The Lamb & Flag, Covent Garden

I recently visited The Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden, and it truly lives up to its rich London heritage. This beautiful pub is brimming with old-world charm — warm, inviting, and full of character. Inside, the low ceilings, timber beams, and centuries-old atmosphere make it feel like stepping back in time. The food is hearty and comforting; the fish and chips were perfectly crisp with a generous portion, and the steak and ale pie with gravy was rich, flavourful, and absolutely satisfying — exactly what you’d hope for in a traditional London pub. A pub has stood on this site since at least 1772, originally known as The Cooper’s Arms, before becoming The Lamb & Flag in 1833. You can genuinely feel that history in every corner — a true testament to the care and effort of the owners in preserving such a beloved London institution. It’s a very special place, full of character and heart — a solid 5☆☆☆☆☆ experience and an absolute must-visit.

Everything was just incredible! We had London Pride, which was absolutely delicious. The sides weren’t anything special, but the staff was super friendly and welcoming. It’s definitely the pub I’ll be visiting every time I’m in London.

We ran into this pub by chance and what a pleasant surprise! A lovely hidden spot to enjoy a beer outside or have a snack inside surrounded by an ambience full of history. We stayed chatting with the bar tender, who let us try their selection of beers, super cool guy! Would gladly go back next time I'm in London ❤️

Amazing pub! Very old and full of character. It was already quite busy at lunchtime, but we managed to find a small table and tried some English beer. The service was excellent – the bartenders were very friendly, recommended different beers, and even offered tastings. The atmosphere was fantastic.

The Lamb and Flag Sunday roast didn’t quite meet expectations. The meat (beef and chicken) was chewy and dry, with the beef pieces containing about 25% unpleasant fat, which made it unappetizing. The side vegetables were the traditional ones, but the preparation was basic and lacked any flair—nothing interesting or outstanding about the whole meal. On a positive note, the staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was lovely. The space had a unique charm, being historically significant, which added to the overall experience.

I wasn’t happy that my chips were covered in gravy and soggy. Food was otherwise decent and a lovely place. MAKE A RESERVATION! I saw like 25 people turned away for not having a reservation. It was because they were fully booked.

Nened and Nathan were absolutely amazing. Nenad did recommend a particular gluten free beverage that was splendid (peroni gluten free), you can't find this in many places - I was pleasantly surprised. The pub has history and it's in a great location too. We only had the scotch egg but it was super tasty Highly recommend

A bit pricy but well worth it. Hard to find such good food in London. Try the beef and ale pie, phenomenal. Their scotch egg is also insanely good with the sauce

Exactly what we were looking for in a local pub. Bartenders were friendly, and it was bustling with activity. Beer suggestions were spot on. Love the history mixed with current local legends notes by name plaques by their favorite barstool.

You can't visit Central London without visiting a proper pub. And the Lamb & Flag is a proper pub that is worth a visit if you are taking a gander through Covent Garden. The bar itself has been known as the Lamb & Flag since 1833, but the property has been in existence going back to 1638, with it being a pub as early as 1772. The brickwork, as I discovered, is only a more recent buildout (1958). Being that I had researched online that the Lamb & Flag was one of the pubs to frequent, it was on my list to check out. Which we did on our second full day in London. I enjoyed a proper pint for the first time in a long time while my wife had her typical G&T. They were very appreciative that I paid in cash. The two drinks were 16 sterling, so I had no problem paying with a 20 note. Gave my credit card a breather. We grabbed some seats at a high-top table in the back of the pub at the tail end of the bar counter, where we enjoyed the come-as-you-are vibes and jovial chatter around us. A charming pub to enjoy a couple of drinks, and if you're hungry, upstairs serves a more bistro setting with a full menu of pub bites and main dishes.

Got lucky and got a table before the dinner rush. Great service. The best bangers and mash I've ever tasted. The Guinness pour was spot on.

