The White Swan

Good value for money. Generous portion. Nice atmosphere. Very friendly and attentive staff - thank you Harry and Clem!

We made reservations for dinner (August 2025)-dining is on the first floor. We enjoyed their award-winning steak and Nicholson Ale pie (with mash, carrots and gravy side). It was delicious! Service was excellent. Beverage selection was good-we ordered a Paulaner Weiss and a Henry Weston hard cider. Both were very good. Unfortunately we were too full to enjoy a an intended dessert of sticky toffee pudding. Sad, but very happy with the meal!

Excellent pub with a great atmosphere. Food was excellent, pies were perfect and the desserts were delicious. The upstairs dining room was cosy and quieter than the main bar. We did have drinks downstairs and must say the staff are amazing. It was a busy evening but our server Mia still took the time to make recommendations on the craft ale and types of gin on offer. Really nice pub and will definitely make a return visit.

Amazing place. Love coming here when I'm visiting town. Food and drinks are perfect no matter the season. Sarah and Sam are wonderful. Absolutely a joy, really enjoyed the conversation and stellar service. Thank you so much. Highly recommend 💯

Was with family after a show. Downstairs is a pub and the dining area is upstairs - reachable by staircase on the right. Ample dining space and we were sat at a cosy corner near the bar counter. We were attended to very quickly and the lady gave us some tips on what to order. The kid was dying for an authentic fish and chips so we ordered that. We also got the parsnip soup and leek pie. Had ice cream for desserts. Sorry no photos as we were enjoying them too much. The atmosphere became more lively soon after as more families and couples arrived. Around the walls there were old photos and drawings - theres also an old fireplace but its just part of the deco. Service was very prompt and soon it was time to go. Cheers to Harry and Clem for the excellent service. Its not often that we had dinner at a local pub and it was lovely. We arrived by walking from Covent garden area so no idea if there was parking nearby.

Traditional pub . Reasonable drink selection and food is available. A dining area is situated upstairs. Good place to go on a hot day, as they have air-conditioning. Very pleasant atmosphere.

Went here for lunch on a busy Saturday afternoon. We were sat upstairs, there were 2 staff working (Harry & Bailey) and although they seemed rush off their feet, we absolutely didn’t! Nachos with the brisket were fantastic, and then we both had a pie. Fantastic service thank you very much

My sister and I went to The White Swan before going to the theatre. The upstairs dining room was great for us. Quiet enough to chat but with a friendly atmosphere. The fish cakes were delicious and Harry, our server, was fantastic. He was very polite, took our order promptly and brought our drinks straight away. He had good self awareness about us being time limited due to the theatre even though we hadn't told him specifically and it all worked perfectly. Thank you. We will be back and have recommended this lovely pub to friends.

Stopped in while on vacation with a friend and the family. Good and solid drink menu. The service was quick and easy. The food menu was nice. We only ordered the broccolini and the bread but both were good. The place had a typical pub feel. Would go back.

We met up with some friends and were looking for a nearby spot to have a few drinks. After walking around a bit, we found the White Swan. There weren't too many people when we arrived but it got a bit busier as time went by. We got ourselves a table and looked over the menus amd decided it was just drinks for us. We got a orderd and asperol sprits, a pint of some beer and a cider from the bar and were quickly served. We were really impressed with the Asperol Spritz and the Strongbow Darkfruit Cider. Both were very refreshing after walking around in the heat! Highly recommend these two drinks if you get the chance to swing by. Unfortunately, we weren't able to try any food but the menu looked pretty darn good. Some locals had recommend the Sunday roast me menu but we weren't staying long enough to give it a try. Hopefully we'll be back to give it go but until then, this place will be remembered for the fun crowd, quick and helpful bartenders amd refreshing drinks! Cheers!

Great ambiance, food & service. We sat in the second-floor dining room by the window. The sidewalk below was full of people drinking beer, but we had a quiet dinner. I had the fish cakes with potatoes, salad and it was really good. The salmon fish cakes were pretty rich, but the portion size was good. My boyfriend loved the meat pie he ordered; wild bore. We got a few half pints of beer and it was a really nice break in the busy city.

Arrived here by a happy accident (went to the wrong White Swan!) and so glad we did! Seated immediately without a proper reservation, tended to by a dazzling and attentive staff (Sarah and Jay were rated "best wait staff ever" by both my picky husband and picky 9-year-old) and served an amazing meal for 4 including 2 kids under 12. We enjoyed two types of pies, fish and chips and a salad. All delicious. Both adults and kids devoured. Beer list includes tasty local options. Ambiance upstairs is a lovely balance of Old English charm and modern aesthetic. Stayed for coffee and dessert, never felt rushed. Lovely view of the goings-on in the street below. Exactly what we were looking for during our overseas Spring Break family trip. Add this to your dinner itinerary for a delightful experience!

