The Swan historic Bayswater London pub

London tourists always want to visit a London pub. I fell in love with The Swan on Bayswater Road.

The Swan’s first license dates from 1721, but many believe this location was a tavern long before this. The Marble Arch down the road at the corner of Hyde Park was the location of Tyburn Gallows. The jailer’s wagon would come down the road and stop at The Swan on the way to the gallows. As The Swan menu states:

The jailer would draw up with the prisoners cage outside and request “one for the road”. After the horses had pulled them away, men at the bar would say, “he’s on the wagon”, alluding to the fact that they would never drink again.

The Gardener and I were a little nervous about entering a pub because we knew we didn’t know all the rules and customs. We went to the bar to order our pints of Fuller’s (the brewery makes ales, lagers, IPAs, porters, and stouts). We asked how to get dinner and we were directed to the upstairs dining room. Once there, a waiter helped us with our orders.

The menu had quite an international flair. Along with interesting starters, classic pub dishes were available and a list of main dishes with wonderful ingredients. 

London map

Getting there

The Swan is on Bayswater Road near Kensington Gardens, between Craven Terrace and Lancaster Terrace. If you are using the Big Bus London, use stop 32 Lancaster Gate near the Columbia Hotel. The Lancaster Gate Central tube stop is close. Buses stop at the Lancaster Gate Station.

Resource links

• https://www.swanhydepark.co.uk/
  • The Swan, Hyde Park
• http://www.sirc.org/publik/pub.html
  • Passport to the Pub: A Guide to British pub etiquette
• https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/food-and-drink/pub-and-bar/traditional-london-pubs
  • Traditional London pubs from Visit London
• https://www.eater.com/2017/2/9/14493112/best-classic-british-food-restaurants-london-fish-and-chips-sticky-toffee-pudding
  • From Eater, the definitive guide to classic British foods

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