The Best Sunday Roasts in London
From traditional pub classics to stylish, chic bars, these are your best options in London for slow-roasted meats, fluffy Yorkshire puddings, crispy roast potatoes, and deep, warming, plentiful gravy.
By Charlie Walker | Updated Nov 7 2024
Fallow - St. James
Creative, sustainable, stylish, and delicious, Haymarket’s Fallow provides a trendy, yet classy British dining experience with an ambient, post-industrial interior. The and open pass, zero waste and nose-to-tail ethos add to the modern feel. With reasonable prices considering the high quality ingredients and warm, convivial service.
Their Sunday roasts include dairy cow rump, rolled pork belly, maitake mushroom, dairy cow fillet and lamb leg served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, glazed carrots, braised red cabbage, greens and gravy. It's fantastic offer which is why Sundays are famously hard to book for and manically busy. My recommendation? Sit on the counter. Better service, more ambience, and you can watch the chefs work.
The George - Fitzrovia
A grand, historic pub on Great Portland Street, the 18th-century, Grade II listed gastro offers a lively drinking experience downstairs and a refined, traditional British dining experience upstairs, complete with traditional furnishings that bring class to the booziness, and decadence to the simple. The George will have you transported to a time gone by yet with all the familiar comforts of a modern, tarted-up gastropub.
Sundays come with a range of apetisers that offer variations on classics, like Welsh rarebit croquettes, black pudding Scotch egg, and red curry pork scratchings, and of course, their roasts. Options include Cumbrian native rump of beef with bone marrow gravy and horseradish cream, slow roasted chicken with sage & onion stuffed leg and bread sauce, a whole shoulder of lamb with garlic & herb sauce (by far the most expensive option at £75 but intended for sharing with gravy for two or three) and mushroom & celeriac Pithivier for the veggies and vegans amongst us.
The Bull & Last - Highgate
Once an old Victorian pub, now a Michelin-recommended restaurant, The Bull & Last is one of the best dining pubs in London. With a focus on quality ingredients, healthy portion sizes, and reproducing faithful pub classics with a modern, artistic hand. With guest rooms available and its proximity to Hampstead Heath, this has over the last decade become an unwavering hotspot.
Their Sunday roast, definitely one of the best in the capital, comes with several meat options including English Lamb Rump, Sirloin of Shorthorn Beef, and an Aubergine Parmigiana Wellington for veggies and vegans. All come with the fluffiest of Yorkshire puddings, and proper gravy. Their rationalised presentation takes the loftiness of fine dining but with portions that would please the average joe. A great balance.
The Princess of Shoreditch - Old Street
Just on the Shoreditch/City border, tucked behind the Kingsland Road, in what would be considered by many to be the trendy capital of London, it’s a mighty challenge for any pub to stand out from the hoard. The Princess of Shoreditch doesn’t only stand out, but stands far above any in the area, for its 2 AA Rosettes weren’t earned for nothing.
Their selection of meets for Sunday roasts include Yorkshire Dales sirloin of beef (with a delicious horseradish cream), Free-range chicken, Plantation pork loin, and walnut and apricot nut roast for the veggies, and all properly garnished, this is where British food hit maximum class.
The Jugged Hare - Barbican
While not cheap, it certainly is a massive treat. Pushing the boundaries and expectations of British food, The Jugged Hare innovates with its selection of unusual accompaniments for roast dinners. Smoked cod’s roe, whipped salt fish, caper hash browns, baked sea snails, Middle White pork & peppercorn terrine, all seem unlikely pairings for a traditional roast dinner. The Jugged Hare doesn’t care, but instead relies on its knowledge and confidence to know what works and what doesn’t.
Unusually still, they serve Sunday roast from the rotisserie: Suffolk free range chicken, pigs in blankets (all year round), sage stuffing and bread sauce. Otherwise, their classics of 45 day aged Longhorn beef, Tamworth pork belly, and Welsh leg of lamb make for one of the best roast dinners in the capital. All served with yorkies, duck fat roast potatoes, seasonal veg, and rotisserie gravy, the roasts on offer at the Hare are nothing short of sublime.
The Three Stags - Lambeth
The gem of Kennington, The Three Stags are roast dinner specialists, serving more bougie takes on classic British food with a classy, considered wine list to match. An authentic gastropub just a walk from the Imperial War Museum, the spot is cherished by locals for its focus on ethically-sourced ingredients and sustainable vision, and an interior with great attention to detail.
The Rookery - Clapham Common
There are few spots more suited to the area that they are in than The Rookery. It is leafy and trendy Clapham at its finest. The ideal spot to end up after a Sunday stroll in Clapham’s greenery. For those who came to Clapham to recreate the Surrey life in the city, The Rookery is no doubt known to them well, and there’s no doubt that they’ll keep banging on about the south-facing terrace.
With an ever-changing menu, it’s hard to make specific recommendations, but their Sunday roasts are a major selling point. The meat choices are typically roast rump of Longhorn beef, their signature slow-roasted pork belly, Swaledale roast chicken, and of course, homemade nut roast, with all the trimmings. Gravy comes in no short supply, with yorkies large and fluffy enough to soak it up.
Note: the kitchen is closed for the summer and reopens in Autumn
The Hemingway - Hackney
Regularly referred to by local punters as one of the best Sunday roasts in the city, The Hemingway appeals for its no-nonsense, old-school approach to pub décor and menu design, preferring the dimly-lit sticky tables to the tarted-up, corporate-friendly drinkery.