The White Swan is a great place to have dinner and a drink. The service and food was good and we all enjoyed our experience.

We had the best dinner experience at the White Swan on our first night in London! On a traditionally busy Sunday, we were still able to find comfortable seating without need for a wait. The menu had plenty of variety, all of which sounded fresh and authentic. The Sunday roast beef dinner was absolutely delicious!! Most importantly, the staff were helpful and attentive. Alfie made sure all our needs were met, and he was always fulfilled our requests in a timely manner. He allowed for friendly conversation to make us feel comfortable and offered beer and travel recommendations. We also briefly got to meet Lara, who was extremely kind and generous. Thank you, Alfie and Lara! The White Swan is a pub you don't want to miss!

When you think of a traditional pub this is it. The atmosphere is great and the staff were a fun bunch. We ate up stairs one night and on the main level the second night. The food is good I would recommend anyone stopping in. Keep in mind that this is a Nicholson pub so the menu will be the same at their other establishments.

Love this place! The food and service were fantastic, Sarah was especially superb! Hope you get that free bottle babes. xoxo

Pub kitchens close early in this city, but we managed to catch this one right before the window closed. Fine spot for fish and chips- fresh and hot from the fryer even though it was a bit of a late request. Appreciate that they offer a decent salad, too. B ordered the steak & ale pie and liked it OK.

Solid pub fare. Service was excellent. Menu items were limited on this day as they were out of most fish plates including fish and chips. The mixed grill plate was a little bland Bangers and mash were simple but very good. The gravy was very nice and a good flavor to the dish. Burger was ok but nothing special.

Dining room is upstairs. The food was pretty good with decent portions (mine was not too big, but the fish and chips portion was huge!). I had the lamb rump. It came with lots more veg than potatoes which was nice. The fish and chips were good as was the beef pie. The service was a bit slow, but the waitresses were friendly.

Came for the pie, might return for the rump They were out of their pie. Sad! No worries, lamb rump, mashed potatoes, kale, asparagus, gravy came to the rescue. British lager on the side, of course. Everything was eaten deliciously. The bar was packed and overflowing into the street downstairs, while the dining room upstairs was old school but chill. Service was slow, but friendly. It was like eating in the house of the British Grandma you never had. Food was good. I'd come back. Maybe I'll get the pie next time. Maybe...

Good moment in this wonderful place. The salon bar is nice, nice drink the dinner room is beautiful. The food could be better but the pub is incredibly beautiful.

This review is for the upstairs dining room, not the pub. Having been to Dishoom, and found a queue of an hour and a half, we started exploring other options in Covent Garden. If we couldn't have the best Indian food, we wanted traditional British. We were recommended The White Swan, and we weren't disappointed. Covent Garden was a madhouse at 8:00, with teeming crowds milling around every pub, but the upstairs dining room at The White Swan was a calm, comfortable oasis. We ordered the ribeye steak and the steak-and-ale pie. The ribeye came out slightly undercooked, but the waitress cheerfully took it back to the kitchen to make it right. The accompanying chips could have been more flavorful, but they were nice and crisp. The pie was delicious: a flaky crust, and a savory filling with tender meat. The mashed potatoes matched the dish well and were tasty with the gravy, but the vegetable side dish was odd: chopped unflavored raw cabbage and peas, and par-cooked carrots. We had 2 delicious glasses of wine (in our experience, good wine is hard to find in a British pub), including an unexpected Picpoul de Pinet (Domaine Roquemoliére)--a bit like a heavily oaked Chardonnay. The portions were huge, so we were too full for desserts, but I included pics of that menu.

Ate here last night - my significant other and I both ordered pies - her's was chicken & chorizo and mine was beef and mushroom. They were both excellent and I would actually recommend coming back here again. My only complaint is that the service is a bit slow - it took a while to be waited upon. But again, the food was excellent so that overcame the other issue. I also do wish they had a larger beer selection - found it to be quite limited.

Sunday, midday and thus traditional British pub was empty. That didn't stay like that. Within thirty minutes it was heaving. Not surprising taking into account the service behind the bar. Friendly and speedy. It had to be to serve all those customers. Many arriving for a meal in the restaurant. Next time we will give it a go. Nice to get away from the standard Covent Garden eateries and find tradition.

I was starving and my friends and I decided to stop here to grab drinks and food. It's a cute little spot. The toilets are upstairs and we wanted to go upstairs for seating, but we got confused as to whether it was open or not. We ended up just going downstairs and sitting by the door. The window does say there's free wifi, but none of us could get connected. There is no service if you're sitting at a table. You do have to go to the bar and order food as well as pay for it before getting your food. I also ordered an Old Rosie cider and it was disgusting. I've never had one but it had a weird after taste and kinda tasted like olive juice. I love olives but not in ciders that I wanted to enjoy. The cider was also pretty flat, not crisp at all. The fish and chips actually made the experience better. I'm not a big fan of fish and chips and I devoured the entire plate. I don't know if it was delicious or if I was starving.

