I know the accolade of ‘London’s best’ is always difficult. And, pretty subjective. But there is one London pub that puts a smile on my face every time I go. The Clifton, nestled in leafy St John’s Wood might just be my favourite pub in London. It’s one of my tops tip for visitors to London, usually in the hope that they’ll take me with them.

So what so good about it? Considering the area it’s in (very posh, all fancy townhouses) it’s so very relaxed. But you still feel like you’re in a nice place. This is often helped by the celebrity spottings. Not rubbish ones, I don’t really care for seeing a footballer’s wife. In fact, I probably wouldn’t even recognise them. Last time I was here drinking a bottle of wine, David Mitchell of Peep Show fame was in the beer garden. Ewan McGregor is a fan, as is David Beckham for that matter. But it still feels like a normal pub. You don’t go there for to nose at famous people (let’s be honest, does anyone go to the Hawley these days for any other reason?), you go because it’s lovely.

The ale is great, always varied, always interesting. The wine isn’t that cheap (but we’re in the posh suburbs now) but even the £15 bottle of house white tastes pricier than it is. The food is really very tasty too. Standard pub food, but just nice enough that you don’t mind paying an extra couple of quid for it. I’ve never had a bad experience in this pub. The even do decent cocktails too, despite not looking like the kind of place that would knock up a white peach bellini for you.

Throw in the fact that their standard gin is Hendricks (with cucumber, of course), the board games, the pub quiz and the lovely beer garden that you could accidentally lose a weekend in, and you’ve got yourself a gem of a boozer. This place is so special, but it never gets spoilt. That’s the bonus with pubs that are tucked away (the tube is a ten minute walk away, and it’s easy to get lost), no one just stumbles across it. It’s always busy, but you never have to wait long to get served. There’s always a buzz, but you can always find a seat.

I wish I spent more time here. But, on the odd occasion when I get to do a silly walk across the Abbey Road zebra crossing (it really has to be done, doesn’t it?) I always wind up here. And honestly, nothing makes me happier. If you do find the Clifton, you’re in for a treat at London’s best pub.

The Clifton is at 96 Clifton Road. See that beer garden that looks like it’s part of a house? That’s the one. Nearest tube is St Johns Wood. Flickr image from Sonewfangled‘s photostream.

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