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5 Best Sports Bars in London (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Thorne Savarin
By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Book a table too late for a big match in London and you're standing at the back with a pint you can't put down. The sports bars on this page have logged just over 30,000 Google reviews between them, and the gap between the busiest and the quietest is enormous: one venue alone carries north of 10,000 reviews while another sits under 2,000, so size and reputation don't always point the same direction. What decides it isn't just who has the most screens, it's who still has room when kickoff hits.

Short answer: For sheer scale and screens, Waxy O'Connor's in Soho is the standout: 4.5 stars across 9,652 reviews, spread over six levels and four bars, with rugby and GAA crowds packing it during Six Nations. O'Neill's Wardour Street runs it close on volume with 4.4 stars and 10,681 reviews, and its Flamingo Room live-music nights add something Waxy's doesn't. For something smaller and easier to actually get a seat in, Goldwood near Bank holds a 4.7 rating on giant UHD screens, just without the crowd size of the West End spots.
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How London's sports bars stack up

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Waxy O'Connor's London 4.5 9,652 Biggest venue, Six Nations crowds View ›
2 O'Neill's Wardour Street 4.4 10,681 Live music plus match day View ›
3 The Clarence 4.4 3,722 Traditional pub food alongside the game View ›
4 Silver Cross 4.2 4,327 Casual pint with the game on View ›
5 Goldwood 4.7 1,765 Best rating, City location View ›
5 Best Sports Bars in London (2026)

The shortlist, reviewed

Waxy O'Connor's London logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Waxy O'Connor's London

4.59,652 Google reviews

Waxy O'Connor's is London's largest Irish bar, a six-level maze of four connected bars just off Piccadilly Circus, built around a preserved beech tree that runs up through the middle of the building. It's known for live sport across rugby, GAA, football, horseracing, tennis and golf, plus live music sessions most weeks, and the kitchen runs a menu of Irish classics like steak and Guinness pie alongside the usual pub food. The scale is the whole pitch: nooks, stone passages, and enough screens spread across the floors that you can usually find a spot even when it's rammed.

What people praise

  • Genuinely huge, with space to explore even on a packed match day
  • Staff praised repeatedly for being attentive and friendly under pressure
  • Strong atmosphere for rugby and GAA fixtures specifically
  • Distinctive setting that reviewers compare to a film set, not just another sports pub

Worth knowing

  • Food is described as solid pub fare rather than a dining destination
  • Spread over so many floors that it can feel a little chaotic finding your group
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.5 / 5
Review volume9,652 · 93rd
Confidencevery high
Recency13 days ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown69% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The size and the sport-first focus make it the default for a big occasion, especially rugby. It ranks on volume and consistency more than polish.

14-16 Rupert St, London W1D 6DD

O'Neill's Wardour Street logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

O'Neill's Wardour Street

4.410,681 Google reviews

O'Neill's on Wardour Street is part of the O'Neill's pub chain, sitting right in the heart of Soho with a Flamingo Room upstairs that runs live music on top of the usual match coverage. It leans into small-plates bar food, combo deals, and a central location that reviewers use as a starting or finishing point for a night out rather than a standalone destination. The site itself doesn't carry much detail beyond the booking page, but the reviews are consistent about what it delivers: reliable service and a central spot to watch the game.

What people praise

  • Highest review count on this list at over 10,000, with steady five-star volume
  • Small-plates combo deals get called out as good value
  • Flamingo Room live music adds something beyond just screens
  • Central Soho location, easy to fold into a bigger night out

Worth knowing

  • Table service can be a wait during peak hours
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.4 / 5
Review volume10,681 · 98th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown70% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The review count alone tells you this is the volume leader on the page, and the ratings back it up. Best for a central, dependable pick rather than a niche experience.

33-37 Wardour St, Greater, London W1D 6PU

The Clarence logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

The Clarence

4.43,722 Google reviews

The Clarence sits on Whitehall near Trafalgar Square, a Young's pub built around classic British food: fish and chips, homemade pies, and a Sunday roast with bottomless Yorkshire puddings. It has two private rooms for parties on the first floor and describes itself around hospitality and real ales rather than sport specifically, though reviewers mention watching football there among the regular trade. It's a more traditional pub experience than a dedicated sports venue.

What people praise

  • Food gets consistently strong marks, especially the fish and chips and Sunday roast
  • Described as warm and welcoming without trying too hard
  • Central Whitehall location near major landmarks
  • Good option for a quieter upstairs space if you want to actually hear each other talk

Worth knowing

  • A few reviewers flag it as pricier than a standard pub
  • Less of a dedicated sports-watching atmosphere than the venues built around it
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.4 / 5
Review volume3,722 · 83rd
Confidencevery high
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown62% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: This ranks for food and setting more than screens and crowd energy. Good if the match is secondary to a proper pub meal.

