Padraig
Well-Known Member
He’s got the beard. Just needs the beer gut and the sandals to fit right in.
I will be in London for a few days in May before heading to Belgium. First time in London, so very excited. A few questions for the locals and those who have been before:
I’ll be staying in Bayswater. Are there any recommended pubs, restaurants, or bars in the area? I checked the map on the first page and didnt see anything on it.
Since I’ll be taking the Eurostar, would it be recommended to take the Tube from Paddington to St Pancras or will the transfers make it unpleasant with luggage (and thus not worth it?) I figure a cab would be easier but certainly more expensive (thinking like $20?)
Anything else someone who’s never been to London should know? I know to look the opposite way I would normally look when crossing the street, always queue, and stand on the left when on the escalator, anything else?
I would just take the Tube. Depending on which station you are near you might be able to get to St Pancras without having to transfer. I'm kinda cheap so I didn't might carrying luggage.
I was in London last year and stayed in Paddington so I was pretty close to where you are staying. Not a whole lot beer wise in the area, but we went to a pub called the "Monkey Puzzle" a couple of times and enjoyed it quite a bit. Nothing special beer wise, but the people that ran the place were super friendly.
Recommend uber (est. £10) to kings cross or bus from that area. Beer wise in the local vicinity I'd recommend the mall tavern. They are on untappd so you can see what they have but be fair warned prices are higher than what you'd be used to paying in the US. Many other places though throughout the city.I will be in London for a few days in May before heading to Belgium. First time in London, so very excited. A few questions for the locals and those who have been before:
I’ll be staying in Bayswater. Are there any recommended pubs, restaurants, or bars in the area? I checked the map on the first page and didnt see anything on it.
Since I’ll be taking the Eurostar, would it be recommended to take the Tube from Paddington to St Pancras or will the transfers make it unpleasant with luggage (and thus not worth it?) I figure a cab would be easier but certainly more expensive (thinking like $20?)
Anything else someone who’s never been to London should know? I know to look the opposite way I would normally look when crossing the street, always queue, and stand on the left when on the escalator, anything else?
Recommend uber (est. £10) to kings cross or bus from that area. Beer wise in the local vicinity I'd recommend the mall tavern. They are on untappd so you can see what they have but be fair warned prices are higher than what you'd be used to paying in the US. Many other places though throughout the city.
If you want to meet up for a drink or open a few bottles let me know. Also happy to pass along other recommendations.
Is there anywhere in London where you can find vintages of Old Chimneys Good King Henry Special Reserve (any vintage will do)? Will be in London in 2 weeks and would like to try it. Cheers.
Wow thank you!
10 pounds for uber seems reasonable since I wont be traveling alone. Its not too much more than taking the tube at that price.
I appreciate the recommendations! Mall tavern looks to be fairly close to where im staying so I will have to drop in. Pretty much everything in London is more expensive than what i'd pay for it in the US so that is to be expected.
If my partner is game to meet up with a TBer I will certainly reach out.
If you’re going to be in Kings Cross would suggest checking out Spiritland. It’s a ridiculously high end audiophile bar in the Japanese style. They had Cloudwater on last time I was there. Near’ish to the Queen’s Head which is a great little pub.
1) https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunners/wiki/faq#wiki_1._where_can_i_buy_tickets.3FWill be traveling to London from Brussels on 5/4 after Quintessence and some tourism in Belgium. Me, wife, and two kids (3 and 6).
Beer related question is: anything new that is must-see? I reviewed the older points in the thread and found some things that still look useful, but I imagine there's some new stuff to see at this point too?
A couple non-beer related Qs if anyone cares to offer an opinion:
(1) I'm an Arsenal fan and would like to try to take at least my 6 year old daughter to the Arsenal v. Burnely game @ the Emirates while I'm in town. Any good secondary market options for tickets? Could I reasonably wait to get tickets until I get there? Seems like this is a good year for it since there won't be anything being played for at that point.
(2) Staying at an AirBNB in Brussels. Have had a couple folks suggest we not do that in London because of something along the lines of "you need to book everything in London, and hotels can help you with booking." We don't have any firm plans just yet, but I'm sure we'll do some of the major tourist stuff it being our first time and being there with kids, we won't be able to get too adventurous. Anyone support/contest this idea? Anyone stay in AirBNB in London before with positive/negative experience?
1) https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunners/wiki/faq#wiki_1._where_can_i_buy_tickets.3F
2) I've used Airbnb in London with absolutely no issues. What type of stuff are you looking to book? Most things can be found online these days.
Perfect – even with the caveat of having been away for a couple years, this is exactly the kind of information I’m looking for. Thanks so much!Central London bars don’t typically have seating at the bar so it’s more a case of standing there. Also the good ones tend to be pretty busy so talking at the bar isn’t really a thing. It’s different in the suburbs and quieter neighborhoods. Having said that places like Craft Beer Co. in Farringdon have banks of seating around the wall and small high tables where it’s very easy to get talking to people around you. It’s a definite beer nerd hangout. Would also suggest The Harp near Trafalgar Square. It’s an exceptional cask beer pub, like seriously I’ve had some transcendental experiences in there drinking stuff like Dark Star - Hophead and Crouch Vale - Brewer’s Gold. The Rake in Borough Market is another tiny pub that always has good stuff on and it’s quite jovial. There are other newer nerd hang outs like Beer Merchants Tap are worth checking (they are Cantillon’s uk distributor).
