There are very few arts we Brits have mastered quite as successfully than that of ‘going down the pub’. Which I suppose isn’t wildly surprising considering the sheer number of them we have dotted across the country. But with the abundance of alehouses at our fingertips, it can be rather tricky knowing which of them to make a beeline for when you fancy a few pints and putting the world to rights. And so I guess it’s pretty darn handy that the beer-buffs over at the Good Food Guide (in partnership with Timothy Taylor’s Landlord) have done the hard work for us.
Having embarked upon the ultimate pub crawl for the second year running, the Good Food Guide has just released the 2026 iteration of its ‘Britain’s 100 Best Pubs’ list. A roll call of the most wonderful watering holes in the UK, the rather lengthy list features brilliant boozers from every corner of the country – raising a glass to the very best in the business.
14 lucky London locales managed to earn themselves a sought-after spot on the list. And it turns out that – according to the Good Food Guide – the second best pub in the entire country is here in London. The Cow in Notting Hill was hailed ‘an oldie but a goldie gastro-boozer’, securing its second place position with its timeless menu of pub grub, its lively and relaxed atmosphere, and its ‘jazzy mix of punters’, The Cow swung open its doors in 1995, and over 3 decades later it’s still going strong, continuing to serve up its signature speciality of Guinness, oysters, and the most immaculate of vibes. And we’ll most certainly drink to that.
The best pubs in London (according to the Good Food Guide):
- The Cow, Notting Hill
- The Kerfield Arms, Camberwell
- The Pelican, Notting Hill
- The Shaston Arms, Carnaby
- The Parakeet, Kentish Town
- The Waterman’s Arms, Barnes
- The Eagle, Clerkenwell
- The Latimer, Notting Hill
- The Hawthorn, Shepherd’s Bush
- Camberwell Arms, Camberwell
- The Canton Arms, Stockwell
- The Devonshire, Soho
- The Andover Arms, Hammersmith
- The Tamil Crown, Islington
Louise McLaughlin, marketing director at Timothy Taylor’s, said: “The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Pubs celebrates everything that’s great about the British pub: warm hospitality, quality food and drink, character, and a genuine connection to local communities. These are the kinds of pubs Timothy Taylor’s is proud to champion, and we’re delighted to help shine a light on the publicans, their teams, and the loyal regulars who keep this important part of our culture thriving. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners.”
📍You’ll find The Cow at 89 Westbourne Park Rd, W2 5QH.
🚇 The nearest stations are Royal Oak and Westbourne Park.
You can read the Good Food Guide’s full list of Britain’s best pubs for 2026 here.
