When you think of a pub, you might picture wooden benches, a dartboard, and a pint of ale. But unconventional pubs, a category of drinking spots that defy tradition with strange settings, secret entrances, or wild themes. Also known as hidden bars, these places turn drinking into an experience—whether it’s a speakeasy behind a fridge, a pub carved into a former church, or one that only opens after midnight to those who know the code. They’re not just places to grab a drink. They’re part of London’s soul—the kind of spots you stumble into by accident and never forget.
These spots aren’t just weird for the sake of it. Many are built on history: a 17th-century cellar turned whiskey den, a pub that used to be a Victorian morgue, or one hidden under a bookshop where the barman knows your name before you do. hidden bars London, secretive drinking venues that require a password, a knock, or a specific time to enter. Also known as speakeasies, they thrive on mystery and reward curiosity. Then there are the quirky drinking spots, pubs with wild themes like pirate ships, robot bartenders, or rooms filled with vintage toys. Also known as themed bars, they turn a simple drink into a full sensory adventure. You won’t find these on Google Maps. You’ll find them because someone whispered about them after three pints, or because you followed a flickering neon sign down a narrow alley.
What makes them special isn’t just the decor or the door. It’s the people. These are places where musicians play for tips, strangers become friends over shared secrets, and bartenders remember what you drank last time—even if it was two years ago. They’re where the real London nightlife lives, away from the tourist crowds and the overpriced cocktails. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’ve cracked open the city’s secret code, this is where you start.
The posts below are your map. They take you inside the pubs that don’t advertise, the ones that feel like they belong in a novel, and the ones locals guard like treasure. You’ll find where to find them, what to order, and how to act like you’ve been there before—even if it’s your first time.
Discover London’s most unique nightlife spots-from hidden jazz vaults and midnight tea rooms to rooftop cinemas and secret speakeasies. These are the places locals know, but tourists rarely find.