On the western fringes of the English capital, Richmond, West London is a buzzy riverside neighbourhood with excellent pubs that cover every vibe from old school to new school.
We've rounded up our top picks below. There's also a helpful Google Maps picture at the bottom, showing you their locations, colour-coded.
For traditional pub vibes…The Old Ship
Directly in the hustle and bustle of Richmond is the Old Ship. The pub you’ve imagined visiting on your London trip? It’s this. Unassumingly decorated (apart from the funky red letters hanging above the pub doors), it even has that vibe that it was built from the parts of an old ship.
Excellent food, particularly the roast dinners, we guarantee you’ll love this pub as much as we do!
For a slice of English sport…The Cricketers
One of Richmond’s oldest and cutest pubs, the Cricketers has been serving thirsty guests since 1770. Walking down the cobbled streets, feeling like you’re on a movie set of Georgian London, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
Have a guess what it’s named after? Yep – cricket! Cricket has been played on the opposite green since 1666, acting as the town’s unofficial pavilion since.
It’s steeped in cricket and English tradition! We get you may not be interested in cricket (or have no idea what it is apart from standing in a field!), but you can still marvel at the walls coated with sports memorabilia.
Some irrelevant trivia: In the early hours of the 25th August 1844, a fire broke out in the pub! Although no one was injured, the fire spread to neighbouring properties and caused extensive damage without insurance, meaning many residents would have lost everything.
For a drink by the green…The Prince's Head
The Prince’s Head is perfectly situated opposite the green with trees, iconic red telephone boxes and cute little alleyways.
You can smell the rich history when you walk inside. The building dates back to 1705, originally called the Duke of Ormonde’s Head, named after the 2nd Duke of Ormode James Butler.
How times have changed - in the early 1900s, the Prince’s Head was a men’s only watering hole – that door policy has since changed, and now all ladies can come down for a pint, with exposed ankles if they wish.
To get off the beaten path…the White Swan
The White Swan is a cute country-style pub dating back to 1777. Nestled between Richmond Green and the river, it’s one of Richmond’s best kept secrets that definitely needs your love when you visit.
For trendy East London vibes…Tap Tavern
Situated in an industrial-like backstreet off Richmond’s main road, the Tap Tavern is unlike anything else in Richmond.
Even before you enter, seeing crowds of people resting their drinks on barrels gives you vibes only experienced in East London.
Focusing on micro-brewed beer and small batch gins, Tap Tavern needs you to pay it a visit.
For that picturesque river setting….The White Cross
Vibrant and historic, Richmond’s iconic waterside pub, sits perfectly overlooking the Thames.
Dating back to 1780, originally called the Waterman’s Arms, the pub changed its name under its landlord Samuel Cross. There’s even said to be remains of the old Franciscan Friary, from which the pub is built upon, from 1534 in the cellars – you may be lucky enough to see it if you ask the staff politely in a quiet period (which is rare!).
The riverside is electric in the Spring and Summertime, so grab a drink, sit outside and watch boats and rowers float by.
