The Best Sports Bars in London

A Shoreditch pub that has built one of the best sports viewing setups in East London: eight screens across two floors, a dedicated viewing room for Premier League fixtures that books up two weeks ahead for north London derbies, and a draft list that covers both the predictable and the interesting. The ground floor stays open to walk-ins on most Saturdays; the upper viewing room is reservation only. Arrive early or go elsewhere.

Order: A pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord or the guest craft keg — both reliable choices

Covent Garden means tourists, but the Kings Head has managed to maintain a local regular clientele alongside the match-day visitors by keeping standards up and prices honest. The beer garden opens early for Sunday fixtures, the kitchen runs until 10pm, and the sports coverage is comprehensive: Premier League, Championship, Champions League, internationals, and a full American sports package for the expat crowd. One of the more reliable all-rounders in central London.

Order: The London Pride on cask and the chips with gravy — both done properly

The after-work sports bar option in Canary Wharf that actually delivers. Pitch & Pint fills up fast after 5pm on match days with the finance and professional crowd, but the team have managed the capacity well — the bar is larger than it looks from the entrance, with a second floor that opens for big fixtures. The beer selection is curated rather than comprehensive: twelve taps, all well-chosen, with a rotating craft option that changes monthly.

Order: The rotating East London craft keg and the classic beef brisket bap

The best American football bar in London by a considerable margin. NFL Sunday Ticket covers every game simultaneously, and the bar staff understand the timezones well enough to have built a kitchen menu that runs through the night — because the late games finish at 4am London time and these regulars stay for all of them. The American craft beer selection is the best in the city, with rotating imports from the US sourced through a specialist importer. Membership available for reserved seating.

Order: An American craft import and the smash burger — the kitchen is open until 4am on NFL nights

On match days at Twickenham, The Scrum Room is where the serious rugby supporters end up before and after the game. The management have been hosting England match days for twenty-two years, which means the logistics are handled with genuine proficiency: the queue moves, the pints are poured fast, and the post-match analysis on the screens is worth staying for. The food is honest pub fare done well — pasties, pies, and sandwiches that hold up under the pressure of a 600-person crowd.

Order: A pint of the house ale and a steak pie — rugby match day classics, both executed correctly

Two minutes from Lord's Cricket Ground, The Cricket Arm has been the pre- and post-match destination for Test cricket supporters for as long as anyone can remember. The walls are covered in signed memorabilia going back decades, the beer garden catches afternoon sun through most of the English summer, and the screens inside carry every major cricket broadcast from around the world. The staff can tell you which seat in the pub has the best viewing angle for each screen. They have thought about this.

Order: A Pimm's on a sunny day or a proper bitter when the English weather reasserts itself

A Southwark sports bar that has built its identity around the midweek experience rather than competing for the weekend crowd. The design — low ceilings, corner tables, screens positioned for viewing rather than aesthetics — is built for people who want to watch a football match after work without having to fight for a sightline. Happy hour runs until 7pm on weekdays. The Bermondsey local ales are rotated monthly and consistently good.

Order: The happy hour pint and whatever the rotating Bermondsey local ale is this month

A Clerkenwell pub that has invested in its sports viewing setup without sacrificing the things that make a good pub good. The cask selection covers four London ales on rotation, the cocktail menu is short but honest, and the kitchen produces food that is worth eating rather than just filling a gap. The viewing setup covers all major European football competitions, with American sports packages available on request. Best Tuesday through Thursday when the midweek crowd is focused and the service is fast.

Order: The house pale ale on cask and the fish finger sandwich — a Clerkenwell classic

A Marylebone sports bar with a particular focus on European football beyond the Premier League — La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and the Eredivisie all get coverage here, which sets it apart from most competitors in central London. The crowd is knowledgeable and international, and the bar staff have been here long enough to know which regular supports which team. The terrace on the upper floor is open from April through September and is worth reserving in advance for summer European competition.

Order: Whatever Spanish or German import lager they have on — they source specifically for the European football audience