This anonymous little ditty refers to the British romantic novelist Elinor Glyn (1864-1943) who popularised erotic fiction but it may as well be about her much earlier namesake, actress Eleanor “Nell” Gwyn (1650-1687), famed mistress of Charles II, by whom she had two sons. It is said that pretty, witty Nell and the Merry King trysted and dined in this riverside inn in Hammersmith, known from the 18th century onwards as The Dove.
The location of this pub is what will make you go back again and again. Otherwise it is just a regular pub. I felt so lucky to have got the seat which is outside and right on top. You have to be a bit alert to grab that as they do not take reservations for the outside seating. The views are marvellous.. You can watch the sunset and the colours just change and blend from orange to pink to lavender. Of course not be missed is the beautiful Hammersmith bridge. I would rate this as a perfect casual date place. Food is usual pub food but certainly fresh.
Once home to the famous - Hemingway and Dylan, this pub has the old world charm. Outside patio seating is fabulous in the summer just overlooking the river. Walls have the musical notes of the conpositions. Food was good but I got to give it to the setting. Must visit while in London
This lovely and cosy pub offers you the choice of seating inside in a couch in front of the fireplace or in a sunny day to seat outdoors and enjoying the beautiful river Thames view. We can be there for hours and it really feels like you can be even more. Definitely a place to go!
This is a place everyone should put on their "25 Pubs to Visit" checklist. It's the tiniest pub I have been to and I wanted to be there for hours.
It's hard to find a table at The Dove, and if you do find one, consider yourself blessed.They take reservations only for indoor seating. The coveted terrace and outdoor are hard to bag.
The indoors and outdoors are great. The indoors make you want to sit there quietly reading a book (ya right!). The outdoors allow a view of the quainter side of the Thames, the elegant Hammersmith Bridge. We were there on a full moon night and the view is spectacular.
Writing about the food or drinks will just take away from the value of this place. Go here to experience the atmosphere - and a pint of lager of course.
This pub won my heart yesterday. To the extend that we spent two hours in the afternoon there enjoying wine with a view and made a booking for dinner for the same day. Apparently The Dove is super old with about 350 years of history. There is a tiny pub room near the entrance which is officially the smallest pub room in the world, you can see the certificate of Guinness record confirming that. Good was great, service is above all expectations, amazing vibe, completely full in the evening. View is breathtaking. A must do when in London!
Hidden Gem. The Dove is a great place to hang out, particularly on the riverside terrace and has a cosy, well-organised layout inside. The range of drinks is sufficient and the food is
great pub fare. It's popular with the local residents, so book ahead if you want a table. 'Good times to be had here.
I went here for a coffee on Sunday and couldn't belive how busy the place was. I asked the lovely girl behind the bar if I could make a resavation and she said ''I can get you in but I won't be for an hour can I take your number and call you when your table us ready'' I have never had such good service from a pub before. We did get a call and had lunch to which I have to say was the best pub Sunday lunch I have ever had. And at 13.95 it's well worth it
The Dove is a lovely intimate pub but what makes it so great is its location. It is on the Thames and has a fantastic view. It would be perfect if you are having a walk by the river and fancy a drink.
The atmosphere is good and The Dove has a really nice, cosy interior. If it is pleasant enough to sit on the terrace then it is well worth it to see the picturesque surroundings and the boats passing by.
It is on the expensive side, but worth it for the beautiful view and location. It would be great for casual drinks with friends or family.
Hannah Caramelized Banana
+3.5
I popped into The Dove with a good friend of mine during a walk along the river, and what a treat for any history-fanatics who also love a nice drink and an even better view!
The pub itself is tiny-- the perfect definition of cosy, with dark wood beams and seating. The only real source of natural light bounces off the waves of the Thames and in through the terrace. You truly feel like stepping into another world for a moment, and it's no wonder since the likes of Charles II dined here over three hundred years ago! The famed "Rule Britannia!" was also composed here, the original document framed on the wall for all to admire.
We enjoyed a couple of ciders and sat in the room connected to the terrace, so we had a lovely view of the water and surrounding area. For art history buffs, William Morris' Kelmscott House is just next door!
I highly recommend this historical gem for anyone looking for a nice chat with friends. It's also a great bar to bring friends and family visiting London on holiday-- You can enjoy your drink while still soaking-in London's rich history!