Lamb & Flag was on my to-do-list when visiting London. Dined here on our first night. I love the alley way location as it was just. 6 minute walk from our hotel. It's one of London's oldest pubs and has an interesting and sordid history. It bears the nickname "The Bucket of Blood" from its reputation for staging bare knuckle fights. The first mention of this pub in this area dates back to 1772 with a name change in 1833. It still has its original brickwork with updates. I loved the creaking sounds of the wood floors when walking up and down the narrow stairs. The first floor is where people would gather for drinks. Upstairs is where we sat and ate dinner. We ordered fish & chips with a side of curry and a couple of local beers. Hubby ordered a burger. Fish & chips were amazing. Tender fish with a flaky crispy batter. The curry was for dipping the chips in. First time ever eating fish & chips this way but I was told that's how Londoners do it. So do as the locals do!

I enjoyed my time here. Came here for various reasons, and the outside was packed, as it was a beautiful day with a nice breeze. Ordered a beer, and was able to land a seat near the open doors. The vibe was great, busy but not annoying. Ordered some pub fare, and it was just okay. Would come back to drink with people easily.

When I think about pubs in London, I always compare against the Lamb & Flag. Oldest pub in Covent Garden, tons of outdoor drinking space in an secluded alleyway amidst the chaos of Covent Garden. I mean what more could you possibly want??

Quite enjoyed our visit here. We were seeing a show around the corner and looking for a quick and filling meal and Lamb & Flag was the perfect spot! I opted for the Haddock and Chips and got a side of curry sauce. When I've had curry sauce in the past with fish and chips, it's been more of a curry mayo, so I was a little surprised that it was just straight curry. Serve it over rice and it's a whole meal on its own. It was delicious but not quite what I was looking for when I ordered it. The fish was huge and came out hot and flaky. I also got some malt vinegar which was delicious with the fish and the chips. The peas were peas haha. My friend got the steak pie and I loved it

Old school comfy pub to catch your breath in the heart of London. Def recommend. Just had a half pint, sat for a bit, and enjoyed the ambiance.

Great food traditional pub grub. Definitely worth visiting again. Covent Garden is such a cool place too. Got a table just before the place filled up.

Ordered the fish and chips with a pint of a local ale. Service was great. We visited the pub during the weekday and it was nice to retreat to a cooler space as the day was warm. Wish I had more tartar sauce.. might have been the best I've had. With capers, and the tender informed us that it's made in-house.

Enjoy a pint at the same place that Charles Dickens once frequented. Although in the heart of London's most touristy neighborhood, Lamb & Flag is a welcome reprieve. Tucked away on a quiet side street, you can sneak away from the craziness to grab a drink and some bites with both locals and tourists alike. The top floor requires a reservation but the bottom is open seating. People move quickly in and out so don't be discouraged if you don't immediately find a spot to sit. We ordered two pints to enjoy over a plate of fish and chips. The fish was gigantic but tender and tasty! We loved getting to experience an authentic British pub and a piece of English history!

Bartenders are friendly, service is good and the ale is tasty. We enjoyed the bars atmosphere and feel. Scotch Egg is a must, I like bone marrow but wasn't a fan of this one.

I stopped in here as part of a bike tour. The guide had mentioned that this was one of the oldest pubs in London at over 400 years old. I'm not a huge beer drinker but could still appreciate the sentiment. Pro tip, if you find yourself in here and aren't into beer, try their cider

