London doesn’t just have pubs-it has a craft beer revolution that’s been brewing for over a decade. Walk into any neighborhood after dark and you’ll find hop-forward IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, and sour ales poured by people who actually care about the brew. This isn’t the same London where you used to choose between lager and bitter. The city’s nightlife now thrives on flavor, experimentation, and community. If you’re looking for real craft beer experiences-not just branded taps in a tourist trap-here’s where to go.
The Ten Bells: Where History Meets Hops
Don’t let the name fool you. The Ten Bells in Spitalfields isn’t just a historic pub where Jack the Ripper’s victims once drank. It’s now one of London’s most respected craft beer destinations. The keg fridge here holds 12 rotating taps, mostly from independent UK brewers like Brew By Numbers and Kernel Brewery. Their barrel-aged sour red ale, aged in ex-wine barrels, has won regional awards. Locals come here after work for a pint and a chat, not for the decor. The staff know the origin of every batch and can tell you which brewery uses wild yeast from Kent orchards. It’s quiet, unpretentious, and the only place in the East End where you’ll hear someone debate the merits of a Brettanomyces fermentation over a game of darts.
The Cambridge Blue: The Underground Hub
Tucked under the railway arches near King’s Cross, The Cambridge Blue is the kind of place you’d miss if you weren’t looking. No signs. No neon. Just a small door with a chalkboard listing tonight’s taps. Inside, it’s packed with brewers, brewers’ mates, and serious beer nerds. They host weekly tap takeovers where a single brewery controls all eight taps for the night. In June 2025, BrewDog’s experimental team poured a 14% ABV imperial stout infused with black garlic and smoked sea salt. The crowd? Mostly under 35, dressed in jeans and hoodies, no suits. This isn’t a bar-it’s a lab. You’ll find brewers from Belgium and Japan swapping notes here. If you want to taste what’s next in craft beer, this is where you’ll find it first.
Beavertown Brewery & Bar: The Big Player That Still Feels Local
Beavertown’s original brewery and bar in Tottenham is the closest thing London has to a craft beer temple. Opened in 2014, it now serves over 30 beers on tap, including their own signature Neck Oil IPA and seasonal releases like the Smoky Maple Porter. The taproom has a warehouse vibe-concrete floors, exposed pipes, and a giant beer garden with fire pits. But what sets it apart is the tasting flights. For £12, you get six 1/3-pint pours of their latest experiments. One night, you might try a lager brewed with English hops and fermented with sake yeast. The next, a hazy pale ale with passionfruit and lime. They also host live music on weekends and free brewery tours at 7 PM daily. You don’t need to be a connoisseur. You just need to be curious.
The Hop & Grape: A Hidden Gem in Peckham
Peckham has become London’s most underrated beer neighborhood, and The Hop & Grape is its crown jewel. The owner, a former brewer from Brighton, opened this spot in 2022 after working for seven years at a microbrewery in Oregon. The menu changes weekly. Right now, they’ve got a dry-hopped saison from a small farm brewery in Dorset, a raspberry kettle sour from Manchester, and a barrel-aged barleywine from a brewery in Wales that only sells 500 bottles a year. The food? Simple-cheese boards, charcuterie, and toasted sourdough with salted butter. No burgers. No fries. Just beer and good company. It’s the kind of place where you’ll end up talking to a stranger who just flew in from Berlin to taste their new collaboration with a Berliner weisse maker. The vibe is warm, slow, and deeply local.
Brasserie of Light: For the Beer Purist
If you think craft beer should be clean, crisp, and precise, Brasserie of Light is your spot. Located in a converted 19th-century printing press in Shoreditch, this place is run by a former head brewer from the Czech Republic. He insists on traditional lager methods: 45-day cold fermentation, natural carbonation, and zero filtration. Their flagship lager, called ‘Pivo’, has a 4.8% ABV and a minerality that comes from water drawn from a deep aquifer beneath the Thames. It’s not flashy. No fruit additions. No crazy adjuncts. Just perfect pilsner. They serve it in thick-walled glasses chilled to exactly 4°C. The bar doesn’t take reservations. You show up, order, and wait. But if you’ve ever tasted a truly authentic European lager, you’ll understand why people line up here. It’s the anti-trend. And it’s brilliant.