Amazing place by the water. Great food, drinks and atmosphere. I always recommend this place when I come to London in the Hammersmith area. really wished I took pics of the fish and chips. make sure to go during good weather so that you can sit outside to enjoy the river and fresh breeze whilst planes land on runway 27 in Heathrow from above
The Dove has landed and it was a pleasant surprise! We left a nearby pub/ pizza joint a tiny bit earlier, honestly feeling a bit hangry. The 'rules' for their OMFG pizza wasn't communicated to us clearly so we spent about two hours waiting for God's mercy. We were not served any food though we've been buying pints and pints. Feeling disappointed because of that bad experience, it's really wonderful for us to find the Dove. We were seated right away for a beautiful Sunday roast. Was it earth shattering good? It wasn't, but it's delightful and enjoyable. The waitress was courteous and prompt with the service. The food was beautifully presented and delectable. It was a pleasurable experience and we'll definitely recommend the Dove to our friends.
Monday night is the way to go if you want an intimate and cosy feel in this classic place. Would be awesome if we could order using qr codes, else I can see long ques during busy times. Some starters were a hit and miss. Didn't do any meals. Will def be here again to get the classic nostalgic feeling.
Great pub by the Thames and tiny little entrance opens up into Edwardian era pub with a wonderful roof top terrace with views over the Thames and Hammersmith Bridge. Would certainly recommend a visit. We had drinks and starters to sustain our walk along the river.
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🚇 Ravenscourt Park
🍺 £7.25 Asahi
❤️ One of London’s favourite pubs.
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The Dove is located in a secluded pathway on Upper Mall by the banks of the river Thames. The nearest Tube is Ravenscourt Park which is under a ten minute walk.
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This historical Grade II listed pub was established as a coffee house by around 1740 and as a pub by 1793. The name of The Dove has remained unchanged except for a period when it became inadvertently "The Doves", following an error made my the sign writer in 1860, a minor change that lasted 90 years. The Dove is in The Guinness Book of Records for having the smallest bar in the world, at just over 3 square metres.
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This cosy @fullers pub is full of old world charm and has essentially five different areas. As you walk in, you are straight in to the low ceilinged main bar area which has the servery on the right. To the right of the servery is the famous small bar which unfortunately was closed when we visited. As you head up a few wooden steps you arrive in to a atmospheric dining area, beyond that is the vine-entangled conservatory which then leads to a small terrace with wonderful views of the Thames. This pub has a village pub feel with its oak beams, sturdy fireplaces, rustic furniture and brass fixtures and fittings.
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The Dove has an excellent beer selection which included four cask ales. I had a pint of Asahi, my pint was excellent but expensive at over seven quid. The menu offers a good choice of elevated traditional pub dishes plus roasts on a Sunday, Fish & Chips cost £18.50.
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The atmosphere was relaxed, calm and welcoming on this sunny Saturday afternoon. When we arrived, the pub was busy in the main bar and on the back terrace. The crowd was a mix of locals and day trippers enjoying the historic surroundings. The service was good, we were served straightaway and the staff were courteous.
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@the_dove_hammersmith is a classic duck-your-head heritage pub experience. The history, the old world charm and the overall sense of enjoying being here made this a very enjoyable visit indeed. This is a must visit London Pub.
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ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 17.06.23
I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Dove in Hammersmith, and I was blown away by the experience. The pub is located right on the banks of the River Thames, and it has a beautiful riverside terrace that is perfect for a sunny day.
I tried the brisket burger, which was cooked to perfection and served with a generous portion of fries. The burger was also very reasonably priced. The beer selection at The Dove is also top-notch. I would highly recommend this pub to anyone looking for a great dining experience in Hammersmith.
Beautifully located, traditional cozy enterieur, we loved this pub. I was there for dinner with two work colleagues, it was raining heavily but we were lucky to still get a table without a reservation. We were served a tasty and crispy Fish&Chips by a friendly and attentive waiter, actually the entire service crew was great. I'll definitely come back the next time when I am in Hammersmith.
Julia Kuznetsova (Youlex)
+5
Hidden jem! Cosy pub with welcoming staff. Great view on the river Thames from the terrace. If you are interested in history, this is a place to go. This pub is famous for giving inspiration to "Rule Britannia" author James Thompson.
We had dinner with friends there tonight all ordered trout with fennel as a main. It was delicious. Later i had pear crumble with coco icecream - beautiful!
Absolutely superb food, we had the lamb and mash plus ravioli to start. Staff are so friendly, setting is fantastic too highly recommend
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