We unfortunately did not make reservations and found the dining room it to be full when we popped in during an afternoon. However, we were able to grab drinks and sit outside under heat lamps and enjoy a cocktail on property. What a fun property. Established in 1585 this place is history! Where Bram Stroker wrote Dracula, Henry Keats wrote a poem and Charles Dickens all frequented the place. read more

Loved this place! I had one night in London and picked this restaurant based on history and food. It did not disappoint! Service was friendly, it was clean and has soooo much history. Very cozy feel and my sausage and mash were excellent! They also have a parking lot too which is handy. Highly recommend! read more

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Stopped of at the Inn for a quick bite admittedly without a reservation at Saturday lunch. On a very windy day we were directed outside. Even though much of the better outside space was nearly empty we were asked to sit near the car park. In the end we ordered 2 coffees and a portion of chips which came to over £15 pounds. The coffees were warm not hot and the chips were cold and must have been sitting there a while. I know the legend was that Dick Turpin used to frequent this establishment but we felt definitely robbed! read more

One of my new favorite pubs. Right off of the Hampstead Heath, this is a cozy, old, classic English pub with great food. We got a variety of things to split, and it was a lovely ambiance outside. The food was also really excellent, particularly the scotch egg. Will definitely be back! read more

The Spaniards Inn - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Came alone for lunch after visiting Kenwood House. Lovely servers and the best scotch egg I've ever had. Mulled wine was delicious on a cold, rainy day. So much history here; you can feel it! As a party of one I was seated in a small side room and had to remind the servers I was there, but they were very friendly and welcoming. Be sure to walk around and see the different rooms and read about the history. The garden was closed due to weather but it looked marvelous. read more

The Spaniards Inn - Best scotch egg ever - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Aside from this place being a very cool, historic location, the Spaniards Inn was a great dining experience. The staff were great, explaining their offerings well and bringing samples of several beers and ciders before we ordered. The padron peppers were cooked perfectly and a great starter. But then, I had the Carmelized Celeriac dish as a main. If I say that it was one of the best dishes I've had in recent memory I'd be understating my enthrallment with this dish. And it's vegan. Come here, get the Caramelized Celeriac and enjoy the historic ambience. Another bonus, dogs are welcome. There were 5 including ours while here. read more

Awesome spot, excellent food. We came for breakfast and our server Erik was excellent. Also, some of the best coffee we Americans have found here yet! It was so great to be able to get a "traditional" english breakfast that was vegetarian (they also have a vegan option). read more

First time at Spaniards Inn. It was so worth the visit to Hampstead Heath. Highly recommend getting the Sunday roast and going for the pudding after -- delicious. Gina also provided excellent service! read more

The Spaniards Inn - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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this was on a list of historic london pubs I wanted to visit, and unfortunately was made to feel unwelcome. I was greeted by the host by being told every single table was occupied/ reserved and that I could only stand at the bar. Then the same host who told me nothing was available ignored me and accommodated other patrons with a table to drink at. Received odd suspicious looks from staff like I shouldn't be standing around drinking in a pub, despite being told that was the only option. read more

I traveled in Europe and lived in London for three years in the late 60's. Frequented The Spaniards Inn before so many tourists. The history of the place can be 'felt' and oozes from the floor boards where famous people including Keats and Shelly walked and worked. When in London, don't miss it. You will never forget it. read more

Came here on an Easter Monday when the sun was nicely shining. My friend drove here and was lucky enough to find a spot in their small carpark (fits maybe 20 cars?). You can either choose to sit inside, outside covered or uncovered so we chose outside since it was a nice day. We ordered a few things off the menu but the most delicious item was the chicken wings. FYI no table service, order the food from the bar and any bbq items directly from the bbq counter. The place is also dog friendly. Also loads of space for kids to run around. read more

