The best pubs in Camden

A true classic, The Dublin Castle is one of a circuit of London venues that make up the proving ground for any up-and-coming band. It's dim and far from salubrious: upholstered couches; plastic flowers; mirrors dotted with fingerprints and posters all over the walls hint at the bands who've come through here – from Madness to Blur. We love it, and you will too. 

A rock 'n' roll watering hole off the beaten Camden track, The Black Heart falls somewhere between an American biker bar and a classic British rock pub. For the thirsty there's a good range of local beers, and live music – like many a Camden pub – is a given. Try the food too, at the time of writing there's a banging vegan roast on offer.

This garish-looking yellow-and-blue boozer is a characterful reminder of how the area once was. It’s an Irish pub with an Irish welcome, which manages to feel like a real sanctuary from the outside world. I

Britpop's unofficial HQ, The Good Mixer is no longer as rough and ready as it was in the 1990s – or even when Amy Winehouse could be found hustling tourists on the corner pool table – but it's still well worth a pint or three. 

Up and away from the bustling heart of Camden, you'll find The Lord Stanley on the residential backstreets of the neighbourhood. This makes for a more chilled-out vibe than Camden's biggest boozers, with tasty lunch deals and laidback Sunday roasts. 

The rather fancy Farrier is in the heart of Camden’s refurbished Stables Market, and the first ever pub to be found in amongst the area's historic cobbles. Here you'll find up-market food, including Tomahawk Thursday, where you'll get juicy steak, and Sundays, where you'll get one heck of a decent roast.

Known for being a cosy and well-loved watering hole, The Lady Hamilton is a Kentish Town favourite. With a list of creative craft beers, a classic rock soundtrack and decor that makes you feel like you're in your own home, Lady H is the perfect spot for a casual pint. 

For the biggest beer garden in the area, take a trip down Mornington Terrace and find the Edinboro Castle stretching back beside the road and hosting a whole lot of picnic benches. There’s shelter and heaters for colder months too. Inside, expect continental lagers and a hearty food menu.

A corner Victorian pub in the middle of Camden's main drag, you'll find rockabillies rubbing shoulders with tourists at this classic joint. Come on Tuesday nights for DJs serving up surf and psychobilly tunes. Quiffs optional. 

London's most goth pub – aka The Devonshire Arms – is a place where you'll get a funny look if you're wearing anything that's not black. That said, it's a friendly spot, and one where heavy metal reigns supreme. 

An independent boozer, people love the Colonel for its pizza and old-school ambience. It’s tucked down the backstreet near Camden Road station and does a strong trade in gin. It's also a comedy hotspot with regular stand-up as well as a roaring trade in pub quizzes.

Located just beyond the lock, the Hawley Arms is a vast Victorian boozer that has risen from the ashes of the 2008 'Great fire of Camden'. Its biggest claim to fame is that the late Amy Winehouse once pulled pints behind the bar. It’s not quite as rockin’ as it once was, but live music prevails alongside pub lunches and tourist traffic.

The bass notes pounding through the pub floor into the soles of your shoes, the tattooed twentysomethings, the scattering of gob-smacked students from the continent – it could only be Camden. This old local is a DJ and music venue with room for a serious number of punters in the main bar, the large garden (accessed via a short flight of steps) and a sassy upstairs space. Expect barbecues in summer and pie and a pint deals in the week.

The very first London outing for the Aberdeenshire brewer, Brewdog Camden brought their controversial agenda to a punky part of town. Browse beers from the brand or from London breweries and far beyond. Pub grub is the burger kind.