The best family-friendly pubs in London

With a total capacity of 1400, this massive taproom and community events space off Blackhorse Lane is the largest beer hall in London. It hosts a huge variety of events, from weekly sports screenings and pub quizzes to beer festivals and wine tastings, live comedy, vintage fairs and craft workshops. Food-wise, it offers a large menu of pub classics including sourdough pizzas, burgers and a kid’s menu, with roasts on Sundays. It’s also got a regular programme of sprog-friendly events, including soft play, bouncy castle sessions and singalong concerts, and two for one pints until 7pm (when all kiddos and their owners have to leave).

This is London’s first co-operatively owned pub. Nunhead locals raised £1 million to buy their beloved, Grade II-listed boozer – this place is a proper community gem. It’s perfect for a pitstop after a day out at Peckham Rye Park: there are books and games, as well as various children’s actvities, including a kids drama club. Other events held at this pub are so varied there’s something for everyone, be it their monthly feminist sci-fi book club, or book events.

This roomy gastropub in Catford was named Family Pub of the Year at the Great British Pub Awards 2025. Among its strong points are a stunner of a beer garden, which is divided into a terrace, a deck and a covered back garden with a total capacity of more than 250, making it one of the largest in south-east London. It also features a lovely mural by local artist Lionel Stanhope. They’re more than happy to host kids parties, and you can join the Sweet Child O’Mine programme for parents-only pub discounts, too. 

During the day, this sprawling boozer is always a buzzing reflection of the area's park life, with visitors to the verdant space marking this as a pit stop or an end goal. The main draw is the sprawling, family-friendly beer garden, with pretty bunting and a constant summertime crowd enjoying pub grub and pints. 

It is not unusual when frequenting London pubs to share both furniture and personal space with strangers. In this grand old building at the north end of Green Lanes you barely have to share bar staff: it's absolutely massive. Taxidermy cases and ornate cornicing decorate the central, beer-focused bar, and drinkers take their pick from private booths, fireside armchairs or more sociable clusters of tables and chairs in one of two huge spaces. In the afternoons, its a buggy paradise.

Just a ten-minute stroll from Ravenscourt Park, this tavern’s riverside location and colourful history (Charles II and his mistress Nell Gwyn were regulars) makes visiting as a kid feel a bit magical. Watch the Thames go by from the vine-entangled conservatory, or just snuggle up by the open fire.

A sister pub to the nearby Leyton Star, this is a big pub, with two large side rooms that have been designated ‘Play’ and ‘Party’ in purple neon signage. There are two pool tables in the play room (where there’s a pretty cool astronomical chart decorating the ceiling, this being a Star and all), as well as a ping pong table.

This massive Clapton pub has a huge garden (once a car park), with inclement-weather booths, a ping pong table and acres of decking. A great place to take the whole fam on a sunny day, and it’ll keep the kids from getting under the feet of folk inside. 

Spook your kids with tales of highwaymen – legend has it Dick Turpin’s dad was landlord here, and robbers were hanged on a tree just down the road. Most thrilling of all, though, is the location: it overlooks the Heath and has a roomy, top-notch garden.

This heathside local is the perfect place to refuel after a ramble across Greenwich Park. It’s child-and-dog-friendly which means if you go at the weekend you’ll see it packed out with high-chairs, but jaded parents should take note: the beer selection here is seriously grown-up.

Adults are pretty often outnumbered in The Palm on Tottenham’s Phillip Lane. Grab a bowl of fries to keep the little ones entertained, or something from the kids menu; fish fingers, chicken goujons, sausage and chips, macaroni cheese or a mini burger. A haven for freelance Tottenham dads.