The World Cup is almost here – and football fans across London are already searching for the perfect spot to catch every last-minute winner, controversial VAR call, and nerve-shredding penalty shootout live.
Venue discovery platform Eat Drink Meet – known for spotlighting some of Britain’s best pubs — has revealed its top ten London venues for soaking up the drama of this summer’s tournament.
From packed-out sports bars alive with chants to family-friendly pubs perfect for summer kick-offs, the list celebrates the venues serving up giant screens, electric atmospheres and ice-cold matchday pints.
And with matches running later into the evening, many of these venues are extending their opening hours so fans can stay glued to every minute of the action.
Chosen using a combination of fan reviews, social buzz, venue popularity, and recommendations from the Eat Drink Meet editorial team, these pubs have earned their place as some of London’s top destinations for World Cup matchdays.
Best for: game day atmosphere
The Falcon, Clapham
When tournament football takes over, few places capture the matchday experience quite like The Falcon in Clapham.
Big-screen TVs are dotted throughout the pub, pulling every eye to the action as the lively, vocal crowd gets behind each moment – from tense group-stage openers to dramatic injury-time winners and penalty heartbreak.
Groups gather early, pints in hand, and the hum of conversation builds into something louder as kick-off nears. Every match of the tournament will be shown live, meaning fans won’t miss a single moment – no matter who they’re backing.
Expect a mix of locals, regulars and football fans creating that easy camaraderie that makes watching live sport feel shared. It’s loud, lively and packed with football energy – and when the ball hits the back of the net, the reaction ripples through the entire pub.
The Salisbury Arms, Winchmore Hill
The Salisbury Arms has become a go-to North London venue for fans looking to soak up the World Cup atmosphere.
Expect lively matchday scenes, flowing pints, and a crowd fully invested from the opening whistle to full-time. With screens inside and out, The Salisbury Arms is the ideal summer matchday setting regardless of who you support.
With a 4.0 rating on TripAdvisor, feedback from one happy guest says the pub is the best community pub they’ve ever been to as it caters for everyone. While another said they visited during the Euros and said the atmosphere was fantastic and had a better beer selection than anywhere else.
O’Neill’s Carnaby Street, Soho
O’Neill’s Carnaby Street is the place to be this summer to catch the world’s biggest football festival.
Live sport is embedded into O’Neill’s DNA, meaning an electric atmosphere coupled with a cold, creamy Guinness in hand is guaranteed.
So, whether you’re cheering on Kane to score for England or backing Robertson to get Scotland to the final, you’ll be sure to find somewhere to watch all the action… uninterrupted.
O’Neill’s Carnaby Street also offers ‘mix and match’ on small plates starting from just £18.50 for 3 and £27.00 for 5. Or, there’s a range of hearty pub dishes and bold flavours such as stone baked pizza and burgers so guests can fuel up pre-game.
Best for: catching the action outside
The Alwyne Castle, Highbury
Few things beat summer football in the pub garden – and The Alwyne Castle delivers exactly that.
This quirky and characterful Highbury local offers guests the chance to enjoy memorable summer evenings of football alongside a range of hearty seasonal plates and craft ales.
Fans can make the most of the evening sunshine before heading inside for kick-off and settling in for the big match across the pub’s multiple screens.
The Queen’s Head, Chislehurst
Set right on the edge of Chislehurst’s ponds, The Queen’s Head brings a laid-back, village-green feel to matchday.
The spacious beer garden is the real star of the show here — offering a mix of patio seating and long tables made for gathering, drinks in hand, as the game unfolds in the fresh evening air.
Inside, screens keep the action flowing, but outside it’s all about that relaxed, sociable energy: groups spilling out with pints, conversation rolling between tables, with every goal celebration and near miss echoing across the garden.
Regular live sport at the Queen’s Head means there’s always a reason to settle in early, pair the match with a round of cask ales or a proper pub meal, and stay put long after the final whistle.
Best for: beers and cask ales
De Hems Dutch Cafe & Bar, Soho
When tournament football arrives, De Hems Dutch Cafe & Bar in Soho knows exactly how to raise the atmosphere.
With big-screen TVs dotted throughout the pub, fans can enjoy not only every England match but all the Netherlands games too, giving football fans even more reason to settle in for a full day of World Cup action.
The pub also offers fans the chance to indulge in a crisp pint or two from a curated list of European beers, including Amstel, Lindeboom, Leffe, and Duvel, paired with bar bites from Bitterballen to a Bratwurst special.
For football lovers who take their beer selection as seriously as their starting XI, this is the place to be.
Best for: being a hidden gem
The Sun, Clapham
Having recently undergone a full refurbishment, this hidden gem in Clapham is ideal if you’re looking for somewhere laid-back to watch the football this summer.
Tucked away in Clapham Old Town, The Sun has a cosy atmosphere with understated surroundings, making it ideal for small groups who want to catch the big match after a day enjoying the warm weather on the Common.
But don’t be fooled by The Sun’s laid-back vibe; you won’t miss a second of the World Cup action, with matches being shown on screens both inside and outside. The pub also has a beer garden best enjoyed with bar bites and burgers from the pub’s new summertime menu.
With packed screenings, flowing drinks and a great summer atmosphere, The Sun is built for long afternoons and late nights of tournament football.
The Old Thameside Inn, London Bridge
Located just a short stroll from Borough Market, The Old Thameside is truly a pub of two halves – traditional London boozer upstairs, lively sports bar downstairs.
Upstairs, you’ll find a traditional London pub with a rich history and unique character, but if you venture downstairs, you’ll discover a lively sports bar fitted out with TV screens including a 110” plasma, making it ideal for football fans seeking a hidden gem with a fantastic atmosphere.
Best for: big groups
Hawkins Forge, Battersea Rise
For fans chasing big screens, loud crowds and full-on matchday energy, Hawkins Forge in Battersea Rise delivers.
Sport runs through the veins of Hawkins Forge with its very own Arrowsmiths – where football fans can keep the competitive spirit going between matches with the venue’s interactive darts experience before settling in to watch the live action unfold across both the bar and enclosed garden well into the evening.
With a huge range of crisp craft beers and spirits from IPAs to cask ales and lagers, alongside pub classics including pizza and burgers, this is a place that has it all.
With an impressive 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor, Hawkins Forge is seen by many visitors as a great place for sport with great vibes as well as friendly and helpful staff.
The Preston, Wembley
For big matchday gatherings, few pubs are better equipped than The Preston.
This is an expansive, open-plan pub where long tables fill up fast with groups settling in for the full matchday experience, with pints flowing, sharers landing on tables and fans settling in well before kick-off.
A multitude of screens keep everyone locked into the action, while the lively, sociable atmosphere makes it easy to fold into the crowd, whether you’re ten deep or just part of it.
The Preston’s large beer garden also offers overflow space when things get busy, with plenty of seating for bigger groups to spread out without missing a moment of the game. Add in hearty portions, sharers and a friendly, informal buzz, and it’s the kind of place built for those big, all-in matchday gatherings.
So, whether you’re backing England, following another nation or simply chasing the best matchday atmosphere in the capital, these ten hand-picked pubs promise giant screens, flowing pints, and plenty of unforgettable World Cup moments all summer long.