With a UK heatwave, thoughts are turning to those welcoming beer gardens, and the top 30 across the nation have been named – and one is nestled on the edge of a breathtaking lake
Amy Jones Senior Travel Journalist
01:00, 23 May 2026
Nothing says UK heatwave like a pint in a beer garden(Image: Getty Images/Stock Image)
The UK’s best beer gardens have been named – and one offers ‘stunning lakeside views’.
Heading to a beer garden to soak up the rays and order a refreshing pint is an unspoken tradition among Brits when the sunshine hits. So with a heatwave engulfing the UK during the May bank holiday, and temperatures reaching up to 30C, beer gardens are expected to be busier than ever.
Many opt for their local, while others are keen to explore elsewhere, or even during a weekend escape. However, there are notable beer gardens nestled across the UK that have been hailed as the very best.
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The Lake View Garden Bar in Bowness-on-Windermere has been named one of the UK’s best beer gardens(Image: James Maloney/LancsLive)
Set within the picturesque landscapes of the Lake District, the Lake View Garden Bar is undoubtedly one of the most scenic beer gardens. So it’s no surprise that it was ranked the third-best beer garden in the UK by Enjoy Travel, while The Pump House in Liverpool secured a place in the top 20.
Nestled along the shore of Lake Windermere, the largest lake in the Lake District, the Lake View Garden Bar is an oasis for basking in the British sunshine with picture-postcard vistas. It’s situated in the small town of Bowness-on-Windermere, two hours from Liverpool and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, attracting local and avid ramblers looking for a refreshing beverage, with various events held in its beautiful garden during the warmer months.
The bar has stunning views of the largest lake in the Lake District
In its 30 best UK beer gardens list, Enjoy Travel commented: “Whether you want a hearty pub meal, or a few drinks to unwind after a day of hiking in the Lake District, or even just to sit down and enjoy the stunning lakeside views, where plenty of wildlife including birds of prey and fish leaping out the water can be seen, an afternoon or an evening spent in the Lake View Garden Bar is one of the best places to do so.”
Top 30 UK beer gardensThe Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Scotland – A historic Highland pub surrounded by mountains, with stunning views of Aonach Dubh and over 400 malt whiskies on offer.The Old Mill Inn, Pitlochry, Scotland – An 18th-century former mill with a working waterwheel and a peaceful, stream-side beer garden.Lake View Garden Bar, Lake District, England – A scenic garden bar on the shores of Lake Windermere in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Cold Town House, Edinburgh, Scotland – A Grassmarket pub in Edinburgh’s Old Town, with Edinburgh Castle looming dramatically overhead.Daft Eddys, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland – A pub on an island in a marine reserve, with views of a 12th-century castle and abundant wildlife.The Ship Inn, Tresaith, Wales – A west Welsh coastal pub overlooking Tresaith Bay and a waterfall, popular with hikers and families.The Black Bull, Yarm, England – A riverside pub stretching to the banks of the River Tees, with year-round seating, live music and big screen sports.Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, Manchester, England – A cash-only, no-phones historic pub with a sun-trap beer garden, cheap Sam Smith’s beer and old-school charm. The outside area is currently undergoing some construction workThe Old Neptune, Whitstable, England – Known locally as “The Neppy,” this beach pub has a heated outdoor seating area extending right onto the sand.The Boathouse, Shrewsbury, England – A multi-tiered riverside beer garden on the River Severn, with an outdoor bar and passing swans and boats.The Killingworth Castle, Wootton, England – A classic Cotswolds country pub next to Blenheim Palace, with a gorgeous green terrace and traditional stone surroundings.The Pump House, Liverpool, England – A former hydraulic pumping station on Liverpool’s historic docks, with stunning waterfront views.Ben Nevis Inn, Fort William, Scotland – A converted 1806 stone barn at the foot of the UK’s tallest mountain, with breathtaking Highland views.Fortune of War, Brighton, England – A vibrant seafront pub dating to 1882, with jazz, reggae and DJ nights spilling out onto the beach.The Maybush Inn, Waldringfield, England – A scenic riverside pub on the River Deben in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, popular with boaters and walkers.The Bush Inn, St Hilary, Wales – A traditional Vale of Glamorgan village pub with a newly revamped pergola and beautiful Welsh countryside views.Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich, London, England – A Thames-side pub with naval decor and lovely river views, a classic London destination for locals and tourists alike.The Anchor Inn, Seatown, England – A clifftop pub on the Jurassic Coast with sweeping views over Lyme Bay and the nearby Golden Cap.The Stag on the River, Lower Eashing, England – A tranquil Surrey riverside pub on the River Wey, with beautiful teak furniture and a peaceful, shaded setting.The Ferry Inn, St Dogmaels, Wales – A tiered, multi-level beer garden overlooking the River Teifi Estuary, with its own private jetty for arriving by boat.Hotel Victoria, Robin Hood’s Bay, England – A clifftop pub in a quaint North Yorkshire fishing village, with commanding views over the North Sea and a horsebox outdoor bar.People’s Park Tavern, Hackney, London, England – A canalside pub in Hackney Wick popular with young professionals, serving stonebaked pizzas and beer by the jug.Canalhouse, Nottingham, England – A city-centre pub with both urban views and canalside seating, and a wide selection of craft beers from local and national breweries.The Watering Hole, Perranporth, Cornwall, England – The UK’s only true beach bar, with tables on the sand and a popular annual music festival.The Fleet Inn, Twyning, England – A family-friendly riverside pub on the Avon with a heated pergola, children’s play area, outdoor kitchen and its own boat docking station.The George, Castleton, England – A Peak District pub with two beer gardens offering views of an 11th-century castle on one side and Mam Tor on the other.The Plough, Harborne, England – A lush, green Birmingham beer garden with a heated covered area and summer DJ nights.Fiddichside Inn, Craigellachie, Scotland – A renovated Speyside riverside pub dating to 1842, surrounded by whisky distilleries and with a sun-trap elevated deck.George III Hotel, Penmaenpool, Wales – A quintessential Welsh country pub on the Mawddach Estuary, with mountain views one way and lakeside views the other.Mount Edgcumbe, Royal Tunbridge Wells, England – A dog-friendly Kent country pub less than an hour from London, with rich green gardens and shaded nooks.
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