After a couple of pubs and pints we decided we needed some food and lucky we came across Lamb & Flag. It was very packed on the first floor but I went upstairs and they late us sit down and order food even though they would done taking orders within 15 minutes since they stopped at 9:00PM so we ordered quickly. A quick scan of the menu and we new what we wanted. We had to get a Scotch Egg, the Pigs in Blankets, and of course and order of the Beer Battered Haddock & Chips. We also saw they had a special Nutella Bread Pudding and we figured we needed something sweet with all the salty fried goodness. Our Scotch Egg and Pigs in Blanket came out first. I was a big fan of the Scotch Egg. The egg was soft-boiled so the yolk was still runny and that's how I like it. Makes it some much better. As Americans the Pigs in Blankets was different then we expected. Our normally come with sausage wrapped in a pasty but this was sausage wrapped in bacon. As an American I see nothing wrong there. Meat wrapped in more meat... Yes please. I will say the sausage was just OK though. Next out was our Beer Battered Haddock & Chips. The fish was great a lighter batter with great flavor and still perfectly crispy. We probably could have easily eaten another and once we were done we wished we had ordered 2. The chips were just fine but could have been a litter more crispy. The Nutella Bread Pudding was a great nightcap for us after all the salty fried goodness. Can't thank the friendly staff enough for taking us last minute. Make sure to check this pub out.

Such a fun time! This pub definitely had the traditional vibe we were looking for, and the food was one of the best meals we had in London. The Mac and cheese ball appetizer was good but maybe not great, but the entrees of pie and sausage were both truly excellent. I highly recommend them. And definitely stay for dessert! The sticky toffee pudding was quite a treat. A booth seat opened up shortly after we got seated and they were so nice to switch us over to that seat. That did cause maybe a bit of confusion or lapse in our service, because it took honestly quite a while for someone to come help us, but once we flagged down a waiter the service was really good so I think it was just an honest mistake. We had time anyway, so we weren't fussed. We would absolutely go back! I've already recommended it to friends going to London soon

Came here after singing some tunes at a bar near by and even though the kitchen was nearly closed the staff was nice enough to stay open for us. We looked over the menu quickly, asked for some recommendations and put in our order before the kitchen was officially closed. Our group of four decided on an order of pigs in blankets, black pudding Scotch egg, two orders of fish n chips and the best bread pudding I've ever had. The pigs in blankets and the scotch egg were nothing special. In fact I actually wouldn't suggest the pigs in blankets at all, they would have been better with a stone ground mustard sauce or something. The fish and chips however were some of the best I ate. The batter was light and crispy, the fish wasn't fishy at all and the chips had a nice crunch. The bread pudding was a last minute decision we saw it on the specials board and the waiter highly suggested it. When the bread pudding came out I was a bit confused because I'm not used to such solid looking bread puddings but it was perfect! Now for the best kept secret of Lamb and Flag.... They have the cutest little mouse pal that comes out when the dining room isn't busy. We lovingly called him Peter (I'm not sure what his given name is) and he was the most welcome surprise. Check out the video to see how cute he was!

Lamb & Flag is a must stop. If not for the food, just go for the history of it. But the good news is the food was pretty wonderful as well. We went on a nice July day. The ground floor has people drinking pints outside but we made a reservation for dinner and sat upstairs. Nice little dining area and wasn't too crowded. I had to get the steak and ale pie. I ate every bit of it. It was delicious and one of my favorite things I ate on my trip. I left super full and happy

This historic place is a real pub with somewhat limited food but tasty food. The food portion size is on the small size for lunch. The service was you would expect from a busy pub. The beers we'll forget about it they are great. Find this beer drinking hole in the wall establishment.

My mom and I went here twice on our holiday because we loved this place! Good service, helpful staff, ambiance is perfect for an older london pub. Food is delightful!!! Had pie of the day with a black& tan first; then wrapped up dinner with a pim drink and sticky toffee pudding (with salted caramel ice cream). Amazing history. Quite impressive food really! Will be back any time I'm visiting!

This place is historical landmark and a must visit in central London. Get a pint and relax and be part of history

This place rules. Ancient. Atmospheric. In a fun neighborhood. Does everything right.

Great spot for the classic pub experience! Ambience was great! The fish and chips were spot on and the sticky toffee pudding was a great way to cap it off.

