Prospect Of Whitby in Tower Hamlets

Came here specifically to have a drink in oldest riverside pub. Charmless service and dirty pub. Honestly, bar staff should be fired...no people skills. Wonder how the tourists respond to this place, which could such a beautiful place seeped in history

Great place with a special history

Impeccable service, and wonderfully well kept cask; cheers to Justin (well, I believe the name was Justin. I only asked the name after a few pints…) for keeping those lovely bitters drinking so well. We also enjoyed the work of the fabulously talented musical guest. What fun! If I lived in the neighbourhood, I’d be here nightly.

Excellent quality food and good GF options. Four of us had different meals and we all enjoyed them. Good choices & portions. A lovely, historical pub on the river with friendly, helpful staff. Only disappointment was that there were no GF beers, other than the usual, unimaginative Peroni! There are now so many great GF ales & beers and it would be good if there were at least 2/3 options available, please.

Nice choice of ales shame about the service, the door handle to the outside smoking area broken if you went out no return to the bar

Fantastic old pub. Very atmospheric. A nice rear veranda over the Thames. Had a nice pint here. Will visit again when in London.

Great pub but bar service is always shocking. Never enough staff and they are super slow.

Wonderful spot, popped in for a drink and bite to eat, lovely service, great location, fish n chips was really nice 👍

Nice pub grub, lots of nice views and decent history

Really neat pub with lots of history

Had the pleasure of dining here tonight and had the most amazing service provided by the wonderful Anvi. The food was great, but what really separated this establishment from others was Anvi’s kindness and attentiveness. She made our group of five adults and two children feel like we were her only customers when in reality she was handling duties as hostess, server, and seemingly ran the entire upstairs single-handedly. Anvi is an absolute rockstar!

Was going to give 4 stars but just couldn't for the sake of the staff who were clearly doing all they could, they literally had one lady doing everything front of house and one chef, they were having a hard time of it but looked after us incredible well and put up a fantastic plate of food, so much better than we were expecting, rich meaty pie with fantastic pastry, a beautiful gravy and the MVP going to that cabbage, thank you both. Plus the building and view access the river were more than enough to keep us company while we waited.

Great place, nice staff, great food. Loved it.

Stopped by for a pint during the week and really enjoyed the visit. As one of London’s oldest pubs, with a history spanning over 500 years, it’s full of character and charm. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the pint was spot on. A bonus: the historic Execution Dock is located just behind the pub, adding to the unique atmosphere.

Great pub, great atmosphere, great service. Well worth a visit.

Must visit for a pint or two. Food was alright. My fish and chips were overcooked and not salted well. But it’s one of the oldest pubs in London and that’s worth a drink. Great outdoor space too.

Superb historic boozer. Deducted one star because it's part of a chain, so has cheesy generic signage and fittings that detract from it's old time charm.

A busy pub, well worth a visit.

Lovely pub steeped in history!! Jordan (I think was our name) is a brilliant member of staff who is very knowledgeable about the pub and gave us a great tour and history tour...the bar was quiet and I'm so glad that he could have a good chat to us ...😁

I am not happy to write a negative review for any business but the Roast was awful and not worth the money. Do not waste your money on this. Generally I have not been disappointed by a pub roast dinner for a long time now. It is a beautiful historical building and this experience was extremely bad. I think the owner should consider to spend more resources in the kitchen and offer the quality products that reflects the cost of the food that customer is paying for. It’s worth to visit because of its historical importance and a pint but that is all.

Nice pub next to the Themes river. We went during March afternoon and the downstairs seating place was a bit cold as the door was open. There’s also an additional dining area upstairs. We had the vintage burgers and the fish and chips which were delicious. I’d recommend to try all the ales. Next to the pub there’s a small alley where you can go down to the river (be careful on the steps) - you can see a gallows there.

Very cosy and old traditional pub full of history. Good choice of beer. Must go pub as it is one of the oldest!

Lovely pub with a great history too.

Lovely place, so atmospheric. Great food.

Food is great, drinks are great, family and dog friendly. Nice atmosphere a good crowd been many times, safe. Diamond in the dirt

Excellent pub, lovely food and stunning River Thames views

I thought this was a great spot with a historical feel to it. The noose out the back is a reminder of what used to go on down on the foreshore

What a wonderful historical place with good food and beer love it

Love this place, used to come 10 years ago when we lived here, came back now with family. Good food and great service from Meg and Nick.

