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    Swan

    4.1 (294 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Swan Photos

    SWAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Swan

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    Reviews With Photos

    Atmosphere
    Kristen M.

    The food was really delicious! Everything was made using seasonal fruit and vegetables, and cooked perfectly. We enjoyed the beautiful views, the convenience to the theater, and our attendant was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient.

    Classic Tea

    This afternoon tea was AMAZING. it was better than I expected. We were visiting london during easter and wanted to experience the iconic london tea. I believe we got the class london package and it was more than enough. Also the service was incredible. Our server was very attentive and kept offering us more tea. We also had a nice view of the water.

    Rose L.

    Perfect afternoon tea setting on btwn rain showers. They took me with no reservation and it was yummy!!!

    Afternoon tea
    Emily B.

    Came here for Afternoon tea. Was such a great atmosphere and wonderful staff. Did a walk-in right when it started on a Saturday morning with a minimal wait. We ordered the Classic and the Gentleman's. Good amount of food and it was all pretty yummy. Would recommend it as a tourist!

    View from our table
    Lauren P.

    If you want a filling afternoon tea with spectacular views for a good price, look no further than Swan London! The staff was friendly and quick. We came just in time for their holiday themed tea packages. I had the Classic tea and my partner had the Gentleman's tea. Both had a fabulous mix of sweet and savory. My favorites were the eggnog and nutmeg cheesecake on a speculoos biscuit, and the scones with all the fixings. The tea was also lovely - I had the Earl Grey and my partner had the Pear and Ginger. Can't recommend Swan London enough if you're looking for fun, British tradition to partake in. You definitely won't leave hungry or thirsty!

    Victor M.

    We were visiting and walking the Blackfriar section of London along the Thames where the Shakespeare Globe Theatre is located. We wanted to take a break and found the Swan literarily next to the Globe with a nice outdoor patio off the bar and a view of the Thames. The upstairs restaurant was serving afternoon tea so we had to sit in the bar. It was a comfortable and pleasing indoor and outdoor space that overlooks the Thames. We weren't looking to having lunch or dinner, but we ordered a couple of dessert items with our cocktails. I am a sucker for scones so we ordered the homemade scones which were good but a bit doughy. Add the clotted cream and strawberry jam, though, I still enjoyed it. We also ordered the sticky toffee pudding. It was very traditional and exceptional. Swan is a nice place for a refreshment stop and break along the Thames. Service was adequate. I would consider having afternoon tea and/or dinner if I am back in this area again.

    Bruno M.

    Had a lovely afternoon tea here. Location is top notch, great views of the river and the north bank. Service was excellent; no complaints. Scones were spot on, tea was of a high standard. Would recommend!

    Classic "Mucho Ado About Tea" Afternoon Tea
    Ashley S.

    Afternoon tea is a quintessential London experience for visitors. In doing research, I found that Swan is listed in various blogs and so I gave it a try! In summary, this is an option to be considered if you are mindful of budget and are it is an efficient location near attractions. I would not recommend for someone looking for a memorable afternoon tea experience. We'll start on the high note... Pros: - Location - Swan is nestled in among many iconic London attractions. It shares the building with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and is easy to find either by walking - we personally enjoyed the lovely Thames river walk - or you can also arrive via the relaxing Thames Uber boat. - Price - Many afternoon tea locations are upwards of £50. Swan has affordable options at £40. I ordered the Classic Afternoon Tea and left with a full tummy! - Alternate Diet Options - I am not sure if this has become common everywhere, but there were a variety of menus including vegetarian and vegan! - View - It seems like for anyone doing afternoon tea, you get seated upstairs with a view of the Thames and St. Paul's Cathedral across the river. The windows were cracked open to let in a lovely breeze. It was gorgeous and relaxing. Cons: - Food Quality - I am an American and I have to say that the scones tasted like doughy biscuits. Other scones I've had in London were flaky and flavorful but these did not impress. I even asked an English couple next to me what they thought, and they said these scones tasted like the kind you get in a complimentary hotel buffet. The dessert items were fine too, but reminded me of the kind of treats you get from event catering. Compared to bakeries, these treats didn't taste like they were made with craft and care. The sandwiches were 80% bread and 20% filling, but I will admit that I am not sure if that is typical of afternoon tea or not. - Service - For a location that advertises Shakespearean-themed tea, I was surprised that no one did an explanation of the menu or how the items are themed. Seems like a missed opportunity to take this tea from being simply tea to being an experience. In general, service was fine - nothing to complain about and nothing notable. - Atmosphere - It was a pretty place, but aside from a wall of photos of the Shakespeare's Globe plays, there wasn't anything that really themed it to Shakespeare. And if you're still planning to visit here are some other info based on my experience: - Don't forget to book a reservation. But only book if you are sure because there are cancellation fees. - In looking around at other guests while I was there, it does not look like there is a dress-code. This might be a plus for someone trying to do a variety of activities in one day!

