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Wherever you go tonight, you won't be able to miss England vs Argentina. Pretty much the whole of London will be glued to the TV screen from 8pm tonight, as the Three Lions take on the current world champions for a place in the World Cup final. And each triumphant goal celebration or agonising near miss will be accompanied by a surround sound of roars and groans, spilling out of houses and pubs in every corner of London.
Still, why settle for secondhand excitement? Even if you’ve left it til today to figure out where to watch tonight’s game, it’s not too late to watch the match somewhere with bags of atmosphere. The keen beans might have booked tables weeks ago, Big Penny Social and Boxpark might have sold out in seconds, but there are still pubs, bars and public screenings taking walk-ins all across town. Show up early to bag a good spot for the most hotly-anticipated game since, well, the last international final – whatever happens, you won't regret coming along for the ride.
RECOMMENDED: Where to watch the World Cup in London.
The best walk-in venues for England’s World Cup semi-final
Central London
The Box, Piccadilly
A 7,200 sports bar on the corner of Piccadilly Circus, The Box has plenty of room for walk-ins, and serves up some hefty World Cup-themed sharing platters alongside beer buckets and cocktail steins.
23 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7EF
Arcade Food Halls
The Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road and Battersea branches of Arcade will have some space for walk-ins. If you like something to nibble on when you’re nervous, these are a great choice, with some cracking dining options including smash burgers from Manna, Thai dishes from Plaza Khao Gaeng and pizzas from Gracey’s.
6 Bedford St, WC2E 9HZ / 103-105 New Oxford St, WC1A 1DB / Battersea Power Station, SW11 8DD
The Volley, Old Street
The Mundial magazine reader’s sports bar of choice, this venue on Old Street is decked out in hipster football memorabilia and serves up proper craft beers and even a few natural wines.
211 Old St, EC1V 9NR
The Roebuck, Borough
Tucked away on leafy Great Dover Street, this sunny, sustainably-minded pub is loved by locals, but remains a bit of a hidden gem. It’s fully walk-in for all the footie.
50 Great Dover St, SE1 4YG
Retro Bar, The Strand
A great option for those looking for a chill, all-ages and genders crowd, central London’s friendliest queer pub is tucked away behind the Strand, and will be screening the match in its upstairs bar.
2 George Ct, WC2N 6HH
North London
The Bluecoats, Tottenham
A Spurs match day favourite in a formers girls’ school, the Bluecoats has a solid line-up of beers on tap, and a rotating squad of excellent eateries running things in the kitchen, with current resident August Blue doing some great cheffy takes on pub classics.
614 High Rd, N17 9TA
The Golden Tooth, Green Lanes
This slick new gastropub from the team behind Papi made it into our newly updated best restaurants list. It’ll be offering an extended menu of bar snacks until 9pm, with bookings taken for the dining room but plenty of walk-in only space in the front bar.
79 Green Lanes, N16 9BU
East London
Mare Street Market, Hackney
Sample a special World Cup menu from chef Gizzi Erskine at this sizeable venue offering a mixture of indoor and outdoor spaces.
117 Mare St, E8 4RU
Exale Taproom, Walthamstow
This mainstay of the Blackhorse Beer Mile is running a 50/50 split between bookable tables and walk-in space. Alongside 12 lines on tap, they do pitchers of spritzes and classic cocktails. Just don’t go flinging them in the air if England score!
Uplands Business Park, E17 5QJ
Dalston Superstore, Dalston
Looking for somewhere less blokey to watch the action? The sports gays and their girlies will be descending on this legendary queer bar for free entry and £5 pints for the semi-final. Just turn up nice and early to secure your spot in London’s most fabulous corridor.
117 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB
Crate Brewery, Hackney Wick
The Spacious canal side taproom of Crate Brewery is doing 6 can buckets of lager for £25 during the footie, and will be serving up its usual pizzas early doors (the lamb one is our favourite).
Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN
South London
The Windmill, Clapham
This airy pub on the edge of Clapham Common is keeping most of its space for walk-ins, including all the tables in its lovely beer garden. They shut the doors three hours before kick-off for the quarters, so get down straight after work.
Windmill Drive, SW4 9DE
Bussey Rooftop Bar, Peckham
No matter what the final score is, you’ll feel on top of the world at Bussey Building, thanks to its excellent views over the city. Ignore the booking page online, there’s always some walk-in space for those who get down early.
133 Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST
Dulwich Hamlet Clubhouse
Grassroots football club Dulwich Hamlet’s homely club house bar is first-come, first-served, and offers cheaper pints than you’ll get at most pubs in London.
Champion Hill Stadium, SE22 8BD
The Bear, Camberwell
DJs from excellent local record store Dash The Henge will be spinning tunes before kick-off at this locally beloved gastropub, which is only doing walk-ins both inside and in its newly-renovated beer garden.
296A Camberwell New Rd, SE5 0RP
West London
Fulham Pier
The ground-floor sports bar in Fulham FC’s swanky new stand is offering walk-ins only, with multiple huge screens, £5 pints and wines during Happy Hour from 4pm-6pm, and food served until 9.15pm.
Fulham Pier, SW6 6HH
The Famous Three Kings, West Kensington
With no fewer than 38 screens at this sizeable sports-focused pub, you’re basically guaranteed to be able to catch every second of the action, wherever you’re stood. And there’s a £9.50 spritz menu to boot.
171 North End Rd, W14 9NL
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