The best pubs in Camden
Last updated August 2026 · 8 pubs · Camden Town, Kentish Town, Mornington Crescent and one detour towards Holloway
A personal list of favourites, and deliberately not the pubs in the middle of the Camden Town crush. These are the ones a short walk out, where the locals actually drink: an Irish local, a canal-side garden, a proper football pub, a destination gastropub, a cask ale hideout and one rock institution.
Every pub here has been drunk in, repeatedly, by the person recommending it. And as ever: if any of them surprises you at the card machine, file a report. If they get it right, and these mostly do, nominate them for the Hall of Saints.
Camden pubs at a glance
In a hurry? Match what you're after to the right pub, then jump to the details.
| Pub | Best for | Where |
|---|---|---|
| The Sheephaven Bay | Guinness and Irish hospitality | Mornington Crescent |
| The Constitution | A pint in the sun by the water | Camden Town, on the Regent's Canal |
| Abbey Tavern | Watching the football | Kentish Town |
| The Parakeet | Food worth booking ahead for | Kentish Town |
| Prince Edward | A quiet, unfussy pint | Parkhurst Road, up towards Holloway |
| Tapping the Admiral | Cask ale and character | Castle Road, between Camden and Kentish Town |
| The Hawley Arms | Visitors, music and rock history | Camden Town, near Camden Market |
| Old Eagle Pub | A classic corner local | Royal College Street, Camden Town |
How this list was chosen
No sponsorships, no listicle recycling, no pubs included because they photograph well. This is one drinker's honest shortlist, restricted to pubs outside the central Camden tourist strip, each picked because it does one thing better than anywhere nearby. Types range from traditional locals to a modern gastropub, so there should be a right answer here whatever kind of night you're after.
The Sheephaven Bay: best Irish pub in Camden
Irish pubMornington Crescent · 2 Mornington Street, NW1 7QD · Best for: guinness and irish hospitality
A proper Irish local tucked behind Mornington Crescent, a few minutes' walk from the crowds. The Guinness is looked after, the sport is on when it matters, and the welcome is the kind that makes one pint turn into three.
Come here when you want a pub that feels run by people, not a brand. If Camden's high street has worn you down, this is the antidote.
The Constitution: best canal-side pub in Camden
Canal-side pubCamden Town, on the Regent's Canal · 42 St Pancras Way, NW1 0QT · Best for: a pint in the sun by the water
Sat right on the Regent's Canal off St Pancras Way, with a terrace made for slow pints on a warm afternoon. Watch the narrowboats go by and forget the market crush exists.
On a sunny day this is the first place in Camden worth heading to. Arrive early if you want a spot by the water.
Abbey Tavern: best Camden pub for watching football
Sports pubKentish Town · 124 Kentish Town Road, NW1 9QB · Best for: watching the football
The place to watch the match in Kentish Town. Big screens, a proper crowd on match days, and a decent garden for when the game's not going your way.
If your question is "where can I actually see the screen and hear the commentary?", this is the answer.
The Parakeet: best gastropub in Camden
GastropubKentish Town · 256 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2AA · Best for: food worth booking ahead for
A destination pub in Kentish Town with cooking serious enough to plan an evening around. Handsome room, open fire, and food that has put it on lists well beyond north London.
Book if you're eating. The bar still works perfectly well for just a drink, which is more than can be said for most pubs this good at food.
Prince Edward: best quiet local near Camden
Neighbourhood pubParkhurst Road, up towards Holloway · 38 Parkhurst Road, N7 0SF · Best for: a quiet, unfussy pint
The furthest flung entry on this list, a stride up the Camden Road at 38 Parkhurst Road on the Holloway side, and worth every step. A traditional local that does the simple things right: a well-kept pint, a seat, and no one trying to sell you an experience.
Pick it when you want conversation over atmosphere. It's the sort of pub you take someone to when you actually want to talk.
Tapping the Admiral: best cask ale pub in Camden
Cask ale pubCastle Road, between Camden and Kentish Town · 77 Castle Road, NW1 8SU · Best for: cask ale and character
A hidden gem on Castle Road with a rotating line-up of well-kept cask ales and a fiercely loyal following. Easy to walk past, hard to leave once you're in.
If real ale is the reason you go to the pub, make this your first stop in Camden and judge everything else against it.
The Hawley Arms: best Camden pub for visitors
Music pubCamden Town, near Camden Market · 2 Castlehaven Road, NW1 8QU · Best for: visitors, music and rock history
The Camden institution, a short stumble from the market, and the one to send tourists and visiting friends to. Rock and roll on the walls and usually on the stereo, and more musical history than most actual venues.
Local tip: there's an upstairs, and it's easy to miss from the bar. Head up for a whole extra room and the roof terrace in summer, often with seats when the ground floor is heaving. Go off-peak if you can.
Old Eagle: best traditional corner pub in Camden
Community pubRoyal College Street, Camden Town · 251 Royal College Street, NW1 9LU · Best for: a classic corner local
A traditional corner local on Royal College Street with a real community feel. The sort of pub every neighbourhood used to have, and Camden is lucky to still keep.
Regulars at the bar, a dog or two on the floor, and prices that won't ambush you. What more do you want?
Which Camden pub suits you?
- Watching the match: Abbey Tavern.
- A pint of Guinness done properly: The Sheephaven Bay.
- Sunshine and water: The Constitution on the canal.
- A meal worth the journey: The Parakeet (book first).
- Cask ale: Tapping the Admiral.
- Showing visitors around, music and Camden atmosphere: The Hawley Arms, and remember the upstairs.
- A quiet catch-up: Prince Edward or the Old Eagle.
Camden pubs: common questions
Where do locals actually drink in Camden?
Mostly a short walk away from the high street and the market: around Mornington Crescent, along the Regent's Canal, and up towards Kentish Town. Pubs like The Sheephaven Bay, Tapping the Admiral and the Old Eagle are locals' pubs first and destinations second.
What is the best pub in Camden for watching football?
The Abbey Tavern in Kentish Town. Big screens, a proper match-day crowd, and a garden for half time. It's the most reliable place in the area to actually see and hear the game.
Which Camden pub is best for food?
The Parakeet in Kentish Town. It's a destination gastropub with cooking worth planning an evening around. Book ahead if you want to eat, though the bar works fine for just a drink.
Where can I drink by the canal in Camden?
The Constitution, just off St Pancras Way, sits right on the Regent's Canal with a terrace by the water. On a warm afternoon it's the best outdoor pint in Camden.
What's the best pub near Camden Market?
The Hawley Arms on Castlehaven Road, the famous Camden music pub, a couple of minutes from the market and the best pick for tourists and visitors. It gets busy, but don't miss the upstairs: there's a whole extra room and a roof terrace that many first-timers never find.