Alfresco Drinking In London

A Hammersmith hottie with the back garden to boot, not only is The Eagle an absolute treasure when it comes to their gastro grub offering, alfresco drinks in London have a neat contender on their hands. From cutesy bunting and shed-shaped booths, to beanbags and grassy knolls, this sweet garden is a sight to see. 

This cheery beer garden doesn't need the sun to shine to make it smile. Bright yellow cladding surrounds comfy booths, heaters warm happy boozers and fairy lights cast a flattering glow. Potter inside and peruse the stylish 1960s décor and vibrant artworks, and make sure you check in with their programme of fun events.

Looking for a pre-National Theatre pitstop? Look no further than The Green Room, the stunning glass-walled bar and restaurant that sits in the heart of Southbank. Grab a table in the light-flooded dining room or head outside for cocktails and canapes on the lawn. 

Boasting one of London's prettiest outdoor terraces, this canalside haunt is the only place to sun yourself this summer. Grab a cocktail oFf their impressive list, and head for these nearest sofa where you can sip away to your heart's content with stunning views of the water.

Take your drinks outside with a visit to one of Vagabond's various terraces. From a stunning fairy-lit snug in Battersea through to street-side wining and dining in Fulham, you're guaranteed quality menus in gorgeous settings.

A greenhouse-style bar, Corney & Barrow Exchange Square is the perfect place to be in the summer months. With a croquet pitch and outside seating, it is made for alfresco drinking and chatting in the sunshine. Ideal for some after-work drinks or a long, relaxing lunch, you'll find them serving up the wine that it's known for, alongside cocktails and pints aplenty.

Regularly playing host to amazing live music from both bands and DJs, The Lock Tavern has become a part of nightlife folklore in these parts. Alfresco drinking seekers have been enjoying the cosy garden for years with its thick beamed wooden canopy wrapped in ivy keeping you dry through those typical English summers.

Overlooking Notting Hill from the banks of Little Venice, Skylark really is a unique rooftop drinking den in London. If you're a sucker for cocktails, this all-new bar concept will provide the perfect setting for after-work tipples and date nights alike. 

Looking for the best places in London to drink outside? This gorgeous rooftop bar in Paddington is well up there. Fronting foliage-decked trellises and quality cocktails, Pergola is the drinking and dining destination you won't want to miss this summer.

Alfresco drinking doesn't just mean standing out in the rain by yourself for a smoke, it means embracing a love of nature and the great outdoors. People's Park Tavern has a beer garden which creates a sense of love for our British environment, with its views of Victoria Park and constant influx of happy smiling sun-revellers. There isn't anywhere better to drink alfresco in East London. 

One of the best bars in Peckham, this unique foliage-covered courtyard is an excellent option if you're looking for affordable cocktails, street food and live music. Stop by for their daily happy hour to take full advantage of some cheap drinks in a pretty space.

A lush lavender-toting garden in the heart of Battersea, The Four Thieves are coming up trumps when it comes to scoping out alfresco drinking spots in London. From their green hue and tinkering of fair lights, to craft beers and home-made gin, The Four Thieves is a good ol' dose of something different. 

If it's dreamy burgers and delicious pub grub that you're after, look no further than this East End boozer. Burgers come in all sorts of ways; from vegan to veggie and meat, while Sunday roasts stacks come in hot at affordable prices, washed down with oodles of craft beer.

Camden's Prince Albert offers one of the areas best alfresco drinking experiences. Quality battered cod and chips comes on wooden serving boards with a refreshing slice of lemon on the side. Or if it's just the refreshing part you're after, then its very popular beer garden is a haven for a zingy tipple.

Colourful, creative and cultural, Barrio Shoreditch brings an exotic twist to East London with its quirky outdoor terrace. Spend your summer months in its kitsch but cool garden area as you absorb the chilled-out, Cuban quality of life. Cocktail heavy, revel in the fragrant fruit juices or sup at some cold beers.

Vinoteca is a King's Cross restaurant bar offering handpicked bottles from across the globe and an all-day menu of top-quality eats. Topping it off, the alfresco area offers comfortable and casual seating in a prime location for London's after-work drinking crowd. 

Most venues close to the stunning Battersea Park are playing for second place when it comes to outdoor space, but not The Prince Albert. This gem of a gastropub features an award-winning terrace, which becomes a popular grazing spot for SW11's after-work crowd when the sun is out.

Set within the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, The Old Brewery is a unique and historic pub located just yards away from the legendary Cutty Sark. An ideal spot to sample London-brewed craft beers and a healthy range of distilled spirits, there's a relaxed outdoor terrace with plenty of room for when the sun makes an appearance.

This Spanish restaurant and bar brings you small plates, tasty mains and delicious wine in the heart of the City. Head out to their alfresco terrace in the summer and lose an evening in the company of good friends, and a few bottles of fine wine.

Specialising in sublime Japanese dishes alongside carefully crafted cocktails, Aqua Kyoto is one of London's most exciting drinking and dining destinations. That's not all though as the rooftop retreat has a stunning outdoor space that's ideal for alfresco sips in summer months.

A Grade II listed early 19th century building, The Gun is an excellent pub sitting on the banks of the Thames. With amazing views of the river and the O2, this charming boozer with let you enjoy their great riverside terrace, alongside a seasonal British menu and some exquisite drink options to accompany it. 

You can't get much more alfresco than on a boat, surely? Bar&Co is permanently moored a stone's throw from Temple Station, sitting on the iconic River Thames. With views looking out on the OXO Tower, the London Eye and Big Ben, this wondrous vessel is ideal for an after-work tipple, full on party night or private function. 

