London's 50 sunniest pubs and beer gardens for summer drinking

One of the best ways to make the most of London in the summer is to visit one of the capital’s many sun-kissed pubs, bars and beer gardens. But so many pubs in town weren’t built with sunshine in mind. They were built as post-work refuges, places for pints and pies, not long Sunday afternoons after some sort of brunch. To that end, it’s helpful to know where catches the sun.Below are 50 pubs well suited to summer drinking, at least according to the data from Andrew Wright and Kate Steel, who developed an app, Pubs in the Sun, which shows users which pub is best at any given time of day. With a canny algorithm, Wright has also charted which pubs get the most sunlight on average and noted the best times to visit for maximum tanning. Wright has decided not to list Wetherspoon pubs, but the only sunny one in the top 50 is the Liberty Bounds, in the City. We’ll see you out there for a cold pint in the hot sun. Central LondonThe Tamesis Dock on Albert EmbankmentDaniel LynchOyster ShedAverage sun: 91% Best sun times: noon-2pm Location: 1 Angel Lane, EC4R 3ABSweeping riverside pub with panoramic views over the river. Offers pints from Young’s brewery and classic seafood fare.Tamesis DockAverage sun: 90% Best sun times: 5-7pmLocation: Albert Embankment, SE1 7TYConverted 1930s Dutch barge permanently moored between Lambeth and Vauxhall Bridge with good pints, live music and calamari, burgers, and arancini.The GlobeAverage sun: 88% Best sun times: 12.45-2.45pm Location: 83 Moorgate, EC2M 6SAOld boozer for City workers with a decent selection of real ales, an extensive list of gins, and dishes such as fish and chips, burgers, and Caesar salad. Always busy in late afternoon, particularly towards the end of the week.The Butcher’s Hook & CleaverAverage sun: 84% Best sun times: 4.45-6.45pmLocation: 60-63 Smithfield, EC1A 9DYRight next to Smithfield Market, the pub is set within a former bank and an old butcher's shop and is decorated with frescoes and chandeliers. Not so much a place market traders drink, more visitors and local professionals.Marquess of AngleseyAverage sun: 84% Best sun times: 12.15-2.15pm Location: 39 Bow Street, WC2E 7AURight in the heart of Theatreland, this is a good pub for those who fancy a drink or two before a show. Always bustling and quite atmospheric.The FenceAverage sun: 84% Best sun times: 2.15-4.15pm67-69 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6BPA bar and dining space close to Smithfield Market and the famous British restaurant, St John. Not old school, but boasts a huge beer garden and lots of drinkable roses.The City PrideAverage sun: 83% Best sun times: 3-5pm Location: 28 Farringdon Lane, EC1R 3AUModern pub with jolly service, especially for its fairly transitory locale. Beers, wines and the like and more interesting thanks to a food menu of Neapolitan pizzas.The Duke of YorkAverage sun: 83% Best sun times: 3-5pm Location: 130-134 Victoria Street, SW1E 5LABit of a tricky pub, down to its location by Victoria station (hardly one of London’s hotspots). But for what’s around, it’s a very solid option. The Clerk & Well Average sun: 80% Best sun times: 2.45-4.45pm Location: 156 Clerkenwell Road, EC1R 5DUOne for food this, with its Sunday Roast particularly good. Nearby is Little Italy: visit Terroni’s. North London The Narrow Boat pubAssembly House Average sun: 93% Best sun times: 12.15-2.15pm Location: 292-294 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2TGBuzzing north London pub serving Kentish Town since the 1700s. Good atmosphere, live sport, lots of beers.The Lighterman Average sun: 93% Best sun times: noon-2pmLocation: 3 Granary Square, N1C 4BHA fabulous terrace here overlooking the canal and various King’s Cross goings on. Get in early for a space. Food and drink is fine.Three Crowns Average sun: 93% Best sun times: 12.30-2.30pmLocation: 175 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 0LHVery Stoke Newington: big windows, exposed brick, young and moneyed crowd. Good afternoon drinking spot and then gets rowdy in the evening thanks to DJs playing funk