Happening little pub in Covent Garden. Lots of locals (and some tourists) in the pub downstairs, having a few pints and relaxing. Elegant dining room and good food served upstairs. I had to have fish n chips on my journey to the UK, and this is where I ended up having them. Good, well-battered fish, chunky chips, and malt vinegar. It wasn't incredible or anything, but it hit the spot. They had a beer, ginger brew mix that I enjoyed along with some mulled wine. Also had the plumb, apple, cherry crumble with custard, and this was definitely the best part of the meal. You may think I'm lying, but it was not too rich. It was just right. Didn't frequent the pub downstairs, but it seemed like a fun crowd when I passed through. Right on a busy corner in Covent Garden. Check it out.

The worst dinner I've had all year The pie the say the won an award for? Flavorless overcooked meet. Rock hard crust. The vegetables were mush and totally unseasoned The mash potatoes tasted like the came from a box and had no flavor all either. The gravy was right from a jar. And my gin cocktail was completely undrinkable as well... I wouldn't recommend to an enemy

Nice and fairly quiet pub in the middle of London, I neglected to notice the ale selection although I think they had two guest ales but more importantly they had Appletiser, a great (the greatest?) of pub soft drinks, they had seats, and it was not too loud. Excellent for a post work drop in.

Stopped in for a casual dinner on my first night in London. Was looking for fish and chips and ended up trying the special beef and pale ale pie - it was amazing!!!!! Our order was ready quickly, the pie came out piping hot with layers of flaky dough, beef, mushroom, and Pearl onion. Absolutely delicious and was better than the fish and chips.

Cam in for Roast dinner. The beef was lovely!!! Will come back next time i am in the area..

I am here for my business trip in London. I live in the U.S. Searched soho area and found this place. I ordered and finished the fish and chip. Fresh flavor and not greasy at all. Very nice quality of cooking. If I revisit London next time, I will come back.

This pub offers a nice seclusion from the busy Covent Garden / Trafalgar Square / Picadilly Circus tourist mayhem. The beer selection is quite standard for this franchise and food is also quite good and reasonably priced. There is a dining room upstair which might be a better option for a bigger parties. On the other hand there is as well plenty of sitting on the ground floor. Staff is definitely very pleasant but you need to order and pay at the bar.

It was a good opportunity to eat famous English fish and chips dish. The food was very delicious and service was very friendly. The interior decoration was British and we liked it very much. The price is averaged.

For classic fish n chips, a variety of meat pies this place is a must visit. It's in the heart of the inner London and right beside covent gardens

It was our first night in London and we wanted somewhat of a typical British meal, so we decided to go with the traditional fish and chips. We didn't realize that most pubs stop serving food in the late afternoon and focus just on serving alcohol. Luckily, we came across the White Swan, where we were able to get a table for dinner. We ordered the fish and chips and a short rib pie, both of which were really great. I wouldn't want to eat like this every day - the food is a lot heavier than what I'm regularly used to - but it was a great first meal on my short trip to London. The fish and chips were what we expected - simple, tasty, and not too greasy. The short rib pie was really good and a bit of a surprise. The meat fell off the bone and the accompanying vegetables we a perfect complement to the meat. The waiter and host deserve our praises as their service was impeccable. They assisted us in placing our order and even made some suggestions as to where we could get a proper English breakfast the next morning. As the British like to say when thanking someone, "TA".

i'm very glad i found this place. The wait staff was extremely polite and kind and the food was great and well priced. Free wifi!

Decent place for British food with chill atmosphere. We ordered the cheese chicken pie (delicious) and potato pie. I don't recommend the house wine. Also, no service, had to order at the bar.

Ate upstairs in the dining room. The service was slow but the food was great! I recommend the steak frites.

Delicious authentic pub food! My mom got the fish & chips, and I got the beef pot pie with an apple cider. We were both very impressed, and the service was excellent. I highly recommend this place!