Oh Boy! You want to talk about history and feel it? Then come to the Spaniard's Inn. Built sometime in the 16th century this place is older than Canada or the United States and still going strong! It's been mentioned in Charles Dickens' "Pickwick Papers" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The poets Lord Byron and John Keats were both regulars here. After a day of tramping through Hampstead Heath and Kenwood House, you're going to build an appetite and the Spaniard's Inn is the perfect place for a dinner and drinks afterwards. So what if it is in Zone 3? Your Oyster card should cover getting here and back no problem. I came in around 6pm for supper and there was no one else in the room I was seated. I did see a blaring fireplace and two chairs already occupied by some regulars, but I was quite happy to be seated in one of the booths in the side room. I made no reservations but had no problem coming in and being seated, probably because it was the middle of the week and early evening. I'm almost positive that their Sunday Roast dinners are very popular and the place is probably packed solid and you'll definitely need reservations then. I ordered a glass of wine, their Scotch Egg as a starter, followed by their British Beef Burger with Triple-Cooked Chips. It was way too filling for any room left over for dessert. All of it was excellent. Service is A-1, the girls who were serving me were really friendly and chatty and honestly for the quality of the food here, prices are very reasonable. Also because of the historical toll-house outside and the super-narrow street, you have all the traffic buzzing past your window. I'm certain this must be a lovely place in the summer months as well. I have no hesitation recommending this place, even for the experience of having a drink at such a historically significant pub and when I'm back in London, I'm definitely coming here again. read more

Nice final stop after long walk in the park. Best to be in no rush. Food & beer was good for all In the group. Fish & chips were very good. This place was built in 1585, not for the faint of heart who need pampering. read more

What a great way to spend father's day 2017 w family. Last time I was in the Spaniard's Inn I was studying abroad in London many many decades ago. The Inn was the first big 'night out' I attended at the end of that first week in school decades ago w class mates. For this Father's day our food was simply perfect on this very warm 30c degree day. Can't wait to go back to create more memories. read more

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In the leafy green heights of Hampstead in North London you can find one of the best and oldest pubs in the UK known as Spaniards Inn. Keep on reading if you fancy a bit of history with your beer! Originally opened around 1585 this legendary pub was built to accompany a tollhouse on the edge of the Bishop of London's vast estate and is said to have gotten it's name from early landlords in the form of two Spanish brothers. The tollhouse still exists due to it's grade listed status, although obviously no longer in use, and is said to be where the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin was apprehended by Police whilst attempting to make an escape. Historians believe The Spaniard Inn was a safehouse of Dick Turpin's with his father believed to have been the landlord at the time as he potentially used it to watch potential coaches to rob on the road in and out of London. There are also many accounts in old records after his death of people who claim to have heard and seen his him in the early morning fog along with the clopping hoofs of his famous steed Bess. Stories that prove very popular with tourists and ghost hunters alike. The pub itself both outside and in has been kept as traditional as possible with it's rustic yet cosy interior and roaring open fire; perfect for those cold winter evenings or lazy weekends. In the spring and summertime with the vast open green spaces around the pub, the large beer garden is also a very popular choice with locals and a popular place to take the family for a meal in their gastro pub restaurant. As well as one of the oldest pubs in Britain, due to it's location at the top of Hampstead, it also lays claim to being one of the highest pubs in the UK above sea level. Although any feelings of altitude sickness can most likely be caused by one drink too many! It would not surprise you to know with a pub as old and steeped in history as this to be able to claim some well known people as regulars such as the poet John Keats, the writer Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (of Treasure Island & Dr Jeckyl & Mr Hyde), the painters Sir Joshua Reynolds, William Hogarth and John Constable as well as the poet Lord Byron himself. So if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us so go and check out this gem of a pub! If none of that is has impressed you so far they always have alcohol! read more

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Man, I love this place. So bloody cosy. My husband and I sat in front of the fire Saturday late afternoon, with mulled wine and a half-pint of Aspall's respectively, and it was just glorious. So chill. Friendly dogs, people. It wasn't too crowded either- a far cry from the warmer months when it's slammed. I just dinked a star bc the menu is pretty pricey for pub fare. That being said, I got the 'shrooms on toast and it was delicious. Smokey, creamy goodness. We also got the tof and date pud with vanilla and it was AMAZING. I think the best sticky tof pud I've ever had. The peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake was good as well but the pud beat it out. Will defo return with tourist friends. read more

