The Crown & Cushion

You're on Westminster Bridge Road, that slightly grimy stretch where tourists peer at Big Ben whilst locals just want a decent pint. The Crown & Cushion slots in perfectly here — all dark wood, low ceilings and the kind of worn carpet that's seen forty years of footfall. It's the pub you'd actually want to sit in for an afternoon, not one that's been Instagram'd to death. The regulars know the bar staff by name, and the beer selection doesn't disappoint if you know what you're after. Food-wise, it's proper pub fare done without faffing about — nothing fancy, just the stuff that makes sense with a pint in your hand.