Ah, mulled wine… It’s warming, it’s spicy, it’s alcoholic (but not too alcoholic) and therefore, it’s our new best friend in this gloomy wintry weather. Plus, it’s certain to bring the Christmassy vibes. If, like us, you’ve been searching for the best in our city – look no further. Here are the best spots for mulling over a glass of mulled wine this winter:
1. The Mini Mulled Wine Trail
To celebrate the opening of the new wine bar, Quill, in Borough Market, three wine spots in London have joined forces on a mini mulled wine trail. Guests can grab a tankard and a pour of mulled wine before exploring London and stopping off for more mulled wine along the way. Honestly, we can’t think of a better way to see the city than with a mulled wine in hand!
Oh, and don’t worry – it’s a mini trail. It’s not the mulled wines that are mini! PHEW. But don’t leave it too late to check out the trail, it’s only running until December 22.
📍 Find out more about the mulled wine trail here.
🚇 The nearest stations are Covent Garden and London Bridge.
🕰️ Runs on Fridays and Saturdays (12-8pm), and Sundays (12-6pm), until December 22.
2. The Winter Warmer Festival, Covent Garden
Covent Garden understands the importance of mulled wine – and, yes, other winter warmers too – such that they’re celebrating with a whole festival of warming winter beverages. There are all sorts of mulled wine options available around the area. Check out the Mulled Wine Cart inside the Market Building, or head to Petersham Wine Bar and Deli or Ladurée to try their mulled wines.
But there are MANY more spots also serving up mulled wine – so go for a wander and see how many you can find. (And while you’re there, don’t miss Miracle at Henrietta’s stunning festive cocktails.
📍 Find out more about the Winter Warmer Festival here.
🚇 The nearest station is Covent Garden.
🕰️ The Winter Warmer Festival is running from November 12 – December 1.
3. Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch
This legendary East London establishment is just as famous for its downstairs dancefloor as its rooftop garden, which gets a seasonal makeover each witner. This year, visitors to their Queens Starry Night rooftop can enjoy a host of food and drinks – including (obviously) mulled wine and winter cider. If you’re feeling cheeky, make it extra boozy with a shot of liquor!
📍 1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
4. Gordon’s Wine Bar, Charing Cross
For a proper slice of history with your mulled wine, head to Gordon’s Wine Bar. This cosy, candlelit subterranean spot is London’s oldest wine bar and it’s absolutely steeped in history. The wine bar is over 130 years old, but the venue dates all the way back to the 1300s! Suffice it to say, they’ve got some hefty knowledge and experience, so you can expect some truly delicious mulled wine here. They’ve served it intermittently over past years – but we’ve got our fingers crossed they’ll bring the delicious warming drink back to the menu for winter this year, too!
📍 47 Villiers Street, WC2N 6NE.
🚇 Nearest stations are Embankment and Charing Cross.
5. The Spaniard’s Inn, Hampstead
This 16th-century, wood-panelled boozer overlooks the rolling green hills of the beautiful Hampstead Heath. It’s renowned for being the spot where Byron, Keats, and even Charles Dickens used to hang out. It also achieved notoriety as the supposed birthplace and favoured haunt of highwayman Dick Turpin. Rumour has it that it is haunted by more than a few ghosts, ghouls and spectres. Could it get any more A Christmas Carol? They also do a mean mulled wine and a whole host of festive food to boot. So go on then, take a pew by the roaring fire and settle down for the evening.
📍 Spaniards Road, London, NW3 7JJ.
🚇 Nearest stations are Hampstead and Golders Green.
6. Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich
Constructed on the site of the Old George Inn in 1837 – the year that Queen Victoria ascended to the throne – this beautiful Greenwich-based spot is packed full of history and offers some of the best views of the Thames anywhere in London. It was a common meeting spot for politicians, and featured in Charles Dickens’ (yep, him again) novel Our Mutual Friend. Aside from all that naval history, they also do a great mulled wine that goes perfectly with those panoramic views. Cheers!
📍 Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NW.
🚇 Nearest stations are Maze Hill and the Cutty Sark DLR.
7. Mr Fogg’s Tavern, Covent Garden
Situated right in the heart of ‘Theatreland’, this eccentric spot is inspired by the story of Phileas Fogg – from the Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days. With its wood panelling, traditional decor and plethora of artefacts and antiquities dotting the walls, it oozes a Victorian ambience and can’t help but transport you back to the 1870s. Come Christmas time, it’s decked out in all manner of decorations and twinkling lights, and the combined aroma of mulled wine and pine hits you as soon as you step through the pub’s double doors. We’ll take three please!
📍 58 St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4EA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
8. The Thirsty Farrier, Southbank
This pop-up riverside bar has somehow been granted one of the very best spots along the Thames on the South Bank. Drinkers can sip on delicious concoctions as they marvel at stunning views of London and the Thames – in particular nearby Big Ben. And since it’s winter, you know they’re serving up plenty of mulled wine to enjoy in their covered drinking area. Psst… They also have a mulled negroni!
📍 Queen’s Walk – GV4J+2F, SE1 7PB.
🚇 Nearest stations are Waterloo and Embankment.
9. Tamesis Dock, Vauxhall
Moored between Lambeth and Vauxhall Bridge, this converted 1930s Dutch barge-turned-pub has just about everything you might need for just about any occasion. Gigs, comedy nights, brunch – you name it, it’s here! Plus, they do a mean mulled wine here during the winter months. What better way to soak up the views of the Houses of Parliament than grabbing a mug of the stuff here?!
📍 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TY.
🚇 Nearest station is Vauxhall.
10. Market Halls, various locations
As the long nights draw in, Market Halls’ street food vendors love to get in on the Christmassy spirit. They transform the space and debut limited-edition menu items to tickle our tastebuds with festive cheer. New dishes include everything from a Mince Pie Milkshake to Sushi Santa, Truffle Brie Buttermilk Chicken Tacos, and a Reindeer Cheesecake Slice. Oh, and of course there are plenty of seasonal cocktails as well. Yes, including mulled wine!
📍 Find your nearest Market Halls venue here.
11. The Pineapple, Kentish Town
Anyone who tries to tell you that Camden has lost its soul, and no longer has any good pubs, is boring and simply doesn’t know what they’re talking about. One prime example of Camden’s many criminally overlooked pubs is The Pineapple. This boozer merges old and new world beer drinkers and punters seamlessly, with a stonking beer selection and lashings of personality. They’ve also just relaunched their mulled wine for the season – happy days are here again!
📍 51 Leverton Street, NW5 2NX.
🚇 Nearest station is Tufnell Park.
12. Christmas at Kew, Kew Gardens
Christmas at Kew was the first light trail of its kind across the UK when it started back in 2013. But they haven’t faded out at all. Instead, they’ve gone from strength to strength as one of the most beautiful, captivating experiences in the UK. And given how low the temperatures can drop, they know visitors will need some warming fare. So scattered along the light trail you’ll find plenty of vendors doling out mulled wine – as well as other warming food and drink.
📍 RBG Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE.
🚇 Nearest station is Kew Gardens.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best places to get mulled wine in London. Given how cold it’s gotten, what more could you want?