I hate to not give this pub more than three stars...especially since I had been wanting to come here for so long, reading all the good things about it. But unfortunately, I simply wasn't that impressed: A friend and I came to the Spaniard's Inn one cold winter day and we were looking forward to warming up and getting all cozy. Well...the warming up worked quite well, especially with the warm, spiced cider that they were serving that day. But the cozy feeling that I would have expected just didn't come up. Maybe it was because many of the tables were still clattered with the remains of the previous guests, or because the benches were a little bit too hard as my but cried out for a cushion or something similar. Anyway, I still had a lovely time chatting with my friend, but next time I will make sure to come in the summer, as I hear the beer garden is quite nice... read more

The Spaniard Inn, is a listed building which must be at least a couple of hundred years old. Oops, I just checked the website, and it is nearly 500 years old. The pub has an outhouse where they must store certain things, and the only road to access the pub goes directly between the main house and outhouse. This causes so much traffic, especially during the rush hour. So one may well hate the Spaniard in, for how much traffic it causes for commuters just passing by. This isn't the typical kind of pub I go to. It is right next to Kenwood House, and Hampstead is just a five minute walk away, and The Bishops Avenue is just as close. So on my occasional visit, I have hoped to see a famous face, but it has yet to happen. I tend to go there for a nice lunch. The last time I was in there, a man brought in two dogs on leads, that seemed to be far more well kept than I am. It is a family place, for the locals or visitors from the Park, it has outside seating and a car park that must accommodate up to 20 cars. The food is fantastic for a pub grub, I say fantastic because come to think of it, I am still amazed at why it is as cheap as it is, baring in mind the location and who lives around it. I last sat there a month or so ago, and had a juicy steak with chips. I would never go here for any other reason than eating. I have taken the girlfriend here for some lunch a few times and we both enjoy it, but it is no more than that for me. It has an older crowd, I am sure my parents would love it. read more

The Spaniards Inn - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Beautiful historic pub, decent selection of ales and other beer, and awesome scotch eggs. Bit pricey, but not so much as to put you off it. Always enjoy it, will be back again soon. It's too cold right now, but in the summertime the Spaniard has the best outdoor seating of any pub in the area. read more

The Spaniards Inn - Awesome scotch egg - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Very rude and disappointing service from the beginning (the way we were treated at reception and seated) till the end (we had a problem with our food and restaurants response was basically 'tough luck, order something else') Even from the manager himself! Not recommending & never coming back read more

As the oldest pub in London this is 100% a must visit. It's a very typically cosy pub with a fire place and Tudor interior, and the place is steeped with history. I will say that it is rather expensive and if you are ordering food you may be disappointed with the portion size for the prices you are paying. However if you're just looking for a place to drink and socialise over a quiet drink then there is no better pub. read more

The Spaniards Inn - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

A gorgeous little pub nestled in Hampstead Heath full of history, great food and wonderful wine. Great on a grey day to sit inside and spend the afternoon catching up with good friends. They have a lovely outdoor area as well and you can bring your dog. The food and drink are fab, though maybe a little pricey. Regardless, I will be going back! read more

Great for ambiance and people watching! Lovely outside terrace. The building is really cute, and apparently has been around hundreds of years. Great for visitors to experience a classy pub! Food is a bit pricey but you pay for location. We drove here, I don't think you can easily get here by public transport. Food was ok, but be prepared to wait a long time if you're there on a busy Sunday, like when the weather is nice . We have been here twice. The first time we ordered fish and chips and they were nicely done. My husband waited almost an hour for his order yesterday and had the beef roast - he said it was not very good. I had the sticky toffee pudding and it was too sweet. I'd go back there for drinks and order something simple. Parliament Hill in the park has a perfect view of London, and is only a mile away, so try to also go there if you're in the area! read more

