You certainly don’t need us piping up to tell you that boozing in London rarely comes in at the budget-friendly end of things. If you’ve ever found yourself at the bar, grimacing as you tap your card for the third time, losing the last of your hard-earned coins to a watered-down pint, this list is dedicated to you. We’ve been busy tracking down the best places to get cheap drinks in London, from budget cocktails to banging happy hours, and we’d love to get you involved.
Last updated on 1st June 2023
Dirty Martini's collection of cocktail bars offer a stylish and chic option to get stuck into some serious cocktails. Pick out your most convenient basement haunt and revel in a sophisicated ambience without emptying your pockets - happy hours run every day until at least 8pm.
Did someone say £2.50 beers, bottles of wine for a tenner and signature teapot cocktails for just £15 a go? Meet Simmons and their extensive happy hour. Aside from offering superb value, this is also a super-kitsch, super-cute spot to kick back and relax, too. With venues across the capital, all you have to do is find your nearest venue.
For a slice of Scandinavia without the extortionate prices, get down to the Nordic Bar in Fitzrovia. This central London bar offers a wide selection of traditional drinks without the price tag. With a different happy hour each day of the week and 2 for 1 cocktails to satisfy your thirsty Thursday, The Nordic is the sensible choice if you're looking for an awesome time at little expense.
£2 pints of excellent quality beer - yep, you heard that right as Tank and Paddle host a range of deals throughout the week. The venue serves Meantime beer fresh from their tanks, there's a huge range of craft bottles and cans, and prosecco starts from £5.50.
Bringing you one of the most bustling clubs vibes in town, Ruby Blue goes through the gears every night, offering the West End's party-lovers a spot to dance the night away. The happy hour in operation between 5pm and 8pm, Sunday to Friday, draws in the crowds, and the idyllic terrace area boasts stunning view of the never-sleeping Leicester square below.
Thirst, a highly recommended Soho bar, offers up a relaxing home to sip on cocktails during the STUPID hour, 5-7:30pm, with great half price drink deals on the impressive cocktail list. From your all-time favourites to funky concoctions that are yet to pass those lips, tuck into fruity flavours and smoky scents alike.
This late night party hub in the centre of town is not only a great place to get down to the latest chart bangers until the early morning, it's also a great place for your bank balance! Enjoy their daily happy hour deals that run Monday - Thursday until midnight with 50% off drinks!
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Don't listen to the nay-sayers, a cheap night out in Covent Garden is possible if you're planning on partying at with the folks at Be At One. Located a stone's throw from the piazza, this atmospheric basement bar offers 2-4-1 drink deals every day from 4.30pm alongside an infectious feel-good atmosphere.
We'd heartily recommend checking out this Latina party den anyway, but their Amigo Hour deals make it impossible to overlook if you're hoping for a night out that doesn't break the bank. Running throughout the week from 4 until 8pm (7pm on Friday and Saturday), get your thirsty lips around £5 cocktails and £3 bottled beers, with a fiver off on bottles of wine.
Always great for a night on the town in Covent Garden, Blame Gloria is fun, buzzing and most importantly... pocket friendly. With drinks deals that vary throughout the week, you'll always be able to find something affordable if you're having to budget, and you'll often find that the party style hubbub is priceless too.
Found in Shoreditch and sporting a regular roster of students and student inspired nights, Big Chill bar know a thing or two about keeping their drinks prices low in London. head on over for a no holds barred night of partying in the city with this laid-back favourite in tow.
As one of South London's most popular live music venues, the Clapham Grand is well-known on the city's nightlife scene for its fun-loving vibes and opulent decor. To sweeten the deal, guests can enjoy great deals on drinks all night long, and free bubbly if your birthday lands on a Saturday.
Putney's three-floored cocktail joint Tequila Mockingbird serves up bargain bevs every night of the week. Head down and enjoy 2-4-1 cocktails, £3 bottles of Peroni or £3 glasses of wine from 5pm 'til 9pm everyday. They've also got a spot in Wimbledon that promises equally great drinks deals along with DJ sets come the weekend.
Head down to Patch St. Paul's Monday to Friday between 4pm and 7pm to take advantage of the spectacular Happy Hour specials. There's great deals to be had on cocktails, wines, prosecco, beers and platters - our favourites are 50% off all bottles of wine, spirits, 2-4-1 cocktails, as well as a bucket of 5 beers for £15.
You can't say fairer than Zebrano's happy hour discounts. They're in the business for slashing 50% off their fantastic cocktails, and bring selected beers and wines to the counter for just £2.95 a go. For Soho, these prices are pretty much peerless. Best of all? Happy Hours run every day of the week.
When you're looking for cheap drinks in London, you can't go wrong with an Irish bar. Specifically, you can't go wrong with McGettigans, who offer up a delicious array of Irish drinks and food for cheap prices. And while you're there, why not catch a game on the screens, or maybe some live music?
Happy Hour runs late at Lizard Lounge where you can sample some of their fantastic cocktail at a two-for-one price every single day until 10pm.
