Not good food and not good service. The Wellington two doors down was what this place wishes it was. The fried and cooked food was overdone (in a major way), the menu wasn't accurate, and the service was simply terrible. I don't think I've given a 2-star review ever. The food was edible and they have drinks, that's the saving grace. It was not busy whatsoever on a Saturday and that should have been our signal to avoid it. read more

Came here for a showing of the Lion King - such an energetic and inspiring production! The theater is gorgeous and staff was friendly and efficient. Different from shows back home, you can buy snacks to enjoy during the show (crisps, popcorn, drinks, etc). read more

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We ordered the steak and bitter ale pie and steak and kidney pudding. Both are delicious! The steak and kidney got many pieces of kidney chunks. read more

I thought the food and location were excellent. I recommend this to anyone looking for good pub food and a place to get a pint of beer. read more

The Lyceum - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Another Samuel Smiths hangout in another well-frequented part of town. They know how to do pubs, these people. The prices are a massive plus, obviously, and you know what you're getting every time you set foot in one. And that's a good thing - none of the, 'Oh, I hope they have Star,' or, 'They better have Grolsh,' that you get at other places. Good ole' Alpine and Taddy. They're like your oldest, most reliable friends. Not to sound too alcoholic, I'll move on to the decor. I like that each Samuel Smiths place manages not to make you feel like you're in a chain, even though you really are. In the Lyceum, there are the booths that I've mentioned in The Chandos, just around the corner, but these are better acoustically, and the whole place has a nice relaxed atmosphere. Upstairs they serve hearty pub grub for good prices. This is definitely a place for a long evening session, even if those craving a quality Sunday roast might be best advised to go elsewhere. read more

The Lyceum - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Solid pub in the West End, they offered me tastes and were friendly. Low-key vibe though it may pick up at night. I would return for a pint or two with friends. read more

The Lyceum Tavern is a great pub, popular with King's College Students. Its food is very very good value - they specialise in excellent pies but have other pub food options which are very tasty as well. My beer-drinking friends always compliment the choice of ales available. read more

The Lyceum - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

A great pub away from the tourist traps. An excellent selection of classic British pub fare, including starters, main courses (unfortunately they RAN OUT (!!!) of Fish and Chips), and desserts . Having a separate food area upstairs makes for a more mellow, family-friendly eating environment. read more

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The kitchen was closed by the time we got here but that wasn't the main reason we visited. We came for their Samuel Smith selection and it did not disappoint. Priced between 3£ to 4£ per ale, this place was not expensive in any way. Having Sam Smith on tap is 10x better than the bottles we get in the States. 4 stars. read more

The Lion King is currently being performed here in this wonderful theater! If you're in London, definitely come here to enjoy the show,m tickets are being sold all over or online, but the theater is gorgeous inside, the seating is comfortable, and the plush red tones all over really give a great ambience to the experience. The Lion King was an amazing performance, I hope you will enjoy the same experience as I have! read more

I love Sam Smiths pubs, but this one is not my favorite. When it's lively, it's great. Same price and same pints so you know what to expect. It's often filled with students as it's near several universities. What makes me give this three stars, though, is that when it's not filled with students or rogue tourists, it's really strange. It feels kind of gross, and not in a dive bar kind of way. All of a sudden, it's mid-afternoon (don't judge me) and you're thinking about the how gross the carpets are and wondering the last time they cleaned, well, anything. But it's a Sam Smiths and I make very little money, so I'll undoubtedly go back. read more

Charming but not wonderful. The pickle sandwich must be a London tradition because it was horrid. I don't know if this was how it was supposed to be or not but relish, bbq sauce and unmelted shredded cheese just don't go together. The rest of the food - potato pie and burger were good and the beers were fine. Service was nice as was the decor. read more

