The best cheap pubs in London

Whether it’s the weekend before payday or you’ve been a little carefree with the contactless this month, not being able to afford the pub is a problem Londoners know all too well.

Even nipping for a casual drink after work can lead to racking up surprisingly hefty bar bills — the kind which leave you staring disbelievingly at your balance the next day, convinced the account must have been hacked.

Thankfully though, London is blessed with plenty of cheaper pubs which are perfect for socialising on a budget.

These are the best places in London to go for pints if you’re not feeling too flush.

The Chandos

This Sam Smith’s is sat on the corner of Trafalgar Square, so it's always a lively spot for after-work drinking. Things are a little quieter at the weekends, though, and the cosy booths by the stained glass windows are always nice spots to settle in for a beer or two. The comfy sofas upstairs are perfect for enjoying a few casual pints on lazy Sundays but whenever you go, it's always reliably cheap.

29 St Martin's Ln, WC2N 4ER

The Ledger Building

Wetherspoons in London are ten-a-penny but you’ll struggle to find a nicer one in the city than the Ledger Building. The grand setting is at odds with the drink prices, which are exceptionally cheap (as you’d expect from one of JD’s fine institutions). Canary Wharf isn’t blessed with many budget options, so this affordable spots is always worth bearing in mind.

4 Hertsmere Rd, Canary Wharf, E14 4AL, jdwetherspoon.com

Old Coffee House

This Beak Street boozer is a fantastic option for craft ale fans on a budget. The drink selection at this loveable old Soho drinking spot is far more diverse than your standard cheap boozer and the natty interior and relaxed atmosphere makes for a nice setting. It’s an opportunity to discover the excellent Brodie’s cask ale and other unusual selections while taking it easy on the wallet.

49 Beak St, Soho, W1F 9S

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

Fleet Street’s Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is arguably the best Sam Smith’s pub in London and one of the oldest drinking establishments in the city. The historic pub is full of character and the spacious downstairs is good for bigger groups. Whether you’re supping the lip-smacking Taddy Lager, the Old Brewery Bitter or the 2.8% Alpine if you’re taking things steady, the Olde Cheshire Cheese it’s a great place to drink affordable beer in London.

145 Fleet St, EC4A 2BU

The Knights Templar

The Knights Templar is a gem of a Wetherspoons, based out of the former Union Bank on Chancery Lane. The vast interiors are amongst the most aesthetically pleasing you’ll find in chain pubs in London and the typically cheap drinks always go down easy. If only all Wetherspoons were as impressive.

95 Chancery Ln, WC2A 1DT, jdwetherspoon.com

The Coach and Horses

Soho has changed a great deal over the past few decades but Greek Street institution the Coach and Horses remains a consistently great place to drink. The pub has a proud history amongst London’s journalists and acting community and it’s still one of the best places for a good old fashioned knees up on piano sing-along nights too. The pub became London’s first exclusively vegetarian pub in 2012 but the venue’s attitudes towards affordable drink remains unchanged.

29 Greek St, Soho, W1D 5DH, coachsoho.co.uk

The Nag's Head

Islington’s Nag’s Head is a quirky north London boozer perfect for a few cheap pints after work or lazy weekend drinking. The pub also boats great offers throughout the week, including two bottles of craft beer for £7 on Sundays and 2-for-1 pizzas on Thursdays. Celiacs are well catered for too, with a sizeable gluten-free food menu.

12 Upper St, N1 0PQ, craft-pubs.co.uk

The William Webb Ellis

Rugby lovers in the capital will be familiar with the William Webb Ellis pub, which is a brisk walk away from Twickenham stadium. The pub is named after the founder of the game and marks one of the best pre-match spots to enjoy a cheap beer or two. You’ll have to beat the scrum at the bar on game days but when the prices are this good it’s well worth it.

24 London Rd, Twickenham TW1 3RR, jdwetherspoon.com

The Commercial Tavern

Quirky Shoreditch corner pub the Commercial Tavern is blessed with real character and a generously priced bar menu. Punters can grab a pizza and a pint for under a tenner here, which is good value for London in anyone’s books. Make sure to set up camp in the charmingly shabby upstairs space for a relaxed drink if you can.

142-144 Commercial St, E1 6NU, www.commercial-tavern.com

The French House

This Dean Street institution is steeped in history, with Charles de Gaulle having used the Soho venue as an office during the second world war and the likes of Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Dylan Thomas frequenting the pub down the years. The French famously only serves beer in half pints apart from on April 1, but whatever day of the year it is the character and well priced drinks make this place a must-visit. You can forget about taking a few pictures for Instagram here though — the pub has a strict no-phones policy.

49 Dean St, Soho, W1D 5BG, frenchhousesoho.com

The Pride of Spitalfields

Few pubs in E1 feel as worn-in and loved as the Pride of Spitalfields on Heneage St. It’s an unpretentious drinking space serving an affordable and well-maintained selection of beers, supped by a local crowd. There’s a piano in the corner which has played host to countless knees-ups in its time too.

3 Heneage St, London E1 5LJ

The Angel

The Angel is a Sam Smith’s overlooking the river, offering fantastic views and dependably good cheap beer. The balcony is a nice spot to gather on warmer evenings, while the cosy ground floor bar is welcoming all year round. If you’re after a waterside view with affordable drinks, you can do a great deal worse than this Bermondsey spot.

101 Bermondsey Wall E, SE16 4NB

Priory Arms

Stockwell's Priory Arms is serious about craft ale and you’ll find a fantastic selection of well kept beers here all at a decent price. Its location in quiet Lansdowne Way, a short walk from Stockwell tube station, means you’ll find a local but friendly crowd here. The characterful downstairs bar is plastered with beer mats and pub paraphernalia while the comfortable upstairs lounge is well worth seeking out too.

83 Lansdowne Way, SW8 2PB, theprioryarms.com

The Blackbird

Fuller’s Pubs are better value than most and the Blackbird is one of the nicer boozers in Earls Court. The corner pub offers a wide selection of cask ales and continental lagers, plus an affordable food menu.

209 Earls Ct Rd, Earls Court, SW5 9AN, blackbirdearlscourt.co.uk

The Cock Tavern

Howling Hops microbrewery operate out of The Cock Tavern on Mare St, which features 24 independent beers. The friendly, informed staff are more than happy to talk punters through the cask selection, making this a great place to try out new ales. The shabby-chic decor is about as unfussy and old school as it comes but the great drinks selection and the prices speak for themselves.

315 Mare St, E8 1EJ