As a watering hole favoured by the bohemian set, this Fitzrovia boozer has seen the likes of Dylan Thomas, George Orwell and Quentin Crisp through its doors. With a charming interior, central location and an incredible selection of reasonably priced food and drink, The Wheatsheaf is perfect for a West End tipple.
Known for throwing some of the best student nights in London, Hashtag Parties are bringing you evenings dedicated to chatting, dancing and cheap drinks. Taking over some of the capital's most iconic clubbing spots, they're making sure your post-lockdown antics stay affordable.
If you're in need of a Monday pick-me-up, this is just the bar for you. Enjoy cheap drinks ay The Exhibit as they're offering a 2-4-1 cocktail special, with regular bottomless brunches, surf 'n' turf meal deals and plenty more to explore throughout the week.
Pinching the pennies? Aren't we all. But if you're looking for a place to have a bargain bev, we know just the place. The Castle Farringdon boasts cool yet cosy decor, as well as an ample selection of wines, beers and cocktails for your drinking pleasure.
We know that happy hour should be every day... and so does PINCH. This stunning bar with Ukrainian heritage is serving thirsty folk 2 for 1 cocktails between 4pm and 6pm. What's on offer you ask? Think a Kava Martini with rum, caramel, Baileys, Khalua and espresso.
FAM Bar is treating cocktail fanatics to a happy hour every day of the week at its best-loved venue. Head to this Duke Street location between 4pm and 6pm for two for £12 cocktails, £5 draft beer and £15 bottles of wine. Sign us up.
Located on the ever-popular Henrietta Street, Mrs Riot is a fabulously vibrant, quirky place to wet your whistle. Even better? It hosts a happy hour four days a week, with 2-4-1 cocktails available between 4pm and 6pm, Tuesday to Friday.
Nestled beneath Flour & Grape on Bermondsey Street, Two One Four is a slinky, speakeasy-style bar that's paying tribute to one of the world's most iconic spirits - gin. Discover over 100 different bottles of the stuff, with £6 signature cocktails and £5 double G&Ts every day between 5pm and 6pm.
Over at Four Quarters Peckham, you can enjoy purse-friendly prices, with house creation cocktails at just £7.50 a pop, as well as two for £13. While you sip your tasty drinks, play a range of retro arcade games from the 70s all the way to the 2000s.
The Cocktail Club boasts cool, quirky bars all across London. Head on over for a wild night out in unique surrounds, sipping an epic lineup of cocktails. They also hold regular happy hours, with 2-4-1 offers on all drinks every day between 4pm and 7pm.
Head to Lost Souls Pizza on a Wednesday for 2 for 1 pizzas and happy hour all night long. However, to get the deal, you'll need to find the secret password on their Instagram page and whisper it to your server - it changes every week, shushhh.
Ping Pong's 'don't give a shiitake happy hour' happens every weekday from 3pm to 6pm, offering up half-price drinks and dim sum. You'll be tucking into selected cocktails and dishes for an affordable, tasty meal.
SW16 Bar & Kitchen in Streatham offers 2 for 1 cocktails from 5 to 7pm every day. That means cantaloupe sours, margaritas and passionfruit martinis to wash down a menu of handcrafted pasta or burrata.
For those of you seeking wallet-friendly sips in Camden, check out Indian Alley. Fronting sultry interiors and happy hours that run from Thursday to Monday, this venue knows how to keep thirsty folk satisfied. If you're feeling peckish, there are also meal deals available.
When it comes to booze deals, you can always rely on Ballie Ballerson in Shoreditch. Located on Curtain Road, this top-notch venue has wallet-friendly deals on Tuesdays. Think 2 for 1 on cocktails (including nostalgic serves) and tasty slices of pizza.
Situated in Knightsbridge, Mina's is a top-notch location for pretty interiors and wallet-friendly serves. If you head in from Monday to Friday (between 4pm and 7pm), you'll be able to take advantage of its drinks deal, with lip-smackin' pours from £9 accompanied by nibbles.
When it comes to wallet-friendly pints, cocktails and other concoctions, Queen's Head Hammersmith is a firm choice. Venture inside this dog-friendly joint, where you'll be met with traditional rustic interiors, plenty of cosy corners and an epic beer garden to enjoy your drinks.
After budget-friendly sips in the city? All About Eve in Camden has just what you need. This popular cocktail bar is whipping up plenty of reduced cocktails between Sunday and Thursday at the happy hour. And the price? Two for £14. Booyah.
With four bustling bars and clubs up for grabs at this epic event, London Party Pub Crawl are a must-visit for nights out. Expect everything from a free shot upon entry to chart-topping tunes and cool hosts to keep the vibes going until the early hours.
Craving a bunch of bargain bevvies? Then get on down to Topolski, the quirky, art-adorned bar found in South Bank. It rustles up happy hour tipples every day from 4pm to 8pm, with pints of craft beer available for £5 and discounted house cocktails.
Fancy a few drinks without breaking the bank? Aren't we all? Enjoy getting stuck into G&Ts for £4.50 on Thursdays or bottles of wine for less than £20. If that wasn't enough, the joint has a Noughties Happy Hour featuring beer, cider, cocktails for just £3.