    GENTLEMAN'S TEA
    Chie J.

    Beautiful location with the Thames river view right next to Shakespeare's Globe. I am not into sweets so I was happy to see their savory Afternoon tea options (GENTLEMAN'S TEA ) Black pudding Scotch egg Beer battered Scottish haddock and chips Arbroath smokie, horseradish cream toast Slow-cooked pulled Scottish beef, gherkin, Scottish whiskey brioche bun Haggis, beetroot and apple tartlet Isle of Mult cheddar scone with Blue Murder cheese butter Cranachan, raspberry curd and vanilla bean namelaka filled tartlet We were 2 adults and 2 kids and asked our server if there were kids' option. He said no. So we did not want to be rude and ordered 3 regular and 1 Gentleman's afternoon tea. Unfortunately we could only finish 15 % of the food and left 2 towers untouched. I hate to waste food.

    Montage of images from Swan
    Ed U.

    Jamie W. was determined to have fish and chips at least once during our recent brief trip to London. You know...Pip-pip, cheerio and all that sort of rot. We thought we found a place in Borough Market called (amusingly) Applebee's, but the manager was rudely abrasive and kept us waiting outside the restaurant when he had plenty of open tables available. Buh-bye. Applebee's. Hello Swan. We were greeted a lot more thoughtfully here even though they were twice as busy. Without a reservation, we were led to their small lounge where luckily a couple of chaise lounges and a coffee table were ready to be inhabited by us. At first, we didn't see 'fish and chips' on the menu but soon recognized that they spun the name for a more gourmand palate. It was the £18 Curious Brew Battered Haddock which came with 'chunky chips', crushed peas, and tartar sauce. We both ordered it, and they arrived on huge wooden boards that took up most of the coffee table (photo: https://bit.ly/3P580fK). It was just what Jamie wanted, and I liked it, too, because the fish was fresh and flaky and the crust not too overwhelming. The chips were indeed thick steak fries in an aluminum cup, so we asked for a full bevy of condiments -ketchup, mustard, and mayo. The server was responsive and thoughtful with our idiosyncrasies and freely replenished our Diet Cokes without us having to ask. It was also a great location for tourists like us who enjoyed strolling along the Thames on Bankside next to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. FOOD - 4 stars...authentic fish and chips done right AMBIANCE - 4 stars...convivial spot, great location SERVICE - 4.5 stars...the server was aces TOTAL - 4 stars...in hindsight, we're glad Applebee's treated us like dirt RELATED - Exploring London? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3zFACrx

    Nice lights
    Nathan K.

    After touring the globe theater which I also highly recommend. I came here for lunch. The food is fantastic. This might be my favorite battered fish ever. The view is great. And prices reasonable. What sucks is the service is atrocious. They were strange from the go. They seemed surprised about needing to seat me. And then after seating me, it took 30 minutes to get someone to actually take my order. I'm pretty sure the wait staff just didn't communicate a shift change or something. I wouldn't come here if you are in a pinch for time. Or want to get a pleasant service experience.