and soul. Narrowboat Average sun: 89% Best sun times: 12.15-2.15pm Location: 119 St Peter's Street, N1 8PZCalm pub with a village-like feel. Big sweeping windows, craft beers, old-time pub food and decent service. Best in the daytime. The Stag Belsize Park Average sun: 88% Best sun times: 4.15-6.15pmLocation: 67 Fleet Road, NW3 2QUUpmarket Victorian pub with a fancy clientele. Still family run and independent, with 24 beers on tap at any given time and popular roast dinners. The George and Monkey Average sun: 88% Best sun times: 2.30-4.30pm Location: 68 Amwell Street, EC1R 1UULovely spacious pub with craft beers, pizza, and loads of gins. Stunning floorboards and original features. The Beehive Average sun: 86% Best sun times: 12.30-2.30pm Location: Stoneleigh Road, N17 9JWBig, busy Tottenham pub with a huge beer garden, covered and open. A go-to for Spurs fans but don’t let that put you off.The ConstitutionAverage sun: 86% Best sun times: 2- 4pm Location: 42 St Pancras Way, NW1 0QTRefurbished not so long ago and so it feels fairly upscale for dirty old Camden. Has a roof terrace, perfect for sun, and lots of local beers.The TalbotAverage sun: 85% Best sun times: 12.15-2.15pmLocation: 109 Mortimer Road, N1 4JYLovely old Georgian pub with a decent set of dining rooms, one that rightly gets packed out. They also donate 50p from every pizza sold to Crisis, the homeless charity, which is an elegant move.The Thornhill Arms Average sun: 84% Best sun times: 2.15-4.15pmLocation: 148 Caledonian Road, N1 9RDReally, really beautiful pub, this, with what is likely to be the original Victorian bar. Proper pub service. Gets very busy after 5pm. East London The Lord Napier StarPress handoutThe Bell WalthamstowAverage sun: 90%Best sun times: 4.15-6.15pmLocation: 617 Forest Road, E17 4NENot the best looking pub by any means but a good laugh. Always a lively atmosphere, with games, cocktails, burgers and hot dogs.The Red LionAverage sun: 89%Best sun times: 1-3pmLocation: 640 High Road Leytonstone, E11 3AAProper old East London boozer. Beautiful inside and there’s often live music on. Big space outside.The EagleAverage sun: 88%Best sun times: 2.15-4.15pmLocation: 103 Wick Road, E9 5AE,Absolute diamond of an old school, no frills boozer. Pints for a fiver, darts board, pool table. Heaven. The European PubAverage sun: 86%Best sun times: noon-2pmLocation: 557-559 Lea Bridge Road, E10 7EQ, Bought by an independent pub group recently and relaunched as a pro-Europe establishment. French-inspired food and a big selection of European beers, weirdly. Nice crowd and a sizeable garden. Very few Reformers about. The Lord Napier StarAverage sun: 83%Best sun times: 3-5pmLocation: 25 White Post Lane, E9 5EREast London new-age boozer with lots of young graphic designers drinking pints and occasionally tequila soda. Outside space has scruffy walls, graffiti and fairy lights. You know? Go on a Monday for £6 margs, frankly. The North StarAverage sun: 82%Best sun times: 1.45-3.45pmLocation: 24 Browning Road, Bushwood, E11 3AROld school community pub with Thai food and pizza. Warm welcome, solid selection of beers and a good-sized garden. The Duke of WellingtonAverage sun: 82%Best sun times: 12.45-2.45pmLocation: 260 Haggerston Road, E8 4EPA classic English pub that faces onto a courtyard. Lovely for a sunny day.The Holly TreeAverage sun: 82%Best sun times: 1.15-2.15pmLocation: 141 Dames Road, E7 0DZGood old boozer, quite big and grand, with 25 beer lines. Usually dogs running about. People like the roasts.People's Park TavernAverage sun: 81%Best sun times: 1.15-3.15pmLocation: 360 Victoria Park Rd, E9 7BTReally lovely garden right next to Victoria Park. Often live music on. One for a long afternoon before shots and dancing.The Griffin Average sun: 81%Best sun times: 3.15-5.15pmLocation: 93 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RDLet’s call it as we see it: hot people drink in the Griffin. It’s a pub for hotties. There’s also an excellent hole-in-the-wall bar across the road, Found. South LondonThe beer garden at Selkirk selkirk The Selkirk SW17Average sun: 94%Best sun times: 3-5pmLocation: 60 