For their Sunday roasts you have a choice of Salt marsh lamb rump, Kilravock pork belly, Corn fed chicken, Scottish beef fillet, or Veggie roast. Any of these, of course, come complete with all the trimmings in classical style.
The Crown - Victoria Park
Self-described as a 'cool and edgy spot', perched at the end of Bow Road in London's historic East End, The Crown attracts for its scenic views over the grand Victoria Park, with its two-floors and balconies that provide a scenic backdrop to your pub visit.
Their offerings for Sunday roast are: 28 day aged Angus rump of beef with horseradish cream; roast pork belly, apple sauce, pork and apple stuffing; lemon & thyme roast chicken; and mushroom, courgette, lentil and vegan feta wellington. All are served with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, veggie gravy, and Yorkshire pudding.
Smokehouse - Islington
A quaint pub in the North of London where smoke meets sizzle, w ith a beer range that can put London's wildest pubs to shame, you'll be toasting to their creativity in no time.
They work with the best farms in the UK, butchering their meat on-site, resulting in a specials board that's nothing short of a carnivore's fairy tale. From coal-grilled prime cuts that'll make your taste buds do the happy dance to slow-cooked delicacies that will leave you humming with delight - Smokehouse Islington knows how to take you on a lip-smacking adventure like no other!
The Laundry
For those seeking a respite from Brixton's buzz, this all-day bistro, just a three-minute stroll from the station, offers a serene escape with generous portions that won't break the bank.
The main attraction - for those looking to go up a belt-loop - is their bottomless veg and gravy served throughout the meal, like a classier Toby Carvery. Taking a step away from traditional pub roasts, the Aussie-inspired menu choices sees a Mac and cheese where you can add lobster, and starters like crab and papaya salad, speaking to the Australian impulse to put seafood just about everywhere.
All roasts are served with roast squash, roast potatoes, glazed carrots, minted peas & gravy, though I'd recommend ordering the side of kale to go with the roast. Gotta add those leafy greens
The Old Queen's Head - Islington
The Old Queen’s Head is well-known for its hit club nights, comedy and somewhat tatty Chesterfield sofas, but that’s not all there is to this spacious and friendly boozer. Their vegan Sunday roast is something of a North London legend, a mushroom wellington to make even carnivores drool. Pair your roast with a cheeky round of their excellent cocktails - we recommend the sloe gin fizz.
The Duke of Cambridge - Islington
If you like rustic sophistication, you’ll like The Duke of Cambridge. As London’s first organic pub it has garnered a reputation for great food with an inclination towards the natural and seasonal. Their roast options (which are a part of their regular menu, if you can’t wait until Sunday) are representative of this and include a fantastic roast squash with polenta, truffle and of course, lashings of vegan gravy.
The Elgin - Ladbroke Grove
This is a stylish British gastro pub in the heart of Notting Hill. Situated at the top of the infamous Portobello Road market between Ladbroke Grove and Holland Park, the large light-filled pub befits its neighbourhood. Its extensive bar fills one wall of the pub; there’s a good beer range and the Elgin’s mixologists whip up a mean cocktail.
Whether you’re looking for a light lunch, a hearty classic, or a mouth-watering Sunday roast, The pub caters to all occasions. We like the braised lamb filo pie and pork apple sausages with goat’s cheese mash potato.
Drayton Arms - Kensington
Standing proud and stately on Old Brompton Road, The Drayton Arms is a lovingly restored iconic London pub in West London. Think big sofas, big fire, and a solid menu that serves up big Sunday roasts. They also deliver wonderful seasonal dishes including wild boar, pork & ale sausages, plant based burgers, a rack of lamb, and, of course, a cheesy burger. There’s an exceptional range of cask ales, craft beers, fine wines and artisan spirits to wash it down with.
The Crabtree - Fulham
The Crabtree is not your average Victorian boozer – it's a gastrofied haven with a gigantic beer garden that's practically a destination in itself. Locals flock here on sunny days to savor some of the finest waterside drinking in London, with stylish decking, shrubbery, and charming seats under the weeping willow. The terrace hosts a gourmet barbecue (noon–9pm, weather dependent) serving up posh burgers, and summer scorchers are celebrated with hog roasts. The interior boasts a big lounge bar with a high-vaulted ceiling, maroon leather banquettes, and ornate accoutrements. The extensive wine list and ale selection, including Doom Bar and Deuchars IPA, keep spirits high.
The Queen's - Primrose Hill
A beautiful and popular pub in the heart of Primrose Hill that’s perfect for cosying up after a stroll in the park. Their head chef, Hannah, prepares great twists on British dishes across the seasons, including The Prince Regent’s chicken and tarragon Pie, a selection of large sharing platters and Sunday roasts using the finest cuts of meat and goose fat roasties. Yum!
The Crown and Two Chairmen
31-32 Dean St, Greater, London W1D 3SB
Sundays just got a whole lot better with The Crown & Two Chairmen Pub in the picture. This charming pub takes Sundays to the next level with a collection of classic games like the Logo Board Game, Scrabble, and Monopoly. Whether you're after a leisurely lunch or a family dinner, The Crown & Two Chairmen serves up tempting and flavoursome food, accompanied by an explorative drinks menu, all within an authentic and welcoming atmosphere.