A traditional and authentic British Pub hidden in the side streets of Covent Garden. The first floor is filled with crowds of young professionals having a pint and spilling into the cobbled streets out front. The second floor has a few dining tables. I had the Black Pudding Scotch egg to start which was perfectly crunchy on the outside and packed with flavor on the inside. And the egg was cooked perfectly. The lamb sausages were heavy and fantastic and exactly what you'd expect from a British Pub. My partner had the pie of the day which was beef and he enjoyed that also. Lastly, the sticky toffee pudding was the perfect way to end a full, heavy meal.

Such a fun place tucked away from the street! Come here for a pint and watch the Euro or enjoy a drink outside! My husband and I shared the meat pie and loved it! Great pub atmosphere!

Old school circa 1626. Service was friendly and fast. History all over the walls. Scotch egg wasn't my thing but was edible and claimed to be award winning. Fish and chips weee adequate but far from mind blowing.

Billed as the oldest pub in London ( a Charles dickens hangout?) this is a perfectly fine pub with a decent selection on tap. No outdoor seating but folks kinda hang out in the front/ it's set back on Rose la in a little nooc I suspect based on the accents more patronized by American tourists like ourselves than local. Nonetheless of fun place to have a few pints in the theater district with a friendly crowd and friendly staff. I think it's worth going for that

Busy, but a fine example of British Pub food. Service was way better than average. Clientele is primarily local, but friendly. The food was fantastic. My son and I enjoyed the sausage roll, the Haddock, and the truffled Mac and cheese. Fantastic food and great selection of drinks, with traditional ambiance. Be sure to stop in.

We visited Lamb & Flag for a traditional Sunday roast on our last afternoon in London and it was great! This pub feels very authentically British as the building itself has been around since the 1600s (and was allegedly one of Charles Dicken's favorite spots). I ordered the beef roast, and everything was delicious except the beef was a bit on the dry side. Loved the peas, cauliflower, gravy, and pastry! I got the sticky toffee pudding for dessert and although it was tasty, it definitely wasn't the best I've ever had. Overall, Lamb & Flag is a great dining experience or even just a fun place to grab a pint. Service was good too. I was glad I made a reservation because parties were getting turned away during the afternoon rush.

I first visited this historic pub 20 years ago, and it was ancient then. I have been back several times since. Dicken's hung out here, some Earl had a poet beat up in the 18th century in the alley..... Needless to say I love this pub for all its rustic flavor and atmosphere. Tucked away in an alley near Covent Garden this place is very popular with the after work crowd during the week, so it's not unusual to see customers over flowing outside into the courtyard. Good selection of beer and Cask ales. Dining is Upstairs. Sunday Roast was excellent with a Red Wine Gravy Yorkshire Pudding and sides. In 2003 I'm sitting at the bar with my pint and strike up a conversation with some guys sitting by me. I eventually asked if they thought I could get a picture behind the bar or if management might not approve. The one fellow said, "Sure, let's take one". I said are you sure it's ok? To which another guy said, "Must be, he's the owner". So we all got behind the bar and took the picture I posted below. How could I not go back to this place.

I havent been to the Lamb and Flag for ages... used to be an afterwork favoutite.... and I would still recommend it as a drinking pub. Sadly I booked a table of four for Sunday roast...and I cannot recomend. Have you have ever bought one of those Iceland Roast ready meals for under £3, well Icelands are 5 times better. The portion I got was smaller than a kids portion (we mentioned this and they did come out with more beef to their credit, it was served on a side plate and looked just like two trainer inner soles). Our bill was £170 for four below average roasts and two bottles of Merlot. I regretted not booking Gouchos, 2 mins away and it would have been 10x better and the same price. We had wanted a pub atmosphere but but but but but.......lesson learnt.. it is now just a tourist pub. Surely the Lamb and Flag can do better, even if it is for tourists, which I was visiting Covent Garden after all these years...

