Tattershall Castle

You're drinking pints on a proper Victorian paddle steamer that's been converted into one of London's most atmospheric boozers. Moored permanently on the Thames between Westminster and Embankment, this floating pub offers something genuinely different from your standard Wetherspoons – though the crowd can be just as mixed, from suited civil servants grabbing after-work drinks to tourists clutching their cameras. The views across the water are genuinely spectacular, especially from the upper deck when the weather's decent. Inside feels authentically nautical without being naff, and they do solid pub classics that won't break the bank. Yes, it's touristy, but locals use it too – particularly when you want to show off London to visiting mates without feeling like a complete mug about it.