Great Pubs Near Liverpool Street, London

Nothing says London pub more than a big, wooden, L-shaped bar. The Astronomer is a classic Victorian pub with cosy wooden interiors and a bold red-brick exterior. As the name suggests, the pub’s decor is inspired by astronomy, with mystical artwork and star-themed details. In addition to its great selection of beers, ales and spirits, it also boasts a fantastic food menu that features specialist pies and hearty Sunday roasts.

This Wetherspoon pub, next to Liverpool Street station, is an ideal spot for those looking to enjoy a drink in a truly unique setting. The pub sits inside the former ballroom of the Great Eastern Hotel and features ornate gold decor and several chandeliers. With two floors of seating and toilets that overlook the inside of the station, Hamilton Hall is a very reasonably priced pub set within beautiful interiors.

The Magpie excels in real ales and pub grub. It has a large upstairs dining room where you can order pub classics such as fish and chips or pie and mash; however, it also unconventionally serves breakfast and afternoon tea. Just a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street station, the Magpie is where you can leave the bustle of the city in exchange for a cosy spot within minutes. If you enjoy cask ales and traditional, dark wood interiors, then this might be the place for you.

Named after a famous local landlady, Lady Abercorn’s Pub and Kitchen is a lively establishment serving up international dishes alongside traditional pub food. It’s not every day that you see seafood linguine next to bangers and mash on the menu, but at Lady Abercorn’s, this is the norm. Its menu caters for various dietary requirements, and the pulled-pork burger has gained a healthy reputation around town. This pub is a perfect balance between casual and gastro, and sports fans will be happy to hear that it has big screens to watch games.

Named after an infamously dirty local called Dick, Dirty Dicks is now a popular after-work hangout for bankers and city types. It has three floors of seating and an impressive selection of drinks, which include premium wines, draught pints and spirits. Rumour has it that Charles Dickens himself used to drink here and met Dirty Dick, who inspired his character Miss Havisham in Great Expectations (1861).

The “better half” of Covent Garden’s Mr Fogg’s Tavern, this bar is inspired by Mr Fogg’s Indian wife, Mrs Fogg, and caters for those who seek the quirkier side of Liverpool Street’s drinking establishments. Mrs Fogg’s has an Indian food menu, live music and an extensive bar full of international wines, beers, ciders and cocktails. Whether you want to visit on a date or with friends, its nautical-themed rooms will offer an interesting change of scenery if you are bored with traditional pubs.

Grapeshots lies on a quaint Victorian passage that was once the stomping ground for the infamous East London serial killer Jack the Ripper. As the name suggests, grapes are an important aspect at this bar, which offers wines from around the globe, along with a selection of premium gins and classic pub beverages. The knowledgeable staff are always happy to recommend a glass of wine to go with the seasonal food menu, so head here if a candlelit drink or dinner surrounded by wine artefacts sounds like your kind of thing.