Six Nations 2026: six London pubs worth booking now
It is time to dust off the bootcut jeans and tan brogues – Six Nations season is almost upon us. Here are six pubs to book before next month’s kick-off.
Every February, rugby legends and Strictly Come Dancing alumni grace our TV screens for The Six Nations − an event that transforms the pub-going landscape across London – the Guinness continues to pour, but the punters are distinctly less stylish.
Rugby Union’s premier European competition starts on Thursday, 5 February, when France hosts Ireland. The opening weekend also sees Scotland travel to Rome to face Italy, while Wales head to Twickenham seeking recompense after last March’s defeat.
Below are six London pubs to book ahead of kick-off to watch the action unfold.
The Shack 68
A little off the tourist tramlines near Twickenham Stadium, The Shack 68 trades more on familiarity. Founded by former Harlequins and England player Ugo Monye, the pub pairs big match screenings with nachos, burgers and wings. Its own Instagram bio reads, “We aren’t the most famous, but we are the best fun”, a claim borne out on a packed Six Nations match day.
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The Admiral Nelson
Another Twickenham stalwart, The Admiral Nelson, will be showing every match. England fans arrive hopeful of a first title since 2020 and the pub’s Thai kitchen offers consolation should events on the pitch turn sour. Khao soi chicken has been known to soften even the grimmest refereeing decision, as reported by regulars.
The Faltering Fullback
Irish leaning by name and by nature, The Faltering Fullback in Finsbury Park appears in every serious conversation about London rugby pubs. Strip away the legend and the bunting, and it remains a reliable place to watch the Six Nations, provided you are prepared to shoulder through the crowd and defend your sightline with quiet determination.
Pub on the Park
Perched beside London Fields, Pub on the Park takes a more modern approach to rugby viewing. Seven large screens are showing every game and that abundance is only undermined by the inevitable supporter who chooses to celebrate directly in front of you. Book carefully and make it clear the table is for the sport, otherwise you may find yourself refreshing your phone as the action unfolds overhead,
Princess of Wales
History sits lightly on the Princess of Wales in Blackheath. In 1871, England players gathered here before the first ever international rugby union match, an episode marked today by a small alcove of memorabilia. Watching the Six Nations here comes with that sense of continuity and the promise of a proper roast once the final whistle has gone.
The Auld Shillelagh
Few pubs in the capital generate quite the same energy as The Auld Shillelagh on Stoke Newington Church Street. The narrow interior thrums with laughter and live music most nights and during the Six Nations, the Guinness flows in even greater abundance. Add a large sheltered beer garden and staff with inexhaustible good humour, and you have a venue where the rugby feels like a communal event rather than a broadcast.
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