Nuts on the table. I am a massive fan of the Spaniards Inn. The only downside is that it's opposite the strangest piece of traffic control in the world, so if you make it across the road in one piece you can consider yourself immensely lucky and you should reward yourself with several hours in this sexy establishment. Think of it like a journey to Mordor, but with less orcs and more Land Rovers trying to gun you down. As I continue my search for the ultimate Sunday Roast, Tommy (sex pest flat-mate, a couple of other equally hung-over friends and myself headed for The Spaniards Inn after Tommy stumbled upon it after a light jog around the Heath. Upon entering you have two options. Either head for the garden or inside to the bar and a few select tables dotted around. The ceilings are low, so if you have daft hair like myself hit the garden and get others to order for you. The interior is dimly lit, but it has a charming, relaxing and traditional feel to it, but it is run by lots of French people, so that will throw you if you're not expecting it. The staff were excellent. From the moment we walked in and all ordered separately which usually causes most bar staff to adopt the foetal position and start crying, they simply dealt with us in an extremely proficient and well organised fashion. We were then able to get outside into possible the finest beer garden in the North London district (and I LOVE the one at the Edinboro in Cammers). It's so big in fact I was intimidated by its size. The tables are all massive and there is loads of space between each one and yet there is a great atmosphere here. Plenty of room to hide away from noisy groups should you not be part of one. I am pleased to say that the food was immense too. I had the lamb and Tommy had the beef. Both were excellent, so food envy was off the cards. The meat was well cooked and there was plenty of it, the veg was excellent and if you're anything like me, you always need a Yorkshire pudding no matter what, which was 'standard' with all our meals. The potatoes were the highlight as they were slightly spicey and made me a little wet in my pant area they were so delish. The only thing I wanted more of was gravy, but it wasn't enough of a lack to make it a wangle meal. All in all I left with a massive smile on my face. A Roast and beverage (in this instance t was a Kopperberg) cost me 14.5 nuggets. EPIC WIN - especially if you have just forked out 20 badgers for the roast at the Lord Stanley (which sucks). So impressed was I by my day at the Spaniards Inn that I felt compelled to tell the management. However, this place will now become my new 'go-to' Sunday pub, so for all intents and purposes i hope you enjoyed this review, but don't tell too many people what a find it is... I'm selfish and want it for myself. Sexy Rob read more

This little pub for starters is architecturally beautiful. The Spaniards Inn has the bustle and cheer of times past . Built in 1585 as a tollgate inn on the Finchley boundary, the Spaniards formed the entrance to the Bishop of London's estate. Today it offers an extensive beer garden, one for the most impressive in London and a kitchen who are doing more than just serve pub food. This pub is legendary and must be seen, smelt, talked about and eaten in. I mean The Spaniards Inn is mentioned in many books like Dickens's The Pickwick Papers and Bram Stoker's Dracula, it's a special place. Most of all the food is awesome. GO!! Order the Scotch Egg, its a must. There nuts they roast and rub are great. Didn't like the pork scratchings, but great to have anyway. read more

At the top of a hill in Hampstead, The Spaniards Inn is somewhere in Zone 3, but it doesn't feel like London. As soon as you walk through the door, it feels like being inside an English country pub. To be honest, it's a little unsettling - however if you're one of those people who live in London in a shoebox but yearn to be back in the rolling countryside with a whole house to yourself, you'll find this a little corner of paradise. The pub attracts a huge number of people with dogs, so the beer garden outside (made up of plenty of picnic tables) is full of the most gorgeous canines. It gets very busy, so book in advance and specifically ask to sit inside or outside depending on how much you like animals! Oh, children are also welcome if you happen to have any. There's a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere. Whilst the menu is quite expensive, this is proper gastropub fare and worth it. If you were to take away the balsamic dashes, some of the food would not look out of place in a posh London restaurant. The mushrooms on toast are delicious, as is the squash gnocchi, which are both fabulous vegetarian dishes that even meat eaters will love. They do a good Sunday roast if you're after traditional English food to accompany the traditional feel of the venue. Deserts are yummy (we can vouch for the brownie and the sticky toffee pudding), but three courses is really ambitious. I would recommending going for no more than two unless you've starved yourself in advance accordingly. A pain to get to given the location, however worth travelling for. Would definitely recommend! read more

