The 13 Best Pubs Near Tower Bridge (2023) – Ranked!

It’s often said that to truly experience London, one must venture into its pubs. Nestled among the iconic landmarks and bustling streets of London, the capital’s pubs stand as timeless sentinels, echoing tales of yore and offering solace to weary travelers.

As you sip on a classic British ale, you’re not just tasting a brew; you’re partaking in a tradition that spans centuries. Pubs near Tower Bridge perfectly encapsulate this sentiment, harmoniously melding the city’s rich history with its contemporary spirit.

Among these, the best pubs near Tower Bridge hold a special place; not only do they boast of an enviable view of this world-renowned structure, but they also immerse visitors in an ambiance that’s unmistakably British.

For anyone looking to experience London in its most authentic form, remember, the heart of the city might just be found in the warm, wood-panelled interiors of its famed pubs. So, as the locals would say, “Pull up a pew and have a brew!”

The Best Pubs near Tower Bridge – Ranked!

There are a lot of lists of the “best” pubs near Tower Bridge out there, and most of them have some sort of black box way of deciding what to include and in what order. I prefer to be transparent in how I rank the things I recommend on this site, so below you’ll find a table with scores for each pub; here’s how I came up with those numbers:

• I selected only those pubs that are located within the generally agreed bounds of the Tower Bridge area (13 in all)
• I ranked all of the pubs by rating and number of reviews on Google reviews
• I then combined those scores with the proportion of reviews each pub received to come up with a score (out of 5) for each pub
• I ranked the pubs by score, and broke ties by the number of reviews (at the time of reviewing the data)

Also, I included only pubs with a rating of 4.0 or higher, to ensure I was only including those pubs which are truly good. Given all that, here are the best pubs near Tower Bridge:

Below, you’ll find more about each of these top 5 Tower Bridge pubs, plus shorter descriptions of the other 13 that I reviewed for this post.

1. The Dickens Inn

Photos courtesy of The Dickens Inn

The Dickens Inn first welcomed customers for a tipple way back in the 18^th Century when it was converted from a humble tea factory to a bustling tavern frequented by the hard-working locals of Tower Hamlets and Southwark. The popularity of this charming inn grew as the years passed and in 1976 it was officially re-opened by the grandson of Charles Dickens!

Today a stop at The Dickens Inn promises you a nice honest pint, fabulous pub food, and the friendliest of welcomes. As popular with tourists as it is with the locals, the kitchen here serves the very best of British fare using seasonal ingredients and keeping the menu reassuringly classic.

2. The Liberty Bounds

Photos courtesy of The Liberty Bounds

It is easy to see how The Liberty Bounds earned its reputation as one of the best pubs near Tower Bridge. It is a large establishment set over multiple levels of a grand and imposing building, very close to the Tower of London. It is located just outside the boundary line of the area, or liberty, governed by the City of London, hence its name.

The Liberty Bounds is a Wetherspoons pub and serves an impressive variety of beverages and pub grub. Of the two available seating levels, the upper floor is a more laid-back lounge area, accessed via a grand and imposing staircase. The lower floor is a livelier affair and somewhere city workers love to meet up for after-work drinks to unwind.

3. The Horniman at Hays

Photos courtesy of The Horniman at Hays via Instagram

Once a humble tea warehouse, The Horniman at Hays is today a breathtaking, Insta-worthy building boasting superb views of the Thames. The interior is a feast for the eyes with a magnificent staircase taking center stage, plus elegant marble countertops, and highly polished furniture.

This pub is truly unique in its aesthetic and a memorable place to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat when visiting the area of Tower Bridge. In fact, the kitchen at The Horniman at Hays is the winner of multiple awards including gold at the British Pie Awards – now that is quite an accolade!

4. The Minories

Photos courtesy of The Minories

Considered by many locals to be one of the best pubs near Tower Bridge, The Minories keeps things very traditional, offering visitors a truly authentic British pub experience. (It’s actually well-known enough that LOMM founder Valerie enjoyed a pint here on her very first trip to London in 2011!)

Located just a short walk from many of London’s top attractions it is ideally positioned for sight-seeing tourists to pop in for a refreshing pint, a glass of wine, and a bit of pub grub! Keeping in line with its traditional British Pub reputation

The Minories shows all major sporting events on huge TV screens both inside and out in the heated beer garden too. Authentic British cuisine is served daily alongside a great variety of beers and wine.

5. The Pommeler’s Rest

Photos courtesy of The Pommeler’s Rest

The Pommerler’s Rest, located on the south bank of the River Thames, is a Wetherspoons establishment and one of the more modest Tower Bridge pubs. Comforting in its simplicity this no-frills place is popular with local, city workers and tourists looking for a reasonably priced pint.

Fascinatingly, the name of the pub derives from the local area’s age-old connection to the leather trade. A pommeler is a leather worker. You can order lunch or dinner here, choosing from an unadorned menu offering all the traditional British meals you would expect. You can also expect a variety of beers, wines, and spirits as well as over 100 guest ales making an appearance throughout the year.

Other Great Pubs near Tower Bridge

Photos courtesy of The Hung, Drawn and Quartered

In addition to the best pubs near Tower Bridge mentioned above, there are lots of other pubs in the area; here’s a quick list of them plus what makes each one special. If you’re staying in the Tower Bridge area, you might try more than one; if you only have time for one though – use the top list!

1. The Hung, Drawn and Quartered – Despite its rather morbid name The Hung, Drawn and Quartered is a bustling and lively pub that serves freshly made meals, the finest of ales and is proudly sporting a sparkly new refurb!
2. Tower Bridge Arms – The Tower Bridge Arms enjoys an enviable position, just to the south of Tower Bridge itself. Here you will find a friendly, wholesome atmosphere, great quality pub grub and an impressive variety of beers, wines, and cocktails.
3. The Kings Arms – The Kings Arms is a small but mighty pub that is proud of all it has to offer. From good honest homemade food to its award-winning ales and bitters and super friendly welcome, it should definitely be on your list of best pubs near Tower Bridge.
4. Dean Swift Pub – Considered by many as a hidden gem in the Tower Bridge area, largely due to it being somewhat tucked away, the Dean Swift Pub guarantees you a warm welcome, delicious British fare, and an impressive selection of regularly changing ales.
5. Anchor Tap –  If it is a true British pub experience that you are looking for then a visit to the Anchor Tap should satisfy you! A traditional inn with a beer garden, saloon bar, and a snug. The Anchor Tap is renowned for its very reasonable prices, regular pub quizzes, and darts competitions.
6. The Vault 1894 – Offering fabulous views of the River Thames, the Tower of London and Canary Wharf, The Vault 1894 is a pub that features an intimate space ideal for drinks or a light meal with friends.
7. The Two Bridges – One of the more traditional of the Tower Bridge pubs, The Two Bridges is a modern space with a comfortable vibe. You can choose from a wide range of beers, ciders and wines and the kitchen serves a great variety of meals including vegetarian and vegan options.
8. The Raven Tower Bridge – The Raven is a modern pub that specializes in craft beers which encourages people from all over to visit. Whilst “researching” the craft beers you can also enjoy some freshly prepared food from the kitchen!

Have any questions about these best pubs near Tower Bridge, or which one to visit? Let me know in the comments below!