7 Pub Gardens Worth the Bank Holiday Detour
Bank holiday Monday is looking good, and so are these. We've been round the country (well, mostly London and the home counties, but we're working on it) tracking down the pub gardens doing it properly — the ones worth the extra ten minutes' walk, or the detour off the motorway. All of them pour Nirvana. None of them will cost you Tuesday.
The Guildford Arms
A proper contender for London's best garden, full stop. Lawned, leafy, and big enough that you'll actually find a table.
Cocky Anchor
Walled, quiet, and looking straight at Romsey Abbey. A proper suntrap for a slower kind of afternoon.
The Bo-Peep
A genuine countryside garden, minutes from the M25 — a 14th-century pub with the kind of sprawling patio that makes you forget you're still in Greater London.
Fox & Firkin
Big enough to double as a festival site (and does). Bunting, a stretch tent, and room for a proper crowd.
The Malt Shovel
Tucked under the willows, exactly what a pub garden should be. Recently named Gastro Pub of the Year — the garden alone makes the case.
The Old Mill
Canal-side, with an old mill weir for company. Green umbrellas, string lights, and a setting you won't get anywhere else on this list.
Prince of Wales Townhouse
Biergarten benches, private huts, and a heated roof for when the sun doesn't play ball. Built for a long, unhurried session.