Definitely a must-stop if visiting London! My best friend and I heard great things about this place and they definitely lived up to the hype, with both the food and ambiance. For those visiting for the first time, the pub is located on the first floor, which is always so lively and usually packed. If you are feeling more like enjoying a sit down dinner, head up the stairs inside, and the dine in area will be on the second floor. While the second floor is small, we were lucky to get a table for dinner. The staff was both friendly and attentive. The food was delicious! They have the classic traditional British dishes, and they were to die for. I ordered the steak and ale pie with mash and greens, while my friend ordered the fish and chips. We both enjoyed our meal, as well as the atmosphere. We also tried the toffee pudding, which was super delicious. Will definitely come back, once we are back in London! Definitely recommend!

A great, authentic English pub with excellent food as well as a great selection of beers. Our server, Hannah, was outstanding!

Great historic neighborhood pub! Old stomping grounds of Charles Dickens. Friendly service and lively atmosphere. Good selection of beer. The fish and chips are fantastic!

A unique spot with lots of history. I think we would have enjoyed grabbing a beer and hanging out outside as it was more lively than being seated for a meal upstairs. I tried the lamb sausage and it was a bit too gamey for me. Beer was great and the service was friendly.

I just took my grandson to Lamb & Flag during his first trip to London. He was excited about the history and wanted to have his first Sunday roast here. Let me preface by saying the service and ambiance was excellent. However, the "roast" was an epic fail. The "roast beef" was obviously processed "meat" and was consistently a grey-brown color, uniform slices and looked like they rolled off a deli slicer. The pumpkin and swede mash was watery and the amount barely a spoonful. There were 3 small toast potatoes and a few overcooked carrots. The Yorkshire pudding was tough. Another guest in our party ordered the duo and her chicken was a dry, processed breast, not the bone-in piece we were told it would be. We received three £10 M&S ready-to-go meals and paid £115 ($145 USD). Sorely disappointed.

I needed a traditional fix. It was 6pm and the place was hoppin. I drank my beer in the alley out front. Yes, you read that right. We all stand around out in the street and drink beer. Good so far. I head upstairs for some fish and chips. Grabbed a table by the window, and order said food. drink more beer. Food arrives. Amazing. Is it crowded? Yes. Is it crowded for a reason? Yes. Go. Drink beer in the street. Eat fish and chips. drink more beer. You'll be happy and sleep well.

Our first meal in London was very memorable and delicious at this Pub/Restaurant built in 1682! We had reservations and were seated upstairs in the dining room. Good thing because the Pub/Bar was very busy! Our server Hannah was wonderful, explaining the different English beers and menu items. We tried the Scotch Egg that had black pudding. It was actually quite tasty! Nothing to be afraid of! We also tried the Lamb Sausages, Steak and Ale Pie, Haddock and Chips, Sticky Toffee Pudding and Cheesecake. Located in Covent Garden, it was close enough to walk from our hotel room! Highly recommend!

Great pub food!! Service with a smile and the Ambiance is cheerful local pub style. Overall experience was very pleasant.

*One of the oldest pubs in London! Dates back to the early 1600s. This was the perfect spot to drop in on a c-c-c-cold Saturday afternoon. My hands were numb and nose was red, and thankfully there was an instant feeling of warmth, good energy and comfort as soon as we stepped in. Order some mulled wine or classic pint of beer, grab a seat (if you can find one) or just hang around and take it all in. There's a lot of history behind this pub -- from Charles Dickens rumored to be a patron to housing bare-knuckle prize fights... *Shot out to Lam & Flag GM Patrick who notified me that the oldest pub in London is Ye Olde Cheshire cheese pub on Fleet street.

Definitely the best pub we visited while in London. Great setting on a quiet side street where the pub itself makes a great photo-OP. Traditionally decorated interior, with dark wood, framed memorabilia, name plates for regulars and a front and back room with plenty of seating. Upstairs bar as well where they were holding a local comedy night when we visited Nice selection of beers on tap. I tried several and really enjoyed the pale ale the most. The wife really enjoyed the mulled apple juice which was braced with a pour of sloe gin. The warm apple juice made the whole place smell like Christmas. Bartenders were very friendly and helpful, they allowed me to sample a a sip of a few beers to find the ones I liked. Certainly worth visiting if you're in Covent Garden/Soho area.

