Best Pubs in Chelsea – King’s Road Pub Crawl London

If you’re a Londoner, you might be quick to call “clickbait” on a pub crawl on the King’s Road. Although there are many pubs in Chelsea, there are hardly any on the King’s Road. It’s actually known for being one of the most popular streets for shopping in London.

However, Chelsea’s pubs are very impressive. I know this because I put my London-born husband (who is a self-proclaimed pub expert) in charge of a pub crawl in the King’s Road. And it certainly did not disappoint!

If you’re new to Sunny in London or need some tips for visiting pubs in London, this is something we often write about and include in our social media videos.

Initially, it wasn’t much of a challenge for him as he spent part of his childhood at Chelsea. He and his family had a few local favorites he wanted to visit. However, some of them have not stood the test of time. And some have transformed over time to have a different experience.

Nonetheless, Mr Sunny has put together a list of pubs that will impress anyone visiting London and has local knowledge of Chelsea’s pubs.

King’s Road Pub Crawl

Chelsea Potter is one of the few pubs on the King’s Road. If you subscribe to the Sunny News email, you know that Mr Sunny recommends the pub of the week.

On the corner

The crossed keys

Mr. Sunny couldn’t wait to suggest The Cross Keys. This pub should not be confused with Covent Garden’s ‘classic old boozer’ pub on Endell Street, with its iconic floral façade. The Cross Keys in Chelsea is discreet and tucked away on a residential street. In fact, that’s the description of many of our picks on the Chelsea Best Pub Crawl.

Location: 1 Lawrence St, London SW3 5NB

What Mr. Sunny likes: It’s close to the King’s Road and the Embankment, so it’s a great escape while ‘Mrs goes shopping’. The pub is passionate about British produce and the menus reflect this. They also emphasize a “field to fork” philosophy. It seems to be frequented mainly by locals. That’s always a good sign. Another good sign is the list of celebrities who have drunk at The Cross Keys.

The marshes

This is a Young’s Pub and is currently being renovated. Mr Sunny reckons it’s still a local pub, but it’s definitely more of a gastropub.

Location: 9 Phène Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NY

What Mr. Sunny likes: The beer garden is fabulous and the Sunday lunch looked delicious. The day we stopped by before it closed for renovations, it was packed. So make sure, when reopening, to take this into account and book in advance so as not to be disappointed.

Cooper’s Weapons

During our visit, the pub did a great job of combining contemporary and traditional design. It is scheduled to reopen in mid-February 2026. We will update this article with new photos when they are ready.

Location: 87 Flood Street, Chelsea SW3 5TB

What Mr. Sunny likes: Food at Young’s pubs is always at the top of our list for visitors to London. So we look forward to returning when this pub reopens.

The surprise

It was at the top of Mr. Sunny’s list because it was his mother and father’s place when he was a child. He remembers the days when the premises clearly had one side of The Surprise pub and the other side was for the public.

Location: 6 Christchurch Terrace, Chelsea SW3 4AJ

What Mr. Sunny likes: He says he’s a little disappointed that over the years the restaurant has become a gastropub. However, as this is a Young’s Pub, we know the menu and food are great too.

THE Phoenix

Mr Sunny reckons this pub off the King’s Road is more like a traditional London pub. He thinks they have good beer, fine beers and lager. Currently, Sunday evening is their Pub Quiz night.

Location: 23 Smith Street, Chelsea SW3 4EE

What Mr. Sunny likes: While we note the strengths mentioned above, this pub also represents Mr. Sunny’s nostalgia. He would like to know if anyone remembers the curry house that used to be next to this pub. It was one of his family’s favorites. His parents were having a drink at the pub and the curry house owner would let them know when their takeaway order was ready.

The antelope

Of all the pubs offered in the Chelsea Pub Crawl, this is Mr Sunny’s favourite.

Location: Eaton Terrace, Belgravia SW11W 8EZ

What Mr. Sunny likes: We know it’s a bit on the edge of Chelsea, but it’s definitely worth the detour. As a traditional Fuller’s pub, The Antelope hosts London Pride. It was always the beer Mr. Sunny’s father chose daily.

He loved seeing a cute horseshoe shaped bar and enjoyed seeing a bar full of locals watching live sports when we were there.

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Pubs in Chelsea: out of reach

You can also have a drink at Botanist. Although it suits me just fine, Mr. Sunny isn’t happy to drink here because it’s quite fancy. Londoners won’t be surprised to learn that Mr Sunny said it was full of ‘Sloane Rangers’.

Location: 7 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EE

What Mr. Sunny likes: “It’s a great place to go to the bathroom before leaving Chelsea.” What can I say???

Pubs in Chelsea – Final Thoughts

Mr Sunny has an excellent memory when it comes to remembering the locations of pubs and their unique selling points. As you can see, over time pubs change names, owners and styles.

If you’re visiting London and need help with restaurants and pubs, you’ll need our insider’s guide to London restaurants!

We hope you enjoyed this pub crawl of the best pubs in Chelsea. If you want regular recommendations from Mr. Sunny, don’t forget that email subscribers regularly receive his ad suggestions! You’ll also find a Tips for Visiting London Pubs article on our website for those who want to wander around like a local.

What are your favorite pubs in London? Have they changed over the years? Do you still visit them when you are in the neighborhood?