There's good news for regulars in Walthamstow Village: Time Out has named The Nag's Head on Orford Road the best pub outside central London for 2026.
The pick comes from the magazine's yearly list of London's 50 best pubs, which it says takes months of eating and drinking around the capital's pubs to put together. This year's top spot went to a flat-roofed pub in Clerkenwell, with the Coach and Horses in Soho second. For anyone wanting to stay away from the central crowds, Time Out's choice is the Nag's Head.
Time Out calls the pub a "cosy and eclectic neighbourhood boozer" for ale drinkers, pizza lovers and the many cats that live there. It's run by what the magazine calls an eccentric landlady, and the walls are covered in neon signs and pictures of cats. It is also the only pub in Walthamstow that doesn't let children in.
"Inside, faded sofas invite you to sink in for the afternoon, while a spacious beer garden provides plenty of room for sunny-day pints," the review says. "There's a warm, slightly scruffy charm to the place, with a genuine community feel and regular events including life drawing, pub quizzes and lots of live music adding to its character. There's plenty to do here, and that's why people come back for more."
Other pubs outside the centre on this year's list include Moylett's in Clapton, Skehans in Nunhead, a former number one, and the Blythe Hill Tavern in Catford.