Pros : Calm and serene setting, good food, brilliant service Cons : The charm of this place is on the outside and it gets difficult to enjoy this if the rain gods are in a bad mood !!! I would recommend this place for people looking for some peace,sun and some good food and spirits to keep the spirits up !! The charm of this place is its setting and its a pity you can enjoy this setting mostly in the summers. This place is serene calm and peaceful the only two sounds you can hear is a lot of grumbling from ur tummy until the food arrives to your table or may be a burrrp of satisfaction after your meal. This place is right next to the Thames river and they have a deck overlooking the river and also some place inside just across the road, so when the weather gets bad you can always retreat to the warm comforts and enjoy your food and drink, However if the sun is shining there is no place better than the deck to enjoy a quiet and relaxed evening. We were here for lunch and ordered mostly burgers and humus pita bread. The beef burger seems to be the pretty obvious choice here looking at the enthusiasm with which my friends went for it. I had the chicken burger and it tasted very well the patty was crisp and juicy and hot just like you want a burger to be, the buns were pretty good as well. I also tried the humus pita bread with kebabs and it tasted amazingly well, i loved the way it was cooked. We had blueberry juice to drink which was tasty and refreshing. Drool factor ? Just the setting and the food is drool worthy. would love to have the hummus and the kebabs here. Hole in the pocket ? Not a big hole its priced pretty decently. Viewed 722 times

Good food. Nice staff. Could be better service. Good dessert It is small and crowded. You have to climb stairs to get up to it. Small bathrooms. The main waitor was nice and funny.

Was in the mood for British pub food, especially a meat pie, but their specialty is the fish and chips and went for that. Good choice! Nice and crisp and very tasty. I'd come back.

Came in and sat down 30 minutes without being noticed... if it wasn't for the World Cup I would have left 5 in. As far as the food?.... I don't know...

Ordered Steak Frites, Beer (Hackney Gold) and water. They never bothered bringing the drinks nor apologised when I brought it up. I finally told the server I just wanted to know how much I had to pay to get out of there. He still tried to charge me for the beer he never brought me until I called him on it. The food was fine. I wouldn't say it was amazing. I'm not returning.

Great Place! We came with a large party of 10, they were very accommodating, carving out a small, comfy space for us. We ordered the Sunday Roast, Fish and Chips and a few other dishes. The Sunday roast was very well cooked and the fish and chips were the best we've had. The fish was fresh, flaky and perfectly cooked. The service was really great as well. Next time we are in London, we will definitely return.

For a restaurant that prides itself for their fish and chips, I would suggest going back to the drawing board. This cod fish had no taste, and no flavor. The chips were soggy. The tarter sauce and the mushy peas were the only items on my plate that had anything going for them. The service was good and the atmosphere appealing. In fairness, f and c are not exactly known for being fabulous cuisine, so maybe it was just me. Well, I've been to London and am thoroughly enjoying myself. One below average meal is hardly a major bump in the road!

The dining room upstairs was very slow service. I mean really slow. The food was fine but nothing special. The pub downstairs looks much more fun but I didn't go there. Overall I would pass and find something more fun.

Would say 3.5 stars, but it's nice enough so I'm rounding up. Pleasant atmosphere for lunch, friendly service, and decent food. There are surely better places to eat in London, but in a pinch you could do a lot worse.

Great British food, very popular restaurant with a brilliant menu. Highly recommend the Sunday Roast. It was everything you expect from good pub food. Very relaxing atmosphere with good staff.

Best fish n' chips I've had in London. Wonderful service and atmosphere. Great pub downstairs, and relaxing dining upstairs. The halibut was hot, crispy n' delicious and the beer was cold. Good times were had by all.

Great beer, interesting to have a long bar downstairs and a separate lovely dining room upstairs. Would thoroughly recommend the seafood thermidor!

OK pub in great location. Used to go quite a lot but its real ale selection is poor and it can feel a bit trashy.

i wanted fish and chips on my last night in London and decided to go here based on reviews. I'm not sure why this place is rated so highly -- the service was slow (and I never got my water), the fish was tasteless, and the chips were also bland and soggy. Very disappointing.

Arrived late, 10 minutes before kitchen closed. We ordered fish and chips right away. No disappointment, excellent piece of fried fish, chips were thick and still crisp. Very good! Heading downstairs for another pint.

Fast and good service. We had Fish and Chips each and tastewise we were very happy with our choice. The fish seemed freshly battered, not greasy at all. The beans can be mushy or solid, depending on your preference. Nice sauce tartar, the ketchup on the side if you request for it. Ambience was very classy. And there's the rub: from what I understand Fish and Chips should not be "gourmet", but the classy setting and high price made it that way. It was rather quiet that evening, and the only people in the restaurant were tourists. So who is this for? If you are looking for a terrific first time Fish and Chips experience and/or are with family, this is definitely the place to go. Quiet, nice service, a good variety of British cuisine and outstanding food. If you are looking for a place where locals eat and don't care much about a classic setup around you, and want a more noisy touch, then you might be better off looking elsewhere.

with so much to choose in the area we took a gamble and boy did it pay up !!! we loved the white swan. the charming wait staff really made are evening enjoyable. oh and the food, i had one of the pies, one of the best pies i have ever had. my partner had the steak, which was a good price and he was very impressed. we highly recommend giving it a chance when your in london.

I tried this place after the good reviews here but I was disappointed after getting a steak that had no flavor and tasted like it was fried in fish oil. The service was good and they were quick to give me another dish but that wasn't any good either.