This part of the Thames has quite a plethora of pubs and on hot sunny days the inhabitants of Hammersmith and Chiswick swarm here en masse.

The tendency is to get as close to the river as possible, but if you're willing to forego a waterside view, you'll find the Black Lion offers the most pleasant pub-going experience in these parts.

It's a large pub that's been here for a couple of hundred years or so and consequently has the olde worlde low ceilings, exposed beams, bare floorboards etc that perfectly fits our traditional image of a British pub.

Like many other pubs nowadays, there's a strong focus on dining, including a barbecue in the huge beer garden when the weather's nice (hard to resist when you're walking past), but that doesn't mean that the beer's been neglected.

There's an excellent and varied selection of real ales on the hand pumps as well as all the other wines and spirits you'd expect of a modern gastropub.

Kid-friendly, dog-friendly and with live music most Thursdays and a quiz on Sunday, this pub has something for everyone and, apart from the times there are so many people that the service is rather slow, the Black Lion offers a relaxed and friendly experience.

NEAREST STATION: Stamford Brook station
FEATURES: Dog friendly, function room available, live music, outdoor seating, quiz night Sunday, separate restaurant