Food and atmosphere match the amazing history of this ancient pub. We came here 1st day in London for first meal based on a recommendation and I'll say it was a great into to the city, people and her food! Good to call ahead if you want a table though!

Ugh I just love the Lamb and Flag. Just good mems, super fun vibe, wasn't even annoying that my beer wasn't the best thing I've ever drank. L & F is a london must.

Honestly I had high hopes for this place. I had wanted to try an authentic British Pub while in London and this place kept coming up on every list of best pubs in London and was centrally located so I figured I would give it a go. The place is in a little alley just off of a busy street. The downstairs area you first walk into is the main bar area which is mainly for drinking and you will want to head up the stairs in front of the first bar if you're looking to have a sit down pub dinner. The downstairs area is very crowded and cramped and once primetime evening drinking crowd arrives there is very little room to breath much less move around in that area so just be warned about that in advance if you're planning to come just for a drink. My fiancée and I made our way upstairs and were asked by the host upstairs if we had reservations. We replied no as the host looked around the room with many tables and only 2 being occupied as if the place was about to suddenly get super crowded and busy with patrons who had made a reservation (spoiler alert: it didn't. Once seated we looked over the food and drink menu. The beer list here is quite small for a pub but had a few good local offerings. We started with the Scotch Eggs as appetizers and they were not bad honestly but it all went downhill from there. We both ordered the braised beef shoulder as it sounded really good in the description on the menu. What we received was the dryest, toughest, and most flavorless dish I've had in the longest time. Both of us had no desire to finish this dish we received. The mashed potatoes with it were no better. We ordered the sticky toffee pudding for dessert and while not terrible in no way made up for the terrible main course. Service was very slow and required flagging down the waitress on multiple occasions to get our dessert and then the check. All in all this place was a major disappointment that I would not recommend. When I'm back in London next time I will most definitely be trying a different traditional British pub in hopes it will be a better choice than Lamb & Flag.

Great atmosphere if you are looking for a traditional pub. Waitstaff was very friendly and helpful but the food was average. They were out of most of their menu due to World Cup game earlier in the day.

A Charles Dickens haunt! Great historic pub with great food! The Seafarers Ale went great with the minted lamb sausages and sweet potato mash. Great Scotch Egg as well! Great pub atmosphere and loved the narrow passageway when entering from the north.

So great. We went twice. Once sat downstairs in the dim lighting area in the back near the fireplace and got a great pie and a delicious sausage thing, a couple of pints, and a good conversation with the bartender. The next time we sat upstairs (which is a more lit room) and had fancy mushrooms and spinach on toast and fish and chips. Both great. And pints of course. Very traditional pub -- no screens, no music. Old drawings and diagrams on the wall. Perfect ambience. Highly recommended.

Kids not allowed on the first floor but don't fret, their second floor is! Our bike tour guide Whiskey Mike took us here for a drink break. This is a must place to check out while in London. Fish and chips is a must try! 400 year old pub! Older than anybody that you and I know! Great pub to hang out and have a drink. Don't forget to look at the little fight posters thats hanging on the walls.

Any place that was good enough for Charles Dickens is good enough for me! Head up an alleyway and you'll find this charming establishment founded circa 1620. It is charming and cozy inside with a large bar and tight seating. Venture upstairs and find a more spacious area with another bar and dining room with fireplace. The staff were extremely knowledgeable of local beers and helped our crew out. He suggested the spiked cider, which was a true delight after a long day outside. I got the steak pie, which had a crispy top and sat on a bed of the softest and most delicious mashed potatoes I have ever had. The steak was perfectly tender and the gravy on top was flavorful. My mother had the burger, which was also excellent. A true British pub, and so incredible!

Guinness was cold and refreshing. The ambiance, not so much. Quiet and had an interesting smell. Dark and no music. Bar was pretty empty so service was fast. Very old pub with history. If you care about that, check it out. If not, maybe avoid.