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Top 5: London pubs to embrace the autumn

By Octopus
Related Categories: Cookbook Confidential
Getty Images/Flash Parker
  1. The Holly Bush, Hampstead: If you ask most Londoners for their top pubs, The Holly Bush is likely to be high on their list. This charming local in the heart of Hampstead forms a welcoming home for those looking to escape the autumn chill. If you’re looking for a traditional English pub experience, you can’t beat this wonderful establishment.
  2. The Pineapple, Kentish Town: One of the most popular pubs in Kentish Town, The Pineapple oozes history in its weathered bar which stands proudly unmodernised in this cosy nook. Threatened in 2002 to be turned into flats, a local campaign not only saved the institution but also succeeded in having it listed by English Heritage.
  3. The Dove, Hammersmith: Perfect for both a drink in the sunshine enjoying the heat of summer or tucked up by the roaring fire in autumn, The Dove is a well-established drinking spot which has been serving Londoners since the 17th century with visitors including Charles II and Elizabeth Taylor.
  4. The Salisbury, Harringay: You can’t miss The Salisbury Hotel’s striking French Renaissance exterior of red brick and stone dressings and its interior does not disappoint either. This huge space invites both sociable drinkers and those looking for a cosy retreat in one of the fireside armchairs. Amidst the taxidermy cases and ornate decor, it’s a pleasure to enjoy a drink without the usual jostling experience.
  5. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street: Destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was resurrected from the ashes to become one of London’s most popular and also darkest pubs due to its lack of natural light. Ideal for escaping Fleet Street’s busy thoroughfare, visitors follow an illustrious literary community including Oliver Goldsmith, Mark Twain, Alfred Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton, P. G. Wodehouse, Dr. Johnson and Charles Dickens.