Really nice pub on the river with great atmosphere and service, lots of history. Food really average, nothing amazing

Had lunch with my wife and enjoyed the food, the beers and the fantastic setting and a huge shout out to Anders who served us and gave great info on the pub and area from the dark side, cheers we shall return.

I was left with a bit of a loud picture, the prices are high, the food tasteless. The setting is great. There is a history of the place.

The Prospect of Whitby, London's oldest riverside pub, brims with history dating back to 1520. Nestled along the Thames, it offers a timeless ambience with wooden beams, maritime relics, and a flagstone floor. Enjoy delicious traditional pub fare, complemented by an excellent selection of craft beers. With three charming outdoor seating areas overlooking the river, it’s the perfect spot to unwind. Dog-friendly ... 🐕 Renowned for its warm, welcoming staff, the Prospect of Whitby promises an unforgettable experience steeped in charm and hospitality.

Staff are friendly, and the views of the Thames are lovely. This pub is good if you just want drinks. However, the food is very poor and overpriced for what you get. Microwave is definitely earning its pay.

Enjoyed the nostalgia of the place and very good service. I was showing the pub to a group of Norwegians who loved the history.

Great little and old pub. Worth stopping in for a pint it's a great experience

Stood at the end of the bar while 7-8 people who came up after me were served. Not exactly cheap either, I wouldn’t bother with this place, The Grapes was fantastic on the other had I’d highly recommend about a 20 min walk from this place

Fabulous,great food and beautiful decor

What a great old pub! A must to visit when you’re in London next

Bar service can be a little intimidating, but sandwiches served with a smile!

Me n few of my friends visited this amazing step back in time and was literally blown away with not just the decor within but the friendliness we all received. The food was authentic and good along with the fantastic service.

It was fabulous to stop for a drink in the Prospect of Whitby. Such a lot of history to enjoy.

Lovely boozer, steeped in history!!

Stunning place ... Great walk from Canary Wharf too

It's a nice place, but there's no need to exaggerate, it's not bad.

Heritage! The tavern was formerly known as The Pelican and later as the Devil’s Tavern, on account of its dubious reputation. All that remains from the building's earliest period is the 400-year-old stone floor. The pub features 18th-century panelling and a 19th-century facade. The pub has a pewter-top bar and is decorated with many nautical objects. In former times it was a meeting place for sailors,  smugglers, cutthroats and footpads. The Prospect of Whitby is a historic public house on the northern bank of the River Thames at Wapping, in the East End of London and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lays claim to being on the site of the oldest riverside tavern, dating from around 1520. Wikipedia.

Good pub food in a lovely environment and with very good service. Very enjoyable.

The gallows you may see out of the balcony is clearly stating that there is always a way out of every hopeless situation if beer does not work.

Super cool atmosphere in this historic 1520s London pub, with a fantastic view of the Thames and amazing sailor/pirate vibes that my friends and I loved. The Sunday roasts are very generous, and the vegetarian one was delicious! Thanks for this wonderful Sunday lunch!

Good atmosphere nice traditional pub

Saw some bad reviews. Never been before and was excited. Hoped for the best. Got the worst. Naff beer selection. Service appalling. Hardly busy but 40 mins and nothing, no update, no sign of waitress, so we left, starving. We had paid for drinks we had. Found incredible Italian a few doors up who saved the day. Disappointed. Of all the amazing pubs in London wasted our time here. Can imagine in day, sitting outside, pretty good. Ok for a drink but if you are a craft ale connoisseur don’t bother and if you are hungry don’t expect it to arrive!

Old English pub. It was awesome

Very nice! I like the atmosphere and the location. The food was good as well

This pub is absolutely stunning, down by the river, never too busy and has a lot of history. The food is disappointing. The roasts weren't cheap and given the beautiful setting it's a shame that the food isn't to the same standard.

Great food great atmosphere. Kind staff

Nice pub with decent drinks menu. Service is good, but you have to download and order through the Greene King app right now. Pints are on the expensive side but given the location, this is understandable. Situated right by the river with two terraces for guests to enjoy, the location is really lovely, especially with the big tree right by the pub. Everything is fairly well taken care of and the only thing that is not up to standard is the rather horrible playlist that was playing the entire evening. Weird mix of popular songs that don't seem to fit the vibe of the pub at all.

