With the sun finally making an appearance this Spring, something tells me that us that students won’t be stuck inside for much longer. Many of our courses are finally coming to an end which can only mean one thing: it’s celebration time! Gosh, packing away those essays and readings and grabbing our favourite party outfits from the back of the wardrobe has never felt so blissful – which is exactly why I am bringing to you a list of the best beer gardens in London for students, so you can find out all the best places to really have a great time at (as great as it can be post-COVID of course).
The Eagle
Address: 215 Askew Rd, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 9AZ
Heading over to your most traditional British pub, I welcome The Eagle, where the truest forms of beer gardens are open, and the ales just keep on flowing. Situated in the heart of Ravenscourt Park, this pub serves everything us students need for a good night out post lockdown: heated outdoor seating area, eclectic music and pints upon pints upon pints! Giving you that comforting homely feel, The Eagle is definitely the place to go for all occasions. Whether you need a night out with your lads, a date night with the girls to avoid the lads, or even somewhere to procrastinate about your final deadlines, this garden is definitely one for the list.
The Terrace Alexandra Palace
Address: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY
Unarguably one of the most beautiful places on this list is The Terrace Alexandra Place, offering panoramic views across the entire capital! Not only is there a fully stocked bar, but also London’s best street food vendors serving every dish you could desire – from vegan to chicken burgers, this place truly has it all. So whether you want to soak up the sun with your friends, gossip about drama with your co-workers or unwind with your family, make sure to grab a seat because I can already tell this venue is going to be packed every day.
Barrio Shoreditch
Address: 141-143 Shoreditch High St, Shoreditch, London E1 6JE
Okay, so Barrio Bar isn’t technically a beer garden. However, it is open for serving some amazing cocktails for a great price this April (as long as it’s open and serving alcohol, it can class as a beer garden for us!). A Brazilian inspired bar hosting fun, food and festivities, this venue in Shoreditch is perfect for students; not only does it serve great music and tapas-style dishes, but they also have amazing drink deals daily. Whether that be Mojito Monday, Pina Colada Wednesday or even Dark and Stormy Friday, the named cocktail of that day will set you back just £6 – just so you know, I’ll definitely be drinking to that!
Big Chill Brick Lane
Address: Dray Walk, Brick Ln, Spitalfields, London E1 6QL
Taking a step back from the bright colours and house music and into a more low-lit relaxing venue, I’m going to introduce you to Big Chill Brick Lane in Spitalfields. Just as the name suggests, this bar provides you with the ultimate relaxation venue and lets you unwind for the week in their sofas and front terrace. Whether you fancy one of their craft lagers for that traditional pub feeling once again, or even one of their special burgers (which is 50% off all weekday by the way, thank me later), Big Chill offers everything your mouth is watering for this April, even the return of their bottomless brunch!
The People‘s Park Tavern
Address: 360 Victoria Park Rd, London E9 7BT
If you’re looking for a secret garden escape this April with a tap wall, bbq kitchen and pop-up cocktail bar, then The People’s Park Tavern is at exactly the right place for that, plus even more! Located in Hackney and known as having one of the largest beer gardens in London, this venue is way more than just a party in the park: the buzzing atmosphere alone can make you lose track of time and allow you to really take in your first breaths of freedom this Summer. Whichever one of their four gardens you decide to explore, make sure to book in advance and quickly, because this place is super popular, especially for celebrations such as these.
The Exhibit
Address: 12 Balham Station Rd, Balham, London SW12 9SG
A neighbourhood bar and restaurant (for the purpose of this list, I’m also going to class it as a beer garden), The Exhibit is the perfect place to visit for the ultimate socialising session. Found all under one roof, you can sip on their martini’s with the latest gossip, cheers your Guinness’ to submitted assignments, and even feast on their brunches as a way to fuel your day. But the excitement doesn’t stop there; you can now enjoy their bottomless brunch for £20 a person, or even their Surf and Turf menu with a choice of lobster or steak for only £25 – contemporary, cheap, and one hell of a good time.
Pub on the Park
Address: 19 Martello St, Hackney, London E8 3PE
Just as the name suggests, this outdoor venue hosts everything you could ever desire from a beer garden this April: open fires, big screens, and of course never forgetting the non-stop flow of alcohol! Serving burgers, ribs, and chicken on the grill right in front of your eyes, plus a scrupulous list of drinks, this Pub on the Park is everything us students need for a chilled evening in the city. With reasonable prices, late-night music and a great selection of food and drinks, this is the perfect place for any occasion.
The Ship
Address: 41 Jews Row, Wandsworth, London SW18 1TB
Perched on the Wandsworth docs, this gastropub has once again opened its doors, or should I say ports, to the public once again this April. Whether you want to sip on your cocktails whilst watching the sunset or guzzle your roast dinner whilst listening to the waves lap, The Ship is the perfect venue for both occasions. Hosting their own burger shack and outdoor barbecue kitchen, their riverside terrace is the place to gather up your crewmates and sail into the arms of freedom – just make sure to book in advance!
So while all the beer gardens are dusting off their casks and cocktails, the only thing you need to worry about is which 21st June outfit is going to make an early appearance! Make sure to book in early though to get a guaranteed spot, because we all know us Brits love a bloody good pint.