As a non ale/ drinker, I think I lost out on the appeal most people have to this place. However, having been here more than any other London pub, in the last few months, I have grown quite accustomed to it. No, not to ale. To the pub. Thanks. I may be a smoker, but I have taste. Their wines are pretty good, and not the usual options you'd find in pubs, which was actually a somewhat refreshing change (oddly! I want my Pinot!). They have a little smoking area downstairs at the back (and to the side), which is nice as it saves having to push through the crowds of people. Oh dear lord, the crowds of people! Every time I've been in here, there has been literally *ONE* table available, at most. The place is popular and gets very crowded, even starting just after lunch time when I'm sure those guys in suits are still meant to be at work. As mentioned by someone else, the bar staff seem both friendly and efficient, which is nice. If you're lucky in getting a seat, or don't mind waiting, it's a nice enough bar to hit up when in the area - especially for something a little different from any of the 1001 other bars within a minute walking distance of this one. read more

This is the first and only Samuel Smith pub I visited on a recent trip and was blown away by their Wheat Ale. I'm giving it 4 stars for that beer alone. As for the place, it appears to be a very nice traditional pub with a dart board and booths to lounge. If I had to go back, I would be more than OK with it. read more

A very serviceable Sam Smith's right on the Strand. Its function yesterday was as a pre-theatre meeting place, and for that it worked well -- although it was rather busy I did manage to grab the last couple of seats in the lounge bar upstairs. Friendly and competent bar staff (even on a busy early Saturday evening), good beer, friendly people, acceptable food (well, standard "pub grub" -- nothing awesome, but reasonable)... there are far worse places to drink or grab a quick bite to eat on the Strand. read more

Start with 3 stars. Gain 1 for the location. Gain 1 for it being a Sam Smith's and thus well-priced. Lose 1 for the food being "ok" but not great. Gain 1 for it having a nice atmosphere, and there being a couple of seats available at any one time. Lose 1 for the (awesome) snugs not being quite awesome enough in terms of size or being able to have two separate conversations happening. All told, good pub/ read more

Very patient bartender called in on his day off due to the crowd from the marathon! Friendly service and nice surroundings. Will return when the marathon crowd heads out to try their pub fare! read more

This is a great little pub just a short distance away from EVERYTHING. I met a few local friends here one night on their recommendation. It has a very old timey (well, old timey for someone from America) feel to it; enclosed booths on the ground floor, vintage photos, portraits, and news articles on the walls throughout and a beautiful bar. It wasn't too crowded for a Tuesday night. The best thing about this pub is the value. Pints were only about £3-4, which is a remarkable price for such a centrally-located place. Needless to say, we put down a few to take advantage of the price. read more

I came here yesterday for a Sunday beer with my boyfriend and a couple of his friends. The little seating alcoves are just adorable. I like that it's cheap, the lady behind the bar was super friendly (& super apologetic about ID'ing me!), and that it's just round the corner from my work. I will definitely return! read more

Decent Sam Smiths pub, this. Two floors, standard décor and the trusty self-brewed, cheap (but still tasty) beers on tap. Unless you're a tourist, and there were a lot in here given the theatres close-by, you know what you're getting into with a Sam Smiths. No music, but a chatty atmosphere and lighting that will have you straining your eyes as you leave. Not the best one in their chain, but central and spacious enough to make this a favoured meeting spot for post-work bevs. Thanks Samuel. read more

I think this is probably one of the best pubs around the Strand area- it is a traditional old pub, with cheap good beer (it is a Samuel Smith pub) and a good, mixed crowd (it isn't completely full of local students from Kings and LSE or business men, and is just far away enough from Covent Garden that it doesn't attract tourists) There are some lovely old booths at the front of the pub which can fit about 4 people in and a huge room upstairs which is perfect for large groups. read more

Another great Samuel Smith pub in a convenient location serving good and inexpensive beer in an English-y setting. I love Sam Smith pubs (The Rising Sun and the Princess Louise are probably my faves but it's a tough call). Maybe it has to do with being an American, but something about these pubs just seem right. The dark tone wood, the nooks and cozy spaces ... The lyceum is well situated on The Strand with a lovely upstairs space that's usually more quiet and a bit comfier than below. read more

