The best pubs in London for Christmas parties

This 1800s freehouse just off King's Road was refreshed by Jack Greenall in 2021, with naval-inspired artwork and hand-painted murals downstairs.

The upstairs Hamilton Room seats 35 for a private Christmas lunch or dinner, or fits 50 for canapés and drinks, without a huge overall capacity to manage.

There's nowhere better than a pub at Christmas time and Westow House has a private bar area that's perfect for a festive party.

With room for up to 120 guests, the space is complete with its own private bar, plug-in sound system, and views over Crystal Palace Park.

For a finer approach to pub dining, the Prince Arthur in Belgravia is the ideal upmarket spot, with Basque-inspired menus to add a twist to this year’s celebration.

For more relaxed occasions, head downstairs to The Pub Below where craft beers, fine wines, and expertly mixed cocktails flow from the bar.

Housed in a former Victorian police station near Turnham Green, The Hound pairs a cosy Front Room log fire with The Clink, a private dining room built from three old prison cells.

Christmas parties can spill into the retractable-roof courtyard for up to 180 guests, with set feasting menus, pub pints and a DJ or projector on request.

This Italian American-inspired tavern on Westbourne Park Road has The Nook, a lounge corner for smaller gatherings, alongside a main dining room, first-floor private space and an upstairs cocktail lounge for drinks-led nights.

Sharing plates and cocktails suit anything from an intimate supper to a fuller party of up to 80.

In Bloomsbury near Russell Square, this pub's Drawing Room seats 65 or takes 100 standing with its own private bar, while exclusive hire across both floors extends to 250 guests with a bar on each level.

The three-course festive menu spans hand-carved turkey to an 8oz sirloin steak, alongside a more informal buffet format.

Set within Hay's Galleria on the Thames, opposite HMS Belfast, The Horniman at Hays offers the Mezzanine for up to 120 standing and the larger Wharfside Bar for 150, both with their own private bar.

Its three-course festive menu includes hand-carved turkey and vegetarian options, alongside Sparkling and Champagne drinks bundles.

The latest addition to the Tom Kerridge Group, The Chalk Freehouse is perfect for those looking to celebrate in Chelsea.

Choose from an intimate celebration in the 10-seater private dining room or take over the hardwood bar, complete with modern British menus and plenty of ales on tap.

This Victorian boozer in Clapham Old Town, established in 1870, offers a first-floor private room for 45 seated or 60 standing with its own bar, alongside full exclusive hire of the whole pub for up to 250.

Affordable three-course menus centre around British favourites, and include focaccia to start, as well as seasonal sides. 

Set beside London Wall with a distinctive rococo exterior, The Globe offers three private spaces: the Dining Room and Keats at The Globe, each taking up to 100 standing, and the more intimate Lounge for 50.

Each comes with its own bar, alongside a three-course festive menu with a buffet alternative.

This east London boozer is considered gastropub royalty, with a selection of private and semi-private rooms across its two floors.

Food is modern British with a twist, with multi-course set menus and traditional Christmas feasts all available for this year’s festivities.

The White Horse's open-plan Stable Room takes up to 100 standing with its own private bar and a curtain to section off half the space. 

Alternatively, the beamed Coach House and circular-table Saddle offer more intimate settings for 25 and 12 seated respectively. Sit-down and standing menus both run to a full three courses.

Tucked into Pickfords Wharf near Borough Market, this pub's exposed-brick Cellar Bar takes up to 100 standing for festive feasting and quizzes.

A private riverside terrace overlooking the Thames offers a genuinely different option for a drinks reception, rather than just an overflow space from the main bar.

A staple of South East London, this 19th-century pub comes armed with all the cosy Christmas features you might desire.

There are various spaces for hire, from the bright and airy upstairs private dining room, to the main ground floor pub and restaurant, ideal for groups of up to 150. Comforting seasonal classics are sure to seal the deal.