Selkirk Rd, SW17 0ESGood looking corner pub in bustling Tooting. Loads of character and one of the better Sunday roast south of the river. The RamAverage sun: 94%Best sun times: noon-2pmLocation: 34 High Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1HLBig and lively boozer in Wandsworth, not the good side. A place for parties and conviviality. SkehansAverage sun: 91%Best sun times: 2.30- 4.30pm1 Kitto Road, SE14 5TWThe Pacific TavernAverage sun: 91%Best sun times: 5.15- 7.15pm100 Redriff Road, SE16 7LHSouth east London pub next to Surrey Quays and with a high-end vibe. More about cocktails and upmarket dining but there’s a late-night party vibe come evening, certainly at the weekend.King's ArmsAverage sun: 90%Best sun times: 2.30- 4.30pm94-96 Wandsworth High Street, SW18 4LBVery Wandsworth the good side. Cabanas out the back for spritzes and tanning. A Young’s pub for south west London. The Station Average sun: 89%Best sun times: 2.45- 4.45pm14 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5NBOnce a regular old railway pub, now more fancy with hotel rooms and a wine list. Pub food, beers and a strong back bar. Garden is more chilled and a good size. The Red Lion Average sun: 88%Best sun times: 3-5pmLocation: 2 Castelnau, SW13 9RUIf there’s a best Oxford v Cambridge boat race pub, this might be it. Honor OakAverage sun: 87%Best sun times: 2.45-4.45pm1 St German's Road, SE23 1RHTruly a pub for the real ones. Just a pub, basically. Always people in the garden with a pint or two. Piano in the corner for a little sing-song. Great chips.The SunAverage sun: 86%Best sun times: 3.30- 5.30pm47 Old Town, SW4 0JLSomewhere to sip spritzes among beautiful young people. Ideal for respite and refreshment after frivolity on Clapham Common.West LondonThe City Barge Thames riverside pub in ChiswickAlex Segre / Alamy Stock PhotoThe Blue AnchorAverage sun: 97%Best sun times: 1.15- 3.15pmLocation: 13 Lower Mall, W6 9DJOne for the sailors. Dark pub, plenty of maritime, Naval paraphernalia. Works well as it’s positioned on the river. Grand Junction ArmsAverage sun: 96%Best sun times: noon-2pmActon Lane, NW10 7ADOn the canal way out west. Lots of space outside, much of which overlooks the water. Can be lively.Defectors WeldAverage sun: 95%Best sun times: 4.15-6.15pm170 Uxbridge Road, W12 8AAA charming and comfortable upscale boozer with stripped floors, retro lampshades and a fairly elegant snug on the first floor for late nights. The terrace is a new addition post-renovation. Music and spirits and mixers later on.White CrossAverage sun: 94%Best sun times: 1.30- 3.30pmSurrey, Riverside House, Water Lane, TW9 1NRFamous riverside pub with a decking perched over the river. Countryside feel down in Richmond. A day trip sort of place, one for fish and chips and bottles of white wine.The City BargeAverage sun: 94%Best sun times: 3.45- 5.45pm27 Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, W4 3PH 14th century pub in Chiswick, the one with the terrace that floods. A must-visit in London, really.Rutland ArmsAverage sun: 93%Best sun times: 3.45-5.45pm15 Lower Mall, W6 9DJModern pub with prosecco and quail’s eggs. Lovely Victorian wooden bar and space outside overlooking the Thames. Well poured pints.Coach and Horses Average sun: 91%Best sun times: 2-4pm183 London Road, TW7 5BQTruly one of London’s best-looking pubs, a magnificent Georgian building half covered in ivy. Food to a decent standard, and a cracking beer garden. Popular with the locals. Barmy ArmsAverage sun: 88%Best sun times: noon-2pmThe Embankment, TW1 3DUHandsome, cosy pub with lots of live music. Fair priced wine list, too. The Bollo HouseAverage sun: 87%Best sun times: 12.15-2.15pm13 Bollo Lane, W4 5LRNeighbourhood pub that, in fairness, varies from year to year as landlords come and go. But there’s a lovely terrace, live music on Fridays and a quiz on Wednesdays. The Greyhound KewAverage sun: 87%Best sun times: 2-4pm82 Kew Green, TW9 3APFamily run gastropub not far from Kew Gardens... and Brentford football stadium. More formal inside, but outside is relaxed, with an outside bar doing lagers and Aperol spritzes.