Popped in for a quick drink and to see the old hanging post. What a magnificent and quirky place steeped in history. This should be on everyone's bucket list when visiting London.

had a lovely afternoon at the Prospect of Whitby, Leanne our waitress was wonderful definitely be back again soon. Thankyou

Nice pub, good beer, good atmosphere . Just drinking, didn't eat,

I haven't used it yet, so I'll check it out next time I visit.

Awesome old pub with a lot of history

It is the best thameside pub by far! They used to hang pirates here, fish and chips is amazinggggg

Lovely food and service Thank you

The food was very very good. The staff was very friendly and enthusiastic and all in for a good joke :-). They run after us, when we forgot our bag!! You have there very nice view and you can have there a great evening.

After watching a few you tube reviews we had to try it , but tbh I wish I hadn't we had the steak and ale pie , with mash , the cabbage was awful not cooked and not " charred" as described on menu ,pastry was soggy ,service was pretty poor to had to wait ages to be served Won't be visiting again sadly ,I had high hopes

*Edit* No response, acknowledgement or apology from Owner in a week. But has responded to good reviews left in the past few days. I really don't understand how the reviews can be so different, either totally amazing or absolute rubbish??? Our party of four booked a table for Saturday 15th Feb. It was my birthday and the end of a long two years of chemotherapy for me. The table had an amazing view, although very cold where the wind blew in through the broken windows. Everything started off OK and Nico the waiter was brilliant. 3 of our drinks came immediately but my drink didn't appear and after asking twice it eventually did , it was the worst Mojito spritz I've ever tasted. The waiter did replace it. We ordered our food , some items not available at 6.30 on a Saturday night ?? We expected a wait , so no problem. We ordered our second round and then waited over 30 minutes for them to arrive. When the food arrived, it was good although you could tell it had been sitting for too long and was tepid. We then ordered two Sticky Toffee puddings, one with custard , one with ice cream. They both arrived with custard and were rubbery and cold. The poor waiter was on his own and was running up and down the stairs to get everyone's drink, serve food, clear and clean tables all by himself. This is a beautiful tourist pub and for a Saturday should have had plenty of staff working and how can you run out of chips 🤷‍♀️. The customers on the next table were disgusted and left without ordering anything. Although the manager waived our bill, and rightly so. The damage had been done. I was thoroughly upset at such a terrible experience . But I would like to thank Nico for doing his best 👌

Told us the kitchen closed at 8pm, but significantly later we saw food being brought out from the kitchen, while we had vinegar crisps for dinner and watched the noose sway in the wind outside :(

Olde pub with hamgmans noose on the beach side

An old Riverside pub that is well worth a visit. Friendly and helpful staff. I visited it twice during a recent trip to London. The only let down for me was that out of six hand pulls showing real ales, only one was available. For a traditional pub this was disappointing. I had steak and chips on both of my visits. Keenly priced for London but the steak was on the tough side.

Lovely old pub right on the Thames, well worth a visit

Lovely pub towards the end of Wapping high Street full of local history past and present it has the longest original pewter bar in Britain. Very polite and professional bar staff nice outside area overlooking Canary wharf. And not forgetting the gallows where the pirates were hung 🏴‍☠️ sorry can't give a food review as I was only there for the beer 🍻. Give it a visit.

Another great pub with good food & beer

Typical pub with outdoor seating overlooking the Thames (weather permitting)

Been coming here on and off over the years and always a great place for a pint... Particularly if you are doing the Thames Path. I tend to set off from Greenwich and use here as my half way point before going on through Wappung to Ldn Bridge. If tide is low definitely head down the Pelican Steps and do a spot of mudlarking

This pub has the best claim to be the oldest on the London riverside and boasts the facts with a number of colourful information boards. c1520 has to be believed due to the construction of the original building and the many internal fittings. There is a cosy beer garden with views across the river and I suspect this has been used for various programmes, featuring London in the script. There is a novel display of a replica noose dangling over the beach at low tide that gives the impression of pirates and the like getting their just deserts. However, Execution Dock was located much further up river, closer to Tower Bridge by Brewhouse Lane.

