Courtney Pochin smiling outside the Tap on the Line pub in Kew.
I visited London’s only pub attached to a tube station (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

When the sun is shining, there’s nothing quite like a trip to the pub to enjoy a crisp