The Lyceum is a great Sam Smiths pub on the North side of Waterloo bridge. It's wood panelled and quite cosy. I think the downstairs area is best as there are some little booths with built in tables that are good for small groups to chat in and offer some privacy. There is a medium sized bar there too. The upstairs is less characterful, although they do take food orders. I think this ends around 7:00pm. The drinks are reasonably priced considering the pubs central location just on the edge of London's West End. Overall a reasonably priced pleasant place to meet for a drink with friends. read more

There's not much to dislike about the Lyceum. The prices are excellent, it's in a nice part of town and I go to school nearby so no complaints there. It can get very busy as the inside, but isn't that just about everywhere? I haven't been here when it's not busy, but the insanity gives it a nice atmosphere. I can imagine it's a bit lonely when not teeming with students from KCL or LSE. I'm not an ale drinker so I can't comment on that, but I've heard good things and it generally misses the tourists, so give it a try. read more

I'm glad to have found this pub at the corner of Strand. It has lots of good stuff to offer especially ales so if you are ales drinker, this is the place. Mind you, it's a Sam Smiths's pub so don't expect those general names you see in normal pubs around. Good news, it's not expensive! Downstairs is always busy, there are some lovely tables at the front that look like bogies. Upstairs is less busy but apparently has less beer, you might have to get down for a drink and climb up for a seat, not a big problem anyway. read more

Another great Sam Smiths, there's always somewhere to sit down in here, whether it's the cute little booths downstairs, or the larger seating areas upstairs. This is a bit of a student haunt on week nights, but the mood is friendly and safe. The food is traditional pub fare, but always filling since the portions are nice and large. The drinks are very cheap, since it's a Sam Smith's. The staff are very pleasant, and since there's 2 bars, (one on each floor), there's rarely much of a wait. There are some cosy little areas as well, and the place is quite darkly lit, making it feel very snug and wintery. The only downside is that you need to keep an eye on your belongings downstairs since my friend's have had phones go missing. The staff were very helpful when this happened however. read more

This pub is a classic, in a great location with very reasonable prices for central London. Have been here countless times: the upstairs is often packed with students, the downstairs booths are perfect for smaller parties. It's usually quite busy, which gives it a great, happy vibe. The food selection here is limited (think: chips, a few sandwich options), but tasty enough. That's probably my only possible complaint. Great spot to gather with friends! read more

When my husband and I visit London we always eat at The Lyceum since about the easrly 1900's. The food is just great and so are the staff. I will be returning to London (my home town) next summer 2013 but with as friend this time and it will be her first experience eating their. I can't wait for my next meal at The Lyceum. Cheers Yvonne read more

Low key, unpretentious, in a sea of covet garden pubs. Nice place to grab a pint ( of Sam smith variety) and a fish&chip special in the cozy upstairs dining area. Kind to tourists. Percentage charge for credit cards. read more

Just a great place to have a beer. Extremely reasonable and great Samuel smith selection.

It's a Sam Smith's pub, so it has an advantage! The booths are nice and it's a great location, handy for theatres and restaurants. Only gripe is the exorbitant price for my lime and soda - 52p for the lime and £2.60 for the soda - yes for the soda! Making a pint of lime and soda £3.12!! My friends' pint of beer was £3.10 and pint of lager was £3.50. I'm all for 'drink responsibly' but think Sam Smiths and other pubs should make that choice make sense. read more

Samuel Smith Pub. You know it's cheap and awesome. This particular one is great for it's location. Right off Strand, great for a pop in. I'll save most of the details since it's the Old School Theme of the others, I really like the seating at Lyceum. Tons of booths and open spaces. Drink Up. read more

Typical brittish meals. Good burgers and pies. Lot of beers to test and drink. Bartender is so nice and let me taste some beers before choosing. A must see . read more