Very nice historic place with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Very friendly staff and very good food

An absolute must-see pub, located by the Thames and is the oldest riverside pub in London. It is full of history and character with various information, old photographs, and maritime relics on display. I did not eat here, so I am unable to comment on the quality of the food. If you want to step back in time and see one of London's most historic pubs, then I highly recommend visiting here. ☆☆☆☆☆

Nice atmosphere in very historic pub.

We see this place on f/b and thought how great it looked , we looking forward to our visit . On arrival the place was great we loved the atmosphere but all went down hill from there , there was confusion over our table even though we booked , we ordered drinks but they didn't arrive , so we ordered again , eventually after 30mins we had a drink , we ordered our food ! People around us were getting there food but not us !! There were a few things that wasn't available on the menu also , we tried to order a bottle of wine but again wasn't available, everyone was looking very unhappy !! The waiter was under a great deal of stress , then the lady at the other table started to complain as her sticky toffee pudding was frozen and they had been there 3 hours !! After all the alarm bells and an hour with no good and 1 drink we decided to get up and leave 😒. There was no management and confusion , lack of staff . Before leaving I used the lavatory and to round it of there was no lock on toilet door and no toilet roll . All four of us have never had such a terrible experience ! Such a shame , as with the right management this place could be amazing. We will not be returning 😒

Great meal, and a pint, Meg friendly and efficient.

I went around 7:00pm and it was so crowded that it was hard to find a seat! If you only want to drink alcohol, you don't need a seat, but if you want to order food, you will need a table. The counter was crowded and it took a while to order, but the food was served quickly. It's a historic pub with a beautiful interior and the food was delicious, so I was very satisfied!

Brilliant place ,loved the history

Nice place; I didn't see any pirates but the food and service was excellent.

Ideal for a drink. Typical decoration of English PUBs. I went there with my partner on 14 02. Lack of atmosphere but maybe that was because of Valentine's Day.

Lovely pewter bar, good selection of beers and food...and whilst we were there the Thames was splashing at the window. Great pub and experience.

Very very cool pub. Great view of the city and lots of history

Excellent pub excellent history excellent views from pub garden and from indoors view plus a little balcony fantastic view of the Thames plus the old streets of Wapping worth a visit

Beautiful pub on the banks of the Thames, where crooks were once hanged. Great atmosphere, very good food. In summer there is a beautiful outdoor area where you can drink a nice cold beer.

Love this historic spot on the river! Food was fabulous and a good range of alcohol free beers. Friendly staff and a million dollar view. A must visit!

I’ve been looking forward to visiting this place for a while, a 2 hour drive for us. The venue exudes history but is it to much to ask for horseradish with roast beef, I don’t know 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Excellent beer in an atmospheric London pub

This place is definitely worth a visit. Its so old and there's loads of history all around the place. Lots of space inside and out and it's literally on the side of the river. The food was great too

Great oldie pub going back to the smugglers age, First pub to have private beach on the thames, Some days there are live bands there and look out for something odd made of rope, You will know it when you see it, Walk down to beach is through passage way and steps next to the pub

The Prospect of Whitby is London’s oldest riverside tavern, built around 1520, on the north bank of the Thames - a former den of pirates, smugglers, mutineers and cut throats, some of whom were hung at low tide on the riverbank gallows outside. Today it’s a cracking, atmospheric pub with bags of character, great food, its original stone floor and Britain’s longest pewter-top bar … and Justin the barman is a legend! 😊

Meg and her staff were so lovely. They are obviously understaffed but did everything they could to make our reservation nice - thank you Meg! The food on the other hand was genuinely laughable it looked like a school dinner. Not the staffs fault they’re just making what’s prescribed but DO NOT come here for a nice roast. The burger looked okay but genuinely 2/10 for food.

Had a perfect meal at The Prospect of Whitby. Laeanne who was running g the restaurant was really helpful and made the whole experience of the meal good. Great service food was exceptional.

We visited here from North Devon & what a beautiful pub & wonderful food & service - Leanne was our waitress & was wonderful & couldn’t be more helpful & accommodating - she really made the visit a treat - thank you

Great atmosphere. Great beer and food. Definitely worth recommending 👍

Tanya was very nice and the food and the drinks were top notch quality i will come back very soon

Really friendly welcoming staff. Great food and tavern with amazing history.... We were there on a very cold January and where we were was on the cold side and could have done with some kind of heating... Just a short walk from Wapping station.... Give it a go