Fancy hosting your Christmas party at Guy Richie's very own boozer? Yup, the famous film director is the landlord of this Fitzrovia pub, a split-level building home to cosy private dining spaces and a rustic bar. 

Choose from the Rhed Room for festive dinners of up to 24, the Restaurant Room for up to 50 seated guests, or even exclusive hire.

This Primrose Hill pub's upper-level Brunel Bar, done out in festive red, can host up to 60 guests, while the semi-private Downstairs Restaurant seats 24 and The Snug holds 20 for a standing reception.

A rear pergola offers an outdoor option too, alongside seated and buffet festive menus with Espresso Martinis on the drinks list.

Celebrate the cosy season at The Walmer Castle in Notting Hill, with a menu of festive favourites to be enjoyed alongside wines from award-winning merchants.

Choose between the larger Lonsdale Room for up to 50 seated guests, or The Westbourne Room for just 20.

A 300-year-old pub on Dalling Road near Ravenscourt Park, Thatched House has an orangery private dining room for up to 100 guests, stretching to 150 for a full takeover.

Its Christmas menu leans on classic roasts like Irish sirloin and Welsh lamb leg, with a courtyard garden as a fair-weather extra.

On Clerkenwell Green, this heritage pub offers the light-filled Apollo Room for up to 50 standing and the more secluded Clock Room for 30, both with dedicated servers and pre-order menus.

Christmas food runs from a Gold or Platinum buffet package to a traditional three-course meal with whisky-smoked salmon and three bird pie.

Spread across four floors by Blackfriars Bridge, this cosy pub offers Thames-view spaces including the Terrace Bar for up to 120 standing and the wood-panelled Doggett's Bar for 110.

A smaller Boardroom with Wi-Fi and a projector suits smaller team celebrations, and Blackfriars station sits directly across the road.

Christmas is a time for proper London boozers, and The Gun is just that. This iconic watering hole sits right in the heart of Spitalfields, bringing a long history that dates back to the 17th century.

Enjoy private spaces for groups from 25 to 300, with classic feasting menus and a buzzy atmosphere all night long.

Tucked away on the iconic King’s Road, The Cadogan Arms is an ideal spot for a fun-filled celebration.

There are several private spaces to choose from, including the 35-seater Rose Room, or exclusive hire for up to 150 - so there’s no need to keep the guest list short.

This South London gem has nailed that classic pub feel, with its wood-panelled interiors, lively atmosphere and beers on tap.

There are two private spaces available for hire, with capacity for groups of 60 or 100 guests, or a few more if you’re looking to combine the spaces. Celebrate with finger food, slider boards, or buffets.

Minutes from Piccadilly and Green Park, this Nicholson's pub with over 300 years of history offers the wine-lined Cellar Bar beneath the main pub or the chandeliered Dining Room above, able to host up to 100 standing.

Festive set menus, buffets and drinks packages are available across both spaces.

Named after the 18th-century Thames treasure-hunters, this Borough Market pub's single Dining Room takes up to 100 standing with a private bar, plus a projector and flat-screen for speeches, awards or karaoke.

It's a long-standing local for Borough Market traders as much as it is a party venue.

A bohemian-styled Lounge Bar on Cowcross Street takes up to 60 standing for festive parties, with a separate upstairs Meeting Space, complete with Wi-Fi and a screen, better suited to smaller corporate gatherings.

Food ranges from a three-course set menu with blade of beef and three bird pie to a festive buffet with Prosecco and Champagne add-ons.

This 18th century, Grade-II listed pub in the heart of Fitzrovia boasts a sprawling network of atmospheric spaces, from its chandelier-clad private dining room to the cosy Snug.

Groups of four to 150 are catered for here, while festive menus feature pimped festive classics.

A restored pub opposite Clapham High Street station, The Ox offers three private spaces: the First Floor Playroom with its own cocktail bar for up to 55 standing, the more intimate 25-seat Mezzanine, and The Snug for up to 45 standing.

Festive roast dinners are served family style, with dishes such as Middle White pork shoulder and an almond and pistachio nut roast.