After a long walk round Hampsted Heath going to the Spaniards Inn is a great way to refuel. This pub is steeped in history as it was built in 1585 and was regularly visited by the likes of Dick Thurpin before robbing people on the Heath. Its a bit of a pain to get to as there's not a tube very near but it's definitely worth the effort! It's lovely in the summer as they have a large beer garden and cosy in the winter as they have welcoming wood fires. The pub always seems to be nicely busy and has a lot of character. They sell a wide selection of drinks including lots of real ales with guest local ales too. The main draw for coming here is definitely the food though! It's on the pricey side as far as pub food goes but it's really tasty and filling. The Sunday roasts are great! read more

This place would still be Dick Turpin's favourite! Nestled above Hampstead Heath, this is one of my favourite places for a Sunday roast and a good pint. The Spaniard's Inn probably has one of the best beer selections in NW3 - and the best beer garden. Save it for a sunny afternoon as you'll enjoy spending all day in the gardens next to the heath. If you believe the Inn's spiel, Keats allegedly wrote his Ode to a Nightingale in the gardens! Clearly, it's been a longtime favourite. read more

In true British fashion we had to hit up this pub that was est. in 1585. Good beer, excellent food...we had the lamb shank, rib eye, fish and chips & even the roasted pork. It fills you up and you kinda feel the history in the hardwood floors...found it kinda odd that it was named the Spaniard, located in London and operated by a French person :) GO FIGURE read more

Great place to rest after a long walk around Hampstead Heath with the dog. I came on a friend's recommendation after we'd been walking with our dogs. Thankfully they welcome canine pals so we didn't feel awkward about bringing 3 muddy monsters in. We did opt to sit outside so perhaps they were more understanding as a result :P There's a great selection of ales on tap and the food menu is pretty typical of an English pub. Portions are generous and scotch eggs are tasty. (I feel like every pub review I write, I make some mention of a scotch egg.) Sunday roast is definitely where it's at if find yourself needing a bit of grub. Not something I've found to be particularly inspiring since moving to London but this definitely one satisfies and leaves no room for improvement. I wouldn't drive all the way out here just to eat or drink at this place but it's certainly my first choice if I'm in the area, especially if the dog has opted to tag along. read more

Great place to sit and enjoy what sunlight London has to offer. The patio is cozy and offers a variety of seating options. It boasts a fantastic setting for drinking, eating, and catching up with friends over a leisurely afternoon. I love the landscaping around the beer garden and they have an additional outside bar stocked with some various draft and bottled beer, which is convenient versus having to continually go inside to order. That being said, the service here is just not very good. You have to order everything yourself and even once you order, the servers seem to have the hardest time figuring out which tables should be served what food. Also, there are a ton of smokers at the restaurant. That is not the fault of the establishment but it would be nice if part of the patio could be smoke free for those of us who are not interested in filling our lungs with toxins while trying to enjoy the fresh outdoors. read more

I had cycled past the Spaniards Inn a few times on my tours of London and have always been intrigued, not least by the sign that said it was established in 1585. After a long day of walking around Hampstead Heath I came here in desperate need of a good meal. As it was early August we sat in the garden and ordered inside. I had the pork roast which despite coming with a Yorkshire pudding was great, nothing was wasted off my plate. Julia D had some vegetarian dish that she has been raving about ever since. The food is slightly expensive for pub food but it is definitely worth the extra spend. The inside has a nice cosy feel which makes me tempted to go back on a cold winters day. read more

Well its a 16th century coaching inn at top of Hampstead Heath right next to the old turnpike house . As you can guess theres lots of dark oak , bare timbers and flagstones . Apparently Dick Turpin was a regular . The food looks excellent and they have a reasonable range if real ales available . What was tasted was well kept . A bit of a hidden gem . read more