    Sultans and plain scones
    Michele T.

    Reservations for afternoon tea are a must. Made ours weeks in advance, and there was only one 3:45m time slot left. Arrived early and, when asked, they let us sit as our table was available. Afternoon tea options included a Queen's, vegetarian, vegan, or Gentleman's tea. Mom and I ordered the queen's, daughter ordered the vegetarian, and the men ordered the Gentleman's teas. The sweets and scones were the same for the queen's and vegetarian teas. The scones with the clotted cream and strawberry preserves were the stand outs for me. So good! The tea sandwiches were ok and, unfortunately, the sweets were disappointing. The chocolate was grainy and the macaron was overly sweet. No real flavor to any of them. As for the Gentleman's tea, they were definitely filling. The hubs' fave was the sausage roll - flavorful even with the pastry being kinda hard. Rarebit had an interesting flavor. I thought the mashed peas were flavorful. The tiers were all presented beautifully and our table was overfilled with tea pots. Service was just ok. No one checked on us and we could've used more sugar cubes to go with our teas. Nice experience and I appreciated the options.

    Fish and chips
    Sharon S.

    Had a wonderful lunch here before seeing a show at the Globe. The fish and chips was delicious!! The fish was perfectly beer battered-just how I like it and the fish was fresh. The chips were nice and crispy. A+!!!

    Sweets

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    Swan Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Swan

    This charming pub situated directly next to Shakespeare's globe is perfect for a pint before or after a show.

    Mentioned in 56 reviews

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    Battersea Pie - Battersea Pie

    Battersea Pie

    4.1(87 reviews)
    1.1 miCovent Garden, Strand
    £

    Battersea Pie Station, under the arches of the lower ground floor of Covent Garden's Market…read moreBuilding, serves up proper British grub. Simply look for The Pie Shop sign and pick your pie which is served with silky smooth mashed potatoes and lashings of rich gravy. Every time I eat a pie this place is my benchmark for the best pies ever! The  menu at Battersea Pie Station includes classics like steak and stout, minced beef and onion and chicken and mushroom, plus more creative, veggie options including butternut squash and goat's cheese. The steak and stout is my ultimate favorite! This place is my go to pie place every time I'm in London. I always try to stay in Covent Garden just so I can come here. This is my basis of the perfect meat pie with the pleasingly firm crusts and sides of mash and roasted potatoes are so delicious. The rich red-wine gravy comes separately in a small jug. I smother the pie with the gravy. Ingredient quality was excellent. They have mini pies and the regular sized pies. Even for a counter-service place this little cafe is terrific value - and you will be surprised that for Covent Garden you can eat a reasonably priced and uber delicious meal that makes me full the whole day! 5 stars can't wait to come back!

    Mrs. Lovett has nothing on this place! Perfect for a quick humble meat pie dinner before a fancy…read morepants opera. Every dish I tried was a hit. Minced Beef & Onion: The most popular, apparently. Smooth and moist inside with a buttery flaky outside. Steak & Stout: Same great crust, but with a very distinctive inside, chunks of firm roast and thick gravy where you could actually taste the stout. Probably my favorite pie here. Chicken & Mushroom: A nice variation from beef, but by no means lesser. With it's large chunks and umami gravy, this was like a quick hit fix for when craving a proper chicken pot pie. Mash & Gravy: The mash was smooth and buttery. The gravy was more than plentiful. Kinda lives under the shadow of the delicious pies though. Sticky Toffee Pudding: Good, but not great. The toffee sauce felt a bit too thick and wasn't as warmed as I like it. The sponge cake was alright, but kinda dry, like they just plopped into the toffee sauce puddle. But it did do a good job of soaking up the sauce with a little spoon dexterity.

    Photos
    Battersea Pie - All the pies! Battersea Pie

    All the pies! Battersea Pie

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    Mince Meat & Onion pie, Battersea Pie

    Battersea Pie - Pie time

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    Pie time

    Swan - british - Updated May 2026

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