Beer & Bites: The Best for Groups
Trying to get a group of friends together for a night out? Beer & Bites in Camden is the answer. It’s a sprawling, industrial-chic space with 40 taps, a full kitchen, and a private tasting room you can book for £50. They’ve got a rotating selection from over 120 UK and international breweries. One week, you might find a New England IPA from Vermont. The next, a Belgian tripel from a monastery in Flanders. The staff are trained to help you pick based on your mood-whether you want something fruity, bitter, sour, or smoky. Their beer flight sampler lets you try four different styles without committing to a full pint. They also host monthly blind tasting challenges where you guess the brewery and style. Winners get a free growler. It’s fun, social, and perfect if you’re not sure what you like yet.
What Makes a Great Craft Beer Bar in London?
Not every pub with a few ‘craft’ labels qualifies. The best ones share three things: rotation, knowledge, and passion. Rotation means they change their taps at least twice a week. Knowledge means the staff can explain what makes a hop variety like Citra different from Mosaic. Passion means they’ll pour you a free sample if you’re unsure. Avoid places that list the same five beers every month. If you see ‘IPA’ on the menu without a brewery name, walk out. Real craft beer isn’t a category-it’s a story. And the best bars in London tell that story with every pour.
When to Go and What to Order
Weeknights are quieter and better for tasting. Weekends are loud and crowded. If you want to chat with the brewer, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Most breweries release new batches on Thursdays, so Friday nights are the busiest. For your first pint, try a session IPA-lower alcohol, high flavor. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask for a sour beer with fruit. They’re surprisingly drinkable. Avoid anything labeled ‘limited edition’ unless you know the brewery. Many are just marketing gimmicks. Stick to names you’ve heard from locals or seen on the tap list for more than a week.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Night
- Use the Beer Buddy app-it maps real-time tap lists across 80+ London venues.
- Ask for a ‘taster flight’ before committing to a pint.
- Don’t be afraid to ask, ‘What’s new this week?’
- Bring cash. Many small bars don’t take cards.
- Arrive before 9 PM if you want a seat. Popular spots fill up fast.
What to Skip
Steer clear of ‘craft beer’ bars in tourist zones like Leicester Square or Covent Garden. They’re often owned by big chains and serve the same six beers year-round. If the menu has a ‘craft beer flight’ with names like ‘Hazy Hype’ or ‘Hop Explosion’, it’s probably not real. Also avoid places that charge £12 for a pint of something you can get for £6 in a local brewery taproom. Craft beer isn’t about price-it’s about authenticity.
Final Tip: Talk to the Staff
The best craft beer bars in London aren’t about the logo on the glass. They’re about the person pouring it. Ask them what they’re drinking at home. Ask them what they’re excited about next month. Most will tell you. And if they do, you’ve found your new favorite spot.
What’s the best time to visit London for craft beer?
Late summer to early autumn (August to October) is ideal. That’s when most breweries release their seasonal batches-harvest IPAs, pumpkin ales, and oak-aged stouts. Many also host beer festivals during this period, like the London Craft Beer Festival at the Old Truman Brewery. But any time of year works if you know where to go. The top bars rotate their taps weekly, so there’s always something new.
Can I visit these places if I’m not a beer expert?
Absolutely. The best craft beer bars in London welcome newcomers. Staff are trained to help you find something you’ll like, whether you prefer sweet, sour, bitter, or light. Start with a flight of four small pours. That way, you can taste a variety without committing to a full pint. Many places even offer non-alcoholic craft beers these days.
Are these bars expensive?
Prices range from £5 to £8 for a pint, which is standard for quality craft beer in London. You’ll pay more at tourist spots, but the places listed here are fairly priced for what you get-fresh, small-batch beer made by local brewers. A flight of four 1/3-pint samples usually costs £10-14. That’s cheaper than a cocktail and gives you more variety.
Do I need to book a table?
Most don’t take reservations, especially the smaller ones like The Cambridge Blue or The Hop & Grape. Just show up. Larger venues like Beavertown and Beer & Bites accept bookings for groups of six or more. For solo visitors or small groups, walk-ins are the norm. Arrive before 8:30 PM on weekends to avoid waiting.
Is there a dress code?
No. Most places are casual-jeans, t-shirts, sneakers. You won’t see suits or ties. Even Brasserie of Light, the most refined spot here, doesn’t enforce a dress code. The focus is on the beer, not the outfit.
Next Steps: Explore Beyond the Bar
After your night out, consider visiting a brewery tour the next day. Kernel Brewery and Brew By Numbers offer free 45-minute tours with tastings. Or pick up a growler to take home-many bars sell them filled with your favorite beer. If you’re staying longer, check out the London Beer Walk, a self-guided route through 10 craft beer spots in Southwark. It’s free, easy to follow, and takes about three hours. The best part? You get to taste the city, one pint at a time.
