Wood Street Bear

You'll find yourself on Wood Street in the heart of Walthamstow, walking into a space that feels like it actually belongs to the people who drink there. The Bear has built a reputation that's rare for a local boozer—nearly 50 reviews and not a dud among them. It's the kind of place where regulars prop up the bar and newcomers don't feel like outsiders, where the drinks are taken seriously but the atmosphere never gets pretentious. There's clearly something they're doing right, whether that's the quality of what's being poured or just knowing how to run a proper pub.