The Churchill Arms

London's Most Photogenic Pub, and It Welcomes Dogs Too

The Churchill Arms is one of the most recognisable pubs in London — its exterior smothered in flowers and hanging baskets throughout the year, and its interior crammed with Churchill memorabilia, pots, pans and decades of accumulated decoration. It is a dog-friendly Fuller's pub on Kensington Church Street that manages to be both a tourist attraction and a genuine neighbourhood local. For dog owners, The Churchill Arms offers a warm welcome and a pint in one of London's most characterful settings.

What Makes The Churchill Arms Dog-Friendly?

Dogs are welcome in the front bar, which is the pub's main drinking area and its most atmospheric space. Water bowls are provided and the staff are friendly to dogs. The bar is well used to a mix of tourists, locals and dog walkers passing through. The Thai restaurant at the rear — one of the first pub Thai kitchens in London — is dog-free, but you can order Thai food to eat in the bar. The pavement outside offers a few spots for outdoor drinking.

Food and Drink

The Churchill Arms is famous for two things: Fuller's ales and its Thai kitchen, which has been serving excellent, affordable Thai food since the 1980s. The Thai menu is extensive and remarkably good value for Kensington. Fuller's London Pride and ESB anchor the beer selection. It is one of the few pubs in London where a superb pad thai and a pint of cask ale feel like they belong together.

The Setting

The exterior is extraordinary — every surface covered in flowers, with seasonal displays that have made the pub an Instagram fixture. Inside, the front bar is an eccentric treasure house of Churchill portraits, wartime memorabilia, brass pots and hanging plants. The effect is overwhelming in the best possible way. The Thai dining room at the back is a conservatory-style space packed with more plants. The pub sits on the busy stretch of Kensington Church Street between Notting Hill Gate and High Street Kensington.

Nearby Dog Walks

Kensington Gardens is a five-minute walk, offering broad avenues, the Italian Gardens and the open spaces around the Round Pond. Hyde Park is connected for longer walks. Holland Park, with its woodland and formal gardens, is also within walking distance to the west.

Good to Know

There is no car park. Notting Hill Gate and High Street Kensington Tube stations are both close. The pub can be crowded with tourists, especially at weekends. Evening visits and weekday lunchtimes are better for dogs. The Thai food arrives quickly, which helps with restless dogs.