Best Cheap Bars in London: Great Drinks on a Budget
SR
Sofia Reeves
9 min read
London has always been expensive to drink in, but the best cheap bars in London have never been harder to find than right now. Pints have crossed the five-pound mark across most of Zone 1. The good news: south and east London are holding the line. We found 10 places where the drinks are genuinely good, the prices are genuinely honest, and the atmosphere does not ask you to perform for an Instagram story.
The Best Cheap Bars in South London
South London, specifically Peckham, Brixton, and Bermondsey, remains London's best territory for affordable drinking with actual character. These are the spots we return to when the budget is real and the thirst is also real.
01
The Crofton Arms
Peckham$Pub / Local
A proper Peckham local with beers that haven't been priced for Soho. The Crofton Arms runs two real ales alongside the usual lager taps, and the outdoor covered area out back is one of the better covered beer gardens in SE15. Locals have been drinking here for a decade and the prices reflect that loyalty. Wednesday and Thursday evenings are when it is at its best: settled, convivial, unhurried.
Order: Whatever the guest cask ale is that week
02
Brixton Tap House
Brixton$Craft / Casual
Just off Coldharbour Lane, the Brixton Tap House pours local and regional craft beers at prices that compete with any chain pub. The space is narrow but the tap list is 12 strong and rotates weekly. No cocktail menu, no DJ, no cover charge. They do one thing well. The bar staff know the beer and will steer you right. Weekday afternoons attract a quieter crowd of remote workers who appreciate the free power sockets.
Order: Gipsy Hill Beatnik pale ale or whatever's just arrived
03
The Maltyard
Bermondsey$Industrial / Relaxed
Bermondsey's railway arches have become overrun with weekend pop-ups, but The Maltyard keeps a quieter presence and better prices. Cans and drafts from local breweries at sensible prices, with long bench seating and good natural light through the arch entrance. The crowd is mixed in the best way: people who actually live nearby rather than people who took the Overground for the aesthetic. Go Tuesday to Thursday.
Order: Fourpure Shapeshifter or a cold can of their house lager
The full London bar guide
Every category, every neighbourhood. Our complete London guide covers 150+ bar listings across the city.
East London remains the best hunting ground for affordable bars with real personality. Dalston and Hackney have held on longer than most areas, and Bethnal Green still has corners that feel genuinely local rather than curated.
04
The Ridley Arms
Dalston$Late / Neighbourhood
The Ridley Arms serves Dalston's full spectrum in one narrow room. Drinks are priced for people who live nearby, not for people who come from Clapham on weekends. The jukebox leans heavy into soul and reggae. Get there before 9pm if you want a seat, after that it is standing room and worth it. Closed Sunday, which is a commitment to doing fewer things well.
Order: Red Stripe or a Scotch and soda
05
Weavers Arms
Bethnal Green$Traditional / No-frills
A traditional East End pub that has not had its prices renegotiated by a gentrifying landlord. Weavers Arms pours proper pints at under four pounds during the day and stays under five until 9pm. The interior is unchanged since 2008 and nobody is pretending otherwise. A pool table, a fruit machine, and regulars who have been here every week for 15 years. London's real backbone, one pub at a time.
Order: London Pride on draft
06
The Hackney Tap
Hackney Central$$Craft / Comfortable
Hackney has gentrified considerably but The Hackney Tap has kept its draft prices within reason by staying focused on craft beer rather than cocktails. The tap list runs to 20 and the knowledgeable staff will talk you through it without making you feel like you should have already known. Open from noon daily. The food menu is a short one and everything on it is good. Happy hour runs 4pm to 6pm, pints at four pounds.
Order: Whatever IPAs are freshest on the left side of the bar
Weekly editorial
The bars worth going to, weekly.
One email per week. The bars our editors are recommending right now, across 60 cities worldwide.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
More Cheap Bars Worth Knowing in London
North and West London are harder work for budget drinking, but these four spots represent the best exceptions we know. Each of them delivers genuine quality at a price that won't ruin the evening before it starts.
07
The Finsbury
Finsbury Park$Neighbourhood / Reliable
A Finsbury Park institution that predates the area's property price surge and has been careful not to update itself beyond recognition. The beers are affordable, the spirits are well-stocked for the price point, and the covered outdoor area is usable eight months of the year. The crowd is local and loyal. Our recommendation for anyone coming off the Victoria or Piccadilly line who needs a pint before going home.
Order: Estrella on draft or a gin and tonic with Hendricks
08
The Lambton Arms
Shepherd's Bush$Traditional Pub
Shepherd's Bush has a range of pub qualities and The Lambton Arms sits at the top of that range for value. The interior is worn-in rather than worn-out, the pints stay below the five-pound mark, and the kitchen does bar food that is actually food. Midweek evenings draw a settled crowd and service is quick without being harried. A no-nonsense West London pub doing its job without drama.
Order: Bombardier or a pint of Tribute pale ale
09
Archway Tap Room
Archway$Craft / Low-key
A North London craft beer bar that has avoided inflating its prices in line with the neighborhood's property market. The Archway Tap Room pours 10 drafts and keeps a well-curated can selection at reasonable prices. The space is small with good seating and the sort of low-level music you can talk over. A consistent Thursday night destination for people who want good beer and quiet conversation rather than an event.
Order: Camden Hells on draft or the session pale of the week
10
The Earl Haig
Wood Green$Classic Pub / Unpretentious
Wood Green's most dependable local, entirely unremarkable by design and better for it. The Earl Haig pours five lagers, two ales, and a short spirits menu at prices that have not been updated for Zone 2 expectations. The Friday night crowd is genuine working London: loud, warm, and entirely unbothered by what is happening in Shoreditch. Takes no bookings, needs none. Cash still preferred.
Order: Carling or a single malt if the occasion demands it
Hidden gems in London
The bars London locals actually go to. Our hidden gems guide covers the pubs and bars that don't show up in the tourism guides.
The best cheap bars in London are in the south and east. That is not a new observation but it remains correct. Peckham and Bermondsey for south, Dalston and Bethnal Green for east. If you find yourself in Zone 1 and needing a drink on a budget, Soho is not the answer and neither is the West End generally. Look for the streets behind the main drag. Look for the pub that has not had a renovation recently. Look for the cash-only sign on the door.
A quick practical note: London happy hours, where they exist, run earlier than you might expect. Most finish by 6pm or 7pm. If your evening starts before then, the savings are real. These 10 bars all operate on weekday evenings with minimal waiting times before 8pm.
After work bars in London
Where Londoners actually go after work. Our guide covers the best spots from the City to Shoreditch and beyond.
