After a long week at work, there’s nothing quite like a trip to the pub to enjoy a drink.
And in London, you’re not short of places to go for a pint, as there are more than 3,000 boozers across the city.
But of all these, there’s only one that’s actually located inside a London Underground station, and it’s in an incredible spot right on the platform.
Tap on the Line is London’s last remaining pub attached to a Tube station, and it can be found at Kew Gardens Station.
Now, I wouldn’t exactly go as far as to call it a hidden gem, as thousands of people pass by it every single day.
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But if you don’t frequent this part of London, you’d be forgiven for not knowing it exists.
When I told friends I was going to visit this pub, they were intrigued – particularly by the wall of windows at the back that allows for a direct view of the District Line and Mildmay trains as they pass.
My goal was to get a glass of wine and nab a front row seat, but, as you’d expect, obtaining one of these coveted tables isn’t easy.
I was prepared to have to wait to get close to the windows, but I was stunned to see that the atrium was almost empty when I arrived.
Delighted, I headed for a table, only to be turned away.
It turns out this part of the pub, known as ‘the atrium’, is used as the main dining space.
So when I rocked up just after 6 pm on a Friday and said I wouldn’t be eating, I was swiftly directed elsewhere to save the space for those having food.
I was half tempted to order an £18 plate of sausage and mash just to really commit to the bit, but my disappointment was assuaged when I discovered you can still see trains from inside the main bar area.
There are three windows along the back of the pub, which also look out onto the platform.
My view was almost perfect, but the same couldn’t be said of my husband’s.
The catch is that the tables are positioned so that only one person can see the trains, while anyone you’re with has their back to them.
If you both want to see, you’ll have to play a strange version of musical chairs and keep swapping seats.
Whether or not you get a window seat, I can honestly say the pub is still worth a visit if you’re in the area.
It might be part of a chain (owned by Fuller’s), but it’s incredibly characterful in terms of the way it looks and the location.
I was taken aback by the decor at first, having been expecting the place to lean into the whole train theme (a bit like Cahoots in Soho), but instead it’s decked out in bright colours, tropical flowers and exotic birds.
When I asked Fuller’s about the decor, they had a very good reason as to why it is the way it is, though.
Georgina Wald, the comms manager at Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC, told me that the space was inspired by the pub’s proximity to Kew Gardens.
‘It’s the primary reason for a lot of visitors to the area coming through the station,’ she explained.
Suddenly, the flower artwork on the walls makes a lot more sense.
And if you look really closely, there are a few subtle nods to trains hidden around the place. As I was leaving, I spotted the words ‘mind the gap’ hidden in the flooring.
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For those who aren’t bothered about the trains at all, the pub has a cute outside terrace with festoon lighting strung up overhead.
This looks out onto Kew Gardens Parade, a quaint area with several independent shops and cafes, and it’s beside the entrance to the station, so you can watch commuters come and go as you sit back and relax.
I can’t vouch for any of the food as I haven’t tried it, but the drinks menu is solid. It even features several American IPAs and Belgian beers, for anyone wanting to try something a little different, and I thought the prices were pretty standard for a London pub.
My final verdict?
I may not have had the full experience during my visit, but I was charmed by the place nonetheless and can easily see it becoming somewhere I visit on the regular.
Do you have to eat to sit in the atrium?
Good news! I asked Georgina if you can ever sit in the atrium without having food, and lo and behold, it turns out you can.
You just have to make sure you’re visiting during a quieter time.
She added: ‘The Atrium does tend to be for dining only, but during quieter times, people are welcome to come and have a drink there and watch the trains.
‘Our busiest times are the weekends and 4 to 7 pm weekdays. For weekends or specific seating, we definitely recommend booking.’
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