The Spaniards Inn - The rear bar - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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This is basically my new favourite beer garden! Enormous, by London standards, it was brilliant to rock up mid-afternoon and not have to fight for a table in the sun. Lovely staff, bottles of water to take back to the table and a great atmosphere - there really isn't much bad I can say about this place. Food was great - not sure the mac and cheese entirely fulfilled it's promise (it really wasn't macaroni) but the scotch egg was so well liked one of the party actually had two. Drinks could be on the pricier side if you weren't careful - a friend ended up with a £12 glass of wine but bottles were reasonably priced. Overall, a place I really loved and would happily frequently return. read more

What a gem. This ancient inn on the edge of the Heath is a must see. Keats used to come here for drinks, Dickens wrote here and this place is even mentioned in Dracula (!). Pretty pricey but hey you're in Hampstead my friend. Look around and you'll see people with dogs everywhere. There is a huge backyard garden for your summer nights and a dining room that fills quite fast but the staff. Make sure to put this place on your path when you walk through the Heath! read more

Very popular pub at the north end of Hampstead Heath, and popular with weekend walkers and picnickers. You'll find it where the road narrows at an old toll gate spot. It's Grade II-listed: large, old, and traditional. It has exposed beams, several separate rooms, and lots of outdoor seating for the nice weather. The food is very good, and there are nice ales on tap. It's the sort of pub you'd expect to find out in the country. Popular with dog walkers, you'll easily get a bowl of water for your four-legged friend. read more

Great place for a late summer evening drink in the fabulous beer garden. However, meet there for a Sunday Roast and you'll be faced with the longest wait for food. In. Your. Life. Thats both ordering and receiving. Don't do it. Hard to argue that beer and Hampstead Heath are a right royal combination and if thats your tipple, you've come to the right place - but unless you want a foodfight, or a fight with no food at all - stick to the ales. read more

I used to drink here in the late sixties when I was in school in London. The pub was founded in 1585 and has the authentic look to which other pubs aspire. Keats and Dickens drank here after the place had already been in business for hundreds of years. The Beer and ale selection has expanded exponentially and is excellent. I have no real memory of the pub food from years ago but now it is tasty with generous portions. I had a delicious piece of sea bass with lobster Thermidor sauce, served with kale and purple potatoes. Others in my family had fish and chips, quinoa salad and steak and leek pie. Everyone loved the food. We shared a brownie and a treacle pie for dessert. Both were served warm, with vanilla ice cream, and were great. Service was friendly and quick even though one server may have been working the whole room on a busy rainy night. read more

The Spaniards Inn is the kind of pub you'll find in wikipedia. Amongst the list of 'Notable Patrons' from the wiki site are: Dick Turpin, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, Bram Stoker, John Keats, Charles Dickens, Karl Marx. The whole place is practically made of oak and as the night goes on it gets rather tempting to stumble around pretending you're an outlaw from an half-remembered semi-historical tale, shuffling through sawdust on your way to have some hanky-panky with a mead-soaked wench.... then running around the heath naked accusing innocent ghosts of being Dick Turpin. There's Weston's ciders on tap as well as real ales and foreign bottles. Food and all that malarkey too. The beer garden is large and suited to smokers. Not cheap. Nope. read more

The perfect Sunday lunch pub. Walk on the Heath, check. Cosy interior/huge beer garden, check. Super sized hearty British fare, check. I absolutely love this pub but if you're going on a Sunday you should try and book a table (good luck) and get there early. Although Sunday is the best day to go it just gets crazy busy in the afternoon and that's why I can't give it 5 stars. They often run out of food and the staff are excruciatingly slow in dealing with the chaos. The bar can get packed 4 deep and North London types get rude and pushy, demanding they've waited longer than you when they've only just waltzed up to the bar waiving their gold cards. The strength of the place is that I still love going here despite the odd bad Sunday, to the point that I've once been stuck trying to order for 35 mins, only communicating with my friends at the table outside via mobile phone. read more