Anchor Bankside

You're standing on the South Bank with a pint in hand, watching St Paul's Cathedral light up across the water as the sun dips behind the City. This is the Anchor Bankside experience—and yes, it's touristy, but it actually deserves the footfall. The pub itself is traditional without being twee, all wooden beams and riverside charm, packed with both locals catching an after-work drink and visitors who've genuinely stumbled somewhere brilliant. The terrace is where you want to be, especially on those rare London evenings when the light's perfect and the Thames feels almost Mediterranean.