53 Whitehall, London SW1A 2HP

Silver Cross logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Silver Cross

4.24,327 Google reviews

Silver Cross is a Greene King pub on Whitehall, three minutes from Trafalgar Square, that bills itself as dog-friendly with a rotating drinks menu and regular football coverage across the Premier League, EFL, WSL and internationals. The site pushes seasonal drink deals and app-based discounts more than a specific sports identity, and reviewers describe it as a reliable spot for a pint with the game on rather than a purpose-built sports bar.

What people praise

  • Reviewers specifically call out having the game on as a plus
  • Central Whitehall location
  • App ordering removes the need to flag down a server
  • Dog-friendly, a detail some reviewers appreciate

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer found the food unmemorable on a Sunday roast order
  • Lowest rating on this page, though still comfortably above average
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.2 / 5
Review volume4,327 · 88th
Confidencehigh
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown53% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks last here mostly on rating rather than volume. It's a solid, central option for a casual watch, just not the standout.

33 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX

Goldwood logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Goldwood

4.71,765 Google reviews

Goldwood is a sports bar and kitchen near Bank in the City, built specifically around live sport on giant UHD screens with a high-end sound system, plus a beer garden. It's smaller in review volume than the West End giants but posts the highest rating on this page, and reviewers consistently name specific staff for service that goes beyond the basics. It draws a strong crowd for major tournaments and international fixtures.

What people praise

  • Highest rating on the page at 4.7
  • Reviewers repeatedly praise specific staff members by name for attentive service
  • UHD screens and sound system built specifically for watching sport
  • Beer garden option beyond the main space

Worth knowing

  • Smaller review volume than the bigger West End venues, so the sample is thinner
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume1,765 · 63rd
Confidencevery high
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown87% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks below the two biggest venues on raw volume, but the rating is the strongest on the page and the service reviews back it up. Worth it if you're in the City rather than the West End.

30 Old Jewry, London EC2R 8DQ

6

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How we rank these

Rating is the live Google average for each venue. Review volume measures how many customers have actually rated them, ranked against the other bars on this page. Confidence weighs the rating against that volume, so a 5-star average built on a handful of reviews carries less weight than a 4.4 built on thousands. Recency checks how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

What does a night at a London sports bar cost? (2026)

Reviewers on this page mention a spread of per-person spends depending on how much food and drink you order alongside watching the match, and it varies a lot by venue and night.

JobTypical price
Drinks and a light bite£10 - £20 per person
Full meal with drinks£20 - £50 per person

Ranges reflect per-person price bands reported directly by reviewers on Google for these venues, verified July 2026.

Serving all of London

These venues cluster around the West End and Whitehall, from Soho and Piccadilly Circus down to Trafalgar Square, with Goldwood covering the City near Bank. If you’re searching for a sports bar near me anywhere in central London, most of these are a short walk from a major Tube station and worth checking for match-day availability before you head over.

What to check before you head to a sports bar for the game

  • Do they take reservations for match days, or is it first come first served?
  • Which screens show which fixture if multiple games are on at once?
  • Is there a cover charge or minimum spend for big tournament nights?
  • How early should you arrive for a popular fixture?
  • Do they have outdoor or beer garden space if the main room is packed?
  • What’s the food menu like if you’re planning to eat as well as watch?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these sports bars?

We pulled real Google ratings and review counts for sports bars and pubs across London, then ranked them by rating, review volume, and how recently people are still reviewing them.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google data verified in July 2026 and gets refreshed periodically as ratings and review counts change.

Which London sports bar has the most screens?

Waxy O’Connor’s and Goldwood are both built specifically around live sport with multiple screens across their floors, though Waxy’s larger footprint means more total viewing space.

Do I need to book ahead for a big match?

For major fixtures like Six Nations rugby or a World Cup match, yes. Reviewers at busier venues mention long waits without a reservation.

Is there a quieter option if I don’t want a packed crowd?

The Clarence and Silver Cross lean more traditional pub than dedicated sports venue, so they tend to be less chaotic on non-major match days.

The bottom line

For the biggest occasion, Waxy O’Connor’s has the space, the screens, and the review volume to back it up. If you want something with a bit more elbow room and the best rating on the page, Goldwood near Bank is worth the trip. Either way, book ahead for anything bigger than a regular weekend fixture.

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