Beer Gardens in London

With a spacious outdoor garden, cosy tea room and airy pub serving seasonal dishes, this southwest watering hole is a top destination all year round. From brunch to after-work drinks and everything in between, you won't need to go far for any occasion.

South London is definitely not short of great beer gardens, but the White Bear's garden certainly has to feature high on the list. Having been created in 1780, just as the British lost their grip on the American colonies, the venue is full of vintage antiques, and the walls are covered in grainy photographs and satirical newspaper cartoons. As you'd expect to find in a modern pub, the venue's chef plates up a range of traditional British recipes, including gravy drenched roast dinners and piping hot catch-of-the-day dishes. 

Big Chill in Camden is serving up all sorts of fun throughout the weekend. Located opposite King's Cross, the bar also has a lovely little beer garden, perfect for soaking up rays and working your way thorugh their extensive beer selection.

The Tankard has been around for more than 100 years and is steeped full of history. Its terrace was once used for punters to look into the Bethlem Insane Asylum; now it's got a much cheerier use - to soak up rays while enjoy views of the park.

Boasting one of the biggest beer gardens in Fulham, this popular bar's backyard is comfortable and covered making it a perfect drinking spot whatever the weather. Its interiors aren't too shabby either, with botanical and jungle motifs filling every corner of the pub. 

Set in a Georgian manor, Effra Social is a spacious and lively venue perfect for when you're looking to drink a pint outside. Head to there beer garden for craft beer and European small plates or get inside to listen to live music or take part in quiz nights.

A little slice of paradise in the heart of East London, Barrio Shoreditch is a taste of all things tropical without the daunting price tag. Toting the wares of South America meets the South Pacific and cavorting with all things colourful, this nugget is a den of cool benches, charming murals and cracking cocktails. 

With quirky wooden tiki huts, fire pits and fabulous menus, this Brixton pub easily boasts one of the best beer gardens in South London. A real sun trap, this gorgeous garden is perfect for soaking up some summer rays, or snuggling up by a fire in the colder months.

What with its spot in suburbia, it's no wonder that the Sun of Camberwell boasts one of the finest beer gardens in South London. Not only home to the humble Sunday roast and quiz nights, sunny afternoons with a pint or ale in hand at the ultimate must here.

Boasting a big gorgeous outdoor space, perfect for the summer months, this charming St John's pub can proudly lay claim to having one of the best beer gardens in London.

Sitting comfortably on Battersea Park Road, Lost & Co is a versatile restaurant and bar that's become a favourite amongst the locals in South London. Priding itself as something of a jack-of-all-trades, the venue serves Australian coffee in the morning in addition to the hand-crafted cocktails and ice-cold craft beers. Perfect for when the sun makes a rare appearance, the venue's pretty beer garden is capable of rivalling any in South London.

The Exhibit is an all-day drinking and eating hub full of friendly staff and great times – but they also have a killer of a beer garden too. Not only does it have its own balcony for al-fresco drinking – and the perfect spot for people watching – there's even a hidden terrace complete with plants and vibrant summer vibes. Grab a cocktail and you've basically escaped the smokey summer streets.

Lovingly known as Fulham's 'village pub', there's a comfortable and relaxed feel to The Rose. That's due in no small part to the beautiful garden, with its secluded areas, water feature and flowerbeds creating an ambience that always impresses. These guys fire up the BBQ come the warmer months and the garden is heated, which means you can enjoy something from their extensive menu of wines, premium spirits, cocktails and bottled beers no matter what time of year you're visiting.

The Four Thieves is a wonderfully special establishment, and a glorious place to spend lazy evenings. Let your night filter outside even on chilly winter nights, as charming covered areas, heaters and squishy seating makes the garden a very hospitable environment. In the summer, the scent of lavender will waft down from the roof, where it is growing in preparation for being distilled into gin. 

Set between railway arches, Night Tales might be one of the coolest places to grab a drink outside in the summer. From retro seating to roaring club nights, there's a happy blend of the casual and the party hearty.

Roehampton's King's Head boasts a serene garden space with lots of tables and plenty of cover for if the weather should turn, and it's just lovely. Get yourself out here with a chilled tray of drinks - the pub offers Young's ales, craft beers and a superb wine list - and don't lose faith if you've missed out, the floor-to-ceiling windows lets the light flood in to make it feel like you're pretty much outside anyway.

While you never may have thought it, Tooting harbours one of the best places to drink outside in London. Head on down to The Castle as their big garden not only provides a quaint British experience, there's real ale, bookable huts and British grub to boot. 

Family friendly and found on the streets of Richmond, The Rising Sun is giving you London beer garden bliss all round. Perfect to tide over both a balmy lunch and dinner, head on down to this casual spot where the young, old and everyone in between love to hang out.

With a great beer garden and cool craft beers to enjoy in it, this cool and quirky North London pub boasts some of the finest Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy decor in the city.

While a slinky little number with only a few tables outside, what sets the beer garden apart at The Lock Tavern in the location. Set alongside the canal and overlooking the famous Camden market, this is the perfect beer garden to get to know North London a little better. 

With a truly amazing outdoor seating area, this fun Wandsworth pub is certainly in the running for having one of the best beer gardens in South London. Guests can sit in tiki-inspired huts that get the sun in the summer months, and shield from the wind and rain during the winter.

As part of a group of beer and ale enthusiasts, Highbury's Brewhouse & Kitchen delivers a menu full of mouth-watering dishes alongside a selection of international and home-brewed craft beers. To soak up all the summer sunshine, their idyllic beer garden, decked out with rustic stools and barrels, offers guests the perfect, Vitamin D boosting spot to unwind in after a long day of work. 

The Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen boasts a beautiful outside space sitting in the shadows of the Shard, providing a fun oasis from the bustling streets. Meanwhile, you can indulge in a carefully curated cocktail menu as well as a delicious seasonal menu created from sustainable British ingredients.

One of the most historic and beautiful pubs in the whole of south London, The Devonshire's alfresco garden is spot on for a spot of summertime basking. Get yourself set up with something from their extensive range of ales, craft beers, spirits and wines then get out into the great outdoors as they fire up the BBQ.

There are beer gardens, and then there's The Ship. A family-friendly and locals favourite, The Ship not only has bars in the garden and British cuisine in the kitchen, this beer garden is set right by the water for summer vibes and then some.

A babe in Battersea, The Lighthouse is London's cutest beer garden. Perfect for drinks tucked away amongst the greenery, head on down for plates of pure British grub and some of the best pints of beer in the business at this hidden, London gem.

Community led and locally geared, Pop Brixton isn't just one of London's best beer gardens, they're pretty damn thoughtful too. Head on down to a cool and quirky space of shipping containers, flourishing garden spaces and lip-smacking street food.

You'd be hard pressed to find a more comfortable and jolly beer garden in London than Candlemaker's delight of an outside space! Split up into brightly clad booths; generously laden with foliage and fairy lights, this is the perfect place to enjoy a pint and something from the excellent menu. Get your brunch on, or sample their hearty menu full of British classics.

Noted for its neighrbourhood charm and intimate beer garden, this friendly local boozer in Crystal Palace is a perfect spot for sunny afternoons and warm evenings thanks to a sports-friendly atmosphere and light, summer gins.

Elegantly decorated and bursting full of colour, the beer garden at The Wood House offers Dulwich's residents a cosy spot to unwind and take in all that the summer has to offer. Complete with ping pong tables and beautifully crafted garden furniture, the real gems in this idyllic location are the brightly coloured huts. 

Fitting of its space on the Shoreditch scene, it's no wonder that Rolling Stock is a wonderland of art and debauchery. Not only boasting its own art gallery and a neat rotation of top DJ names, their beer garden is a corker of urban art, and outside bar, cutesy tables, industrial offsets and more in the heart of Kingsland Road. 

A restored Victorian pub in Notting Hill, The Union Tavern sure does spoil us Londoners with a beautiful canal-side garden. Watch the boats drift down the river on a sunny day while you choose from their wide selection of craft beers and wines. This pub features an electric mix of décor and has an outdoor screen for films too.

Reasons for visiting the WGT beer garden are three-fold. For starters, it's huge - so there's no need to worry about whether you'll get a spot, just head down in your own time and soak in the buzzing atmosphere. Secondly, it's an absolute suntrap, doused in glorious rays for a significant part of the day. Finally, it's got its own bar, so you can sun yourself without having to traipse back to queue for your next round inside. Result.

The spacious beer garden is the jewel in the Jam Tree Chelsea crown. With room to seat 60 and an overall capacity of 200, the garden also has its own dedicated outside bar and BBQ with a reputation for whipping up mouth-watering hog roasts, meat and fish. Dark clouds circling? No need to retreat inside just yet; the garden features considerable covering and the heated patio means you can stop by in winter too.

A trusty gastropub that's a huge hit with Winchmore Hill locals, The King's Head also features a gem of a decked beer garden. Pick up anything from a good range of ales, fine wines and refreshing beers from inside and make straight for this tranquil outside space; there's an all-day menu of fresh and ethically sourced food if you should fancy a bite to eat.

You might think of Cargo as a thriving clubbing destination first and foremost, but the venue also features an enormous decked beer garden and BBQ area just perfect for chilling in. Set yourself up with a chilled glass of wine or a crisp pint and prepare to wile away the hours at this top Shoreditch destination.

While the insides of the Park Tavern is beautiful – with it being a lovingly restored 19^th century pub – the outside is equally great to catch some rays while you drink one of their 50 craft beers, 100 spirits or eat some of their seasonal food.

If you're looking for a grand olde boozer with a bangin' beer garden then look no further than the Fentiman Arms. Known quaintly as the wild country beer garden, this Geronimo Inn boasts a hefty outdoor spec complete with summer BBQ set-up for those hot hazy days. 

One of the coolest spots for drinking outside in London, Roof East is bringing you the very best of the weather, in the heart of Stratford. From street food and rooftop cocktail bars to bowls and roller skating, this is a pure, summer haven in the city.

Can't have a brewpub without one hell of a beer garden can you? Welcome to Aeronaut, where traditional is not something they exploit. The circus is truly in town at this beer garden lined with stripy coloured booths paying homage to the hook-a-ducks, strong man and coconut shys of the circus trade. Retreat into one of these semi-private seating booths for cool beer under a warming heater. A cornucopia of vibrant colours and lots of character, Aeronaut is a fun-filled pub with beer garden to match.

With an enormous beer garden space that stretches out to meet the tip of Victoria Park, this is one of the best open-air drinking and dining spaces in East London. We'd heartily recommend popping over as soon as that sun pokes through the clouds, your reward comes in the form of BBQ'd treats and loads of chilled drinks.

Head east to find a quirky, laid-back and traditional boozer with bags of charm. The Birds in Leytonstone is a quirky and stylish spot that is inspired by Alfred Hitchcock; find craft beers, mismatched furniture and a quaint beer garden at this spot.