Craft Beer in London

London's craft beer scene has grown dramatically since the early 2010s into one of Europe's most interesting — a cluster of independent breweries concentrated under railway arches across Bermondsey, Hackney and Brixton, many running taprooms open at weekends.

The Bermondsey Beer Mile

The most famous concentration — a Saturday afternoon circuit along Druid Street and connecting arches between London Bridge and Bermondsey stations. Multiple independent breweries open taprooms from around midday: Anspach & Hobday, Fourpure (now merged with Gipsy Hill), The Kernel, and others. The Kernel is one of the most respected London breweries and a reliable stop for well-made table beers and pale ales. Plan to visit three or four taprooms; walking between them takes five minutes.

Hackney & East London

Hackney has its own strong brewery scene — Hackney Brewery and Pressure Drop among others — alongside a dense independent pub and bar scene. East London Liquor Company also bridges beer and spirits if you want variety.

What to Drink

London breweries currently excel at session pale ales, IPAs and table beers. Sour beer (using wild or mixed fermentation) has a smaller but genuinely impressive cluster of producers. Stouts and porters are good in winter. The tap list at most taprooms rotates weekly — ask staff what's on form rather than defaulting to the most familiar name.

Tips

• The Bermondsey Beer Mile runs properly on Saturdays — most taprooms open around noon.
• Check individual taproom social media for current hours — some don't open every weekend.
• Ask staff for a current recommendation — rotating taps mean the best beer changes week to week.
• Combine Bermondsey with Maltby Street Market earlier in the day for a full Saturday.