The Red Lion, Parliament Street
The Red Lion is a Grade II listed Victorian pub on Parliament Street, between Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament. It has a division bell to call MPs to vote, and politicians from Churchill to Heath have drunk here. It is a natural stop on any Whitehall walk.
Photos
The Red Lion, Parliament Street
A pub at the heart of politics
There has been a Red Lion on this spot for a long time: a young Charles Dickens drank at the earlier pub here. The present building dates from around 1890 and was listed Grade II in 1983. Its nearness to Parliament means a division bell still hangs inside to warn MPs that a vote is about to happen, and Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee and Edward Heath are all recorded as visitors.
Inside
Expect a traditional London pub with a well-kept Victorian interior and a mix of tourists, civil servants and the occasional politician. The pub is owned by Fuller's, so the beer list leans on its cask ales, and pub food is served. Weekday lunchtimes and early evenings are busiest with office workers. Visit mid-afternoon or at the weekend if you want a quieter pint and a better look at the interior, when the after-work crowd has not yet arrived.
On a Westminster day
The pub is a short walk from Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, and Downing Street is just up the road. Drop in after a tour of Parliament, or before walking along Whitehall to Horse Guards and Trafalgar Square. St Stephen's Tavern, another division-bell pub, is close by.
Highlights
- Grade II listed, built around 1890
- Division bell for MPs
- Visited by Churchill, Attlee and Heath
- Minutes from Big Ben and Westminster Abbey
Good to know
- The division bell can ring during sittings: it is not a fire alarm.
- Busy with office workers at weekday lunchtime and after work.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: en.wikipedia.org