As of 2018, London had nearly 4,100 pubs throughout the boroughs. As a unique and intrinsic part of British life, the London Mayor's New Draft Plan includes a policy protecting public houses as cultural, social, and economic heritage sites comparable to a Parisian cafe or American diner.
Pubs are one of Britain's oldest and most valued social institutions; an integral part of an area's day, evening, and night culture with few institutions so central to its culture. London pubs, in particular, played important roles throughout history - Marx and Engel drafting their manifesto at the Red Lion, the French Resistance meeting at the French House, and the Newman House inspiring the underclass pub in George Orwell's 1984.
Pubs continue to play a role in daily life and the experience of London's city living. Five tube stops are named after pubs, and according to a 2012 survey, the pub is the most popular place for people of all ages and classes to relax and socialise.
With 457 pubs, the City of Westminster easily has the most pubs in the city. Tourism likely plays a part - a recent survey of international visitors to London revealed 54% visited a pub during their stay in the capital. This further highlights the importance of pubs to the London experience for both locals and visitors.
The few that live in the City of London, and the significant working population, get to enjoy a true density of public houses. With the highest number of pubs per capita (182 per 10,000 people), the City might just be the epicenter of England's pubs. Many pubs in the City also have historic attachments, from Ye Olde Watling being built in 1666 for St. Paul's Cathedral construction workers to Mark Twain and Charles Dickens frequenting Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.
One of London's largest population growths of the last decade is occurring in Hackney. As the population increased, so did the pubs. Between 2001-2017 Hackney had the greatest percentage increase in pubs (12.9%) of all the boroughs. Shoreditch, in particular, is a focal point of Hackney's pubs. The appeal of living in Hackney has coincided with the opening of pubs.
Of course, a traditional center of London's nightlife is still a vibrant area for pubs. Pubs in SoHo exist on seemingly every street, corner, and even alley! For better or worse, a night in SoHo is a spectacle to behold and very much a part of the London experience.
Despite the great extent of pubs across the city, it is not an even spread. While central London seemingly packs pubs into every nook and cranny, outer London's pub locations are more spread out. There are fewer in general and they mostly cluster along high streets.
However, all is not well with London's pubs. Between 2001-2016 over 25% of London's pubs have closed. One of the hardest hit boroughs, Barking and Dagenham, has the fewest amount of open pubs (20) and pubs per capita (0.96 per 10,000) than any London borough. It has experienced a 55.6% decrease in pubs since 2001. The spatial paucity of pubs is quite drastic.
Dwindling pub numbers will likely affect the cultural experience of London. Changes in drinking habits, tastes, and demographics all have a role in the decline, and London's pub heritage is under threat. Although virtually all boroughs experienced declines, their degree varies geographically...
Referenced statistics come from Office for National Statistics, The Economist, and The Mayor of London
Pubs are everywhere - no matter where you live or work in London you likely know your local.