Because of it's close proximity to King's College and the LSE, of course it's full of students. But the atmosphere is very different upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs, it's mostly students. They're crowded around the small tables and tucked in little booths. Downstairs, it's a crowd that's a bit more older. Some look like regular barflies. Overall it's a great pub with cheap drinks, all around 3 pounds. I've been having the organic wheat beer... very nice... read more

Great pub with a solid darts board - totally let down by the South African manager. We came in as a group of 6 - our table only had 5 chairs - so a member of our group went upstairs and borrowed a stool to use on our table. The South African manager then snatched the chair away, whilst swearing at us and being generally a despicably human being. He didn't explain why we couldn't have the chair. We promptly finished our drinks and got up to leave because it's absurd to be treated like that by a member of staff. Upon leaving, I mentioned to the South African manager that we were leaving because of his behaviour, and that all he had to do was say that we couldn't have the chair, to which we would have apologised and carried on with our night. He once again became abusive and swore at me several times, and told me to get out of his "f***ing pub". We frequent Sam Smiths pubs all the time, and they are always staffed by lovely human beings - this one was run by a prat. read more

Lyceum Tavern: home of the cheapest pint in London. It gets very busy at the weekends, so make sure to head upstairs where there's tons of extra seating and another bar. I adore the little seating alcoves they have on the ground floor and, really, I could never see myself giving less than 4 stars to any place that offers a £2 pint. Honestly though, it is a fantastic place to get your drink on, but pretty ordinary if you're looking for pub fare. I'm sorry, I forget, did I already mention £2 pints? read more

Quite a nice little Olde Worldly real ale pub on the Strand on two floors. The place is wood pannelled and has an old coach house feel with some very cosy booths downstairs.There is plenty of seating on both floors, with an upstairs bar to boot. The bar staff were very polite and very efficient. I also liked the try before you buy policy that they had, which you don't always find in this type of pub. The choice of ales was certainly not the norm and were pleasantly very very palatable, especially the scrumpy cider that they had on tap and a very nice lager which the wife enjoyed; all very reasonably priced. The pub is also located reasonably close to a number of theatres. read more

A very touristy yet quiet pub around strand. As me and my partner were looking for a quick pick me up before attending Tate, we decided to come here. The gloomy smokey atmosphere and smell made me first question if it was a 'smoking inside' kind of pub. Quite and not so crowded, the wooden panels and patterned red floor carpet made it seem the place had not been renovated for a few decades. Upstairs one could smell a slight undertone of fish and beer. The quite atmosphere and a few tourists sitting. The food was standard pub food. Nothing special. My Korean style rice and curry and my boyfriend's butternut squash risotto was very standard with minimal effort to make the food a. It mor tasty. I would recommend the menu for this place to change in order to get a crowd that would be more keen on the actual venue, than just stop by because it was at a convenient locations. Us foodies would travel further for outstanding menus. read more

This a great little pub, on an otherwise dull corner of the Strand. It's always warm and inviting, although I've only ever been here in Winter and doubt it I would come in the summer. Part of the Sam Smith's chain, it doesn't sell any branded goods so they do their own brand of Coca-Cola etc. which come in rustic bottles and is a nice break from the norm. They are well priced drinks, and the wood pannelled booths downstairs are where you want to be! The dining room is a bit soulless and the food slightly below average but it's great for a couple of drinks and just over the bridge from Waterloo, a good place to meet for commuters and students alike. I did however once see mice in herehence my low star rating! read more

Worst - Burger - Ever! Obviously cheap supermarket frozen meat with stencilled grill pattern. Rest of the food also.. meh.. Nice to have a drink, not too crammed for the location when we were there. In total, could give the place three stars, or even four, if we wouldn't have done the mistake of ordering food, which kind of ruined it... Next time, if there'll be a next time, just drinks, nothing wrong with the drinks (except for wine..) read more