, gin, or cocktails don’t all look the same. Some have wooden booths and dartboards. Others have no sign, just a door with a code. That’s the charm. You don’t book a table—you follow the crowd, the music, or the smell of fresh fries from a nearby kebab shop.

And it’s not just about drinking. A real London pub scene, the cultural ecosystem of pubs, drinkers, bartenders, and local traditions that shape how Londoners unwind includes live music in back rooms, trivia nights that turn into shouting matches, and bartenders who remember your name after one visit. Some crawls focus on gin. Others on craft beer. Some are themed—Victorian-era, queer-friendly, or silent disco crawls where everyone dances to headphones. You’ll find them all here.

There’s no single route that’s right for everyone. If you like old-school charm, start in Camden. If you want modern cocktails, head to Shoreditch. Want something wild? Try a hidden warehouse party in Peckham. The best crawls aren’t planned—they’re discovered. And that’s what this collection is for: real stories from people who’ve done it, tips from locals who know where the good stuff is, and routes that actually lead somewhere worth ending up.