I can’t think of much to recommend around Hyde Park. All the good stuff is out East or south of the river. Maybe jump on the Victoria Line and head down to The Cask in Pimlico. My knowledge is all 2 years out of date though and stuff moves there pretty fast there these days.
Feel free to hit me up before you visit would be happy to meet up for a drink or can share recommendations for places to visit. A decent place in West London is The Mall Tavern.Hello! I’ll be in London for a few days mid-November – haven’t booked a hotel yet but probably staying nearish to Hyde Park. I’m the kind of person who prefers to go to places that are quiet and not too busy so that I can sit at the bar top and just talk idly with the bartender, especially if they’re also kind of a beer dork. As I’ll be traveling solo on this trip, that preference is doubly so (I don’t want to just have my nose buried in my phone the entire time). Any recommendations for places that fit that bill?
Heh, I’ve been really busy the past few weeks (launching a new website for my company) and so I’m massively behind on planning my trip – haven’t even booked any hotels yet. After my trip I’ll be sure to send you my spreadsheet though and thoughts!I just got plane tickets for six days in London this March. Right now I’m looking to stay around Shoreditch. I found a Premier Lodge for about $80/night which is relatively cheap and has great reviews right by the City and Shoreditch. Now I’m researching pubs. I’m curious as to what cask ales are well-regarded nowadays. I think we’ll also take a day trip to York. I wonder if Sage has a bunch of spreadsheets?!
Heh, I’ve been really busy the past few weeks (launching a new website for my company) and so I’m massively behind on planning my trip – haven’t even booked any hotels yet. After my trip I’ll be sure to send you my spreadsheet though and thoughts!
Unfortunately I had to cancel my trip at the eleventh hour due to a serious infection (I’m fine now, but I would’ve been out-of-my-mind miserable if I had gone). FWIW, here are the items that were on my list, but un-ranked and obviously I have no constructive feedback about any of them at the moment:Also interested. Heading there early December and have done almost zero research. Kinda trying to go in blind, but I know I'm gonna want resources/recs once I'm there.
Unfortunately I had to cancel my trip at the eleventh hour due to a serious infection (I’m fine now, but I would’ve been out-of-my-mind miserable if I had gone). FWIW, here are the items that were on my list, but un-ranked and obviously I have no constructive feedback about any of them at the moment:
- Grant Museum of Zoology
- Natural History Museum
- Greenwich Foot Tunnel
- Museum of Brands
- Stonehenge/Windsor/Bath
- London Transport Museum
- London Eye
- Museum of Water & Steam
- Gloucester Tube Station
- The Craft Beer Co. Clerkenwell
- The Harp
- Holborn Whippet
- Dishoom King’s Cross
- Dishoom Shoreditch
- Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
- Euston Tap
- The Rake
- Beer Merchants Tap
- Cask Pub & Kitchen
- The Mall Tavern
- Anspach & Hobday
- Brew by Numbers
For well-regarded cask ale, go for the venue first and foremost - you can't go wrong with The Harp, for example, and it helps that their selection is usually second-to-none. Alongside the usual suspects like Fullers, Thornbridge, Dark Star etc, Burning Sky's cask is typically very good, although very different from their bottles - Plateau and Aurora are both excellent.
I just got plane tickets for six days in London this March. Right now I’m looking to stay around Shoreditch. I found a Premier Lodge for about $80/night which is relatively cheap and has great reviews right by the City and Shoreditch. Now I’m researching pubs. I’m curious as to what cask ales are well-regarded nowadays. I think we’ll also take a day trip to York. I wonder if Sage has a bunch of spreadsheets?!
Brewdog in Tower Hill looks like it might be worth checking out if you're in the area.
Tough one as I have not really drank in Liverpool in 15 years, a lot has changed.If you could go to one pub/craft bar in London and one pub/craft bar in Liverpool, what would they be? Making a quick trip for the Chelsea v Liverpool match in a couple weeks.
Biggest thing it looks like it's missing is that Cloudwater, who kick all kinds of ass, now have a taproom in London:Heading over in March, anyone know if the first post is up-to-date-ish?
Have done the walk from Tower Bridge to the taproom a handful of times, always on a weeknight, and Bermondsey is relatively dead which could be great or not - depending on your preferences. Have stopped into Hawkes cider for some cider and pizza there coming home from Cloudwater as well. Not bad if you don’t have anything else going on!Biggest thing it looks like it's missing is that Cloudwater, who kick all kinds of ass, now have a taproom in London:
https://cloudwaterbrew.co/location-enid-st
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