Why the Buckingham Arms Is Worth Seeking Out
If you’re exploring London’s historic pubs or looking for a particularly good pint of real ale, the Buckingham Arms in Westminster is worth seeking out.
Tucked away on Petty France, just a short walk from Buckingham Palace, this traditional Young’s pub has earned a remarkable distinction: it’s one of only five pubs in Britain to have appeared in every edition of the Good Beer Guide, published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), a British organization dedicated to traditional beer and pub culture.
But there’s more to discover here than an exceptionally well-kept pint. Inside, you’ll find a Victorian-style interior with etched-glass mirrors, stained-glass screens and a curious little space known as the Alley Bar.
Know Before You Go
Crowds: Popular with Westminster office workers, particularly at weekday lunchtimes and after work. Expect a lively atmosphere and limited seating during busy periods. Weekday mid-afternoons are generally quieter.
Food & Dining: The pub serves traditional British favorites, including savory pies, fish and chips, and Sunday roasts. Check the pub website for current menus and kitchen hours.
Reservations: Tables can be booked for dining. If you’re just stopping in for a pint, you can generally walk in, although finding a seat may be difficult when the pub is busy.
What’s the Pint Pick?
Order a pint of Young’s London Special, if it’s available on cask. This traditional premium bitter has a richer, maltier character than Young’s lighter London Original and is a fitting choice for a pub celebrated for the quality of its real ale.
Order your pint or half-pint at the bar and pay when you order. If the card machine prompts you for a tip, you can press skip. Digital prompts are increasingly common these days, but tipping is still not customary when buying drinks at a London pub bar counter.
So what’s so special about the beer here?
A place in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide isn’t something a pub can simply buy. Each year, local CAMRA members assess the quality of cask ales and help select which pubs deserve inclusion.
Maintaining that distinction for more than 50 years is a remarkable achievement in consistency. CAMRA recognized the Buckingham Arms with a Golden Award in 2021.
You’ll generally find Young’s London Original and London Special alongside other cask ales and changing guest beers, although the selection can vary.
What to Look For Inside the Buckingham Arms
Step inside and you’ll find a handsome curved bar surrounded by dark woodwork, traditional seating and beautiful etched-glass mirrors. These mirrors are among the pub’s most attractive surviving historic features, retained during a 2009 refurbishment that also introduced the stained-glass screens dividing parts of the interior.
Look for the narrower side area known as the Alley Bar, an unusual feature of the pub’s layout that offers a different perspective on the main drinking room.
The building dates to 1898, but the site’s drinking history stretches back much further. A tavern called The Bell stood here in the 1720s, later becoming the Black Horse before the present building was constructed and renamed the Buckingham in 1901.
Address: 62 Petty France, Westminster, London SW1H 9EU
Nearest Station: St James’s Park
Website: Buckingham Arms
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