The White Lion

The White Lion is a Nicholson's pub on James Street, the short pedestrianised run between Covent Garden station and the piazza, and one of the most visible pubs in the market district. It describes itself as a historic pub of unique character offering classic British hospitality, and its flower-hung frontage and pavement tables sit amid the constant flow of shoppers and theatre-goers heading down to the market.

Nicholson's is a British pub brand with a heritage of more than 150 years, and it trades on perfect pints and unbeatable pies. That shows at the bar, which holds an impressive range of cask ales alongside lagers, spritzes and a well-made gin and tonic, and in the kitchen, where a specialist pie selection with pie and mash headlines a menu of British pub classics such as fish and chips and Sunday roast.

Pie and a pint in Covent Garden from 10am

Doors open at 10am every day, so the pub serves breakfast and coffee as well as lunch and dinner, closing at 11pm on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday, 11.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Live music features on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and the pub is known for having no queues despite its position.

What to expect on a visit

Bookings are taken as well as walk-ins, with extended hours on selected holidays, and background music keeps the room lively without drowning conversation. It is an easy, affordable stop for a pie before a show or a pint between the shops. For more choices on the same street and around the piazza see our Covent Garden pubs, including The Nags Head opposite the station.