Whether it's a special occasion or just some after work drinks, there's nothing like a great view to take your night from humdrum to oh, honey. Head over to Limehouse where The Narrow's alfresco terrace is the perfect place to pitch up for a pint or a few crafty cocktails while you watch the sun set over the river.

While many may think that Jugged Hare barely has any space outside at all, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find the plot that they're boasting across the road. With a whole area dedicated to drinks and summertime fun, hop across the street and take to a cutesy space of plotted tables, plants and more.

Tear yourself away from Flight Club's cool third instalment for a sunny outside terrace in the heart of Victoria. A circus-themed dream of festoon lighting and tasty frozen cocktails, you'll be able to hide away amongst the surrounding building between rounds of high-tech, high-octane darts.

Sitting at the base of the gherkin, it's highly unlikely that you'll find as iconic an alfresco space in London as this. With London's most recognised building looming over guests in the sunshine, The Sterling is just that, a truly sterling plot. From its grand selection of tables and notably large space, parties are ever hankering to get their mitts on it.

One of the best outdoor drinking spots in London, the German Kraft Brewery is an Elephant & Castle gem. Head over to Mercato Metropolitano where you'll fine them serving up fresh pints of authentic German beer within a huge, sprawling garden.

There's so much going on at The Star of Kings it can be tricky to keep up. Offering a completely different dining experience every three months, fronting an entertainment schedule brimming with live music and DJs yet retaining the good old-fashioned feel of a solid pub, The Star completes its impressive résumé with a lovely alfresco area.

Cool, casual and cosy, The Castle's beaut of a rooftop terrace helps it to stand out from its Pentonville Road neighbours. Get yourself up here for some pub grub and a few drinks, with a delicious open-air vantage point over Islington, and plenty of heaters to keep you toasty in the evening.

One Fitzrovia's favourite party spots, Simmons is a corker of kitsch cocktails, darling interiors and top notch antics to boot. While heralded for their decor, the Fitroy Street bar also boasts a wee selection of alfresco seats for outdoor supping. With its fake grass and white picket fence, it's a cute ol' place to grab a cocktail or three. 

The Dog & Fox's inviting alfresco space is one of the best beer gardens in Wimbledon. The front garden fills up quickly at the first sight of sunshine, as drinkers and diners flock to this Wimbledon Village hub to enjoy quintessential British food and a vast array of boozy favourites in sunny style. There's also a roofed hotel garden available come rain or shine.

Home to a pretty and expansive outdoor terrace, this excellent bar and restaurant offers a premium selection of sippable cocktails and tasty dishes. Head over to New Street Square, or their Bankside location, when the sun is high and bed down with an Aperol spritz in one hand and a plateful of bar snacks in the other.

Opening just in time for summer, Paper Dress Yard is a shiny new al fresco drinking spot in the heart of Hackney. Part of the stylish vintage boutique of the same name, this outdoor space will boast live DJs, tasty tipples and table service throughout - making social distancing that little bit easier.

The hip and trendy Shoreditch venue that is Queen of Hoxton boasts a remarkable open top terrace that's always a big hit amongst patrons and visitors alike. Coming with its own bar, garden, kitchen and BBQ, it's a truly ideal spot for alfresco drinking, especially during summer nights.

West End on the Thames is all about “the sun above, the water beneath and 360 degree panoramic views of London.” Perfect for office summer parties of anywhere between 2 and 500, head out onto the spacious rooftop and enjoy celebrations featuring Pimm's, BBQ and amazing views, with DJs and dancing to follow.

A pedigree destination in the heart of Liverpool Street, Devonshire Terrace is an outdoor space in London with plenty of architectural cool on its side. An embedded plot of bespoke tables and darling foliage, grab a glass of champers and relax on one of its two terrace areas.

Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, The Hari Hotel is home to a gorgeous rooftop terrace, decked out with lush green botanicals and twinkling fairy lights. The perfect luxe spot for a tipple or two under the stars or drawn-out lunches, it's a must-visit spot.

Rocket can do almost anything; if there isn't a drink you like on the menu, the staff are happy to concoct a new creation for you. Better yet, you can soak up 360-degree views of the 02 Arena and the West India Quay docks as you sip.

Rooftop gardens in London get everyone going wild come summer, and it's no exception when it comes to this corker in Farringdon. With a hot-to-trot plant-laced roof terrace, guests at Bird Of Smithfield can tuck into a top selection of drinks while getting a good old fashioned dose of Vitamin D.

Kitted out with mismatched furniture, snug sofas and an airy ambience, this neighbourhood gastropub also features a courtyard for sunny season drinking and dining. Freshly prepared British grub is on the menu, washed down with a whole catalogue of wines, ales and craft beers. Bliss.

Sat high above Waterloo, this hidden rooftop bar is bring you island paradise vibes complete with sunny colours, panoramic views and a menu of over 20 different cocktails. Sunning sessions here include drink like Aperol Spritz, Frose and Havana rum slushies laced packed with fruit and heavily laced with the hard stuff. 

Shoreditch sunshine is starting to peek through the clouds and it's time to take advantage of those oh so tasty beer gardens. Cargo with its outdoor parasols, impressive wall art and urban graffiti make for a wonderfully wacky feel, encapsulating that typically quirky East London atmosphere.

With an outdoor terrace that overlooks Regents Canal, Smith's Bar and Grill is the perfect place to go for a quick cocktail or spot of lunch. If the weather turns, don't worry - they have an indoor table tennis area.

Soak up the sun as you sip on margaritas, rhubarb bellinis and coconut mojitos at No.35 Mackenzie Walk. A top spot for after-work cocktails in Canary Wharf, the bar and restaurant also has a beautiful waterside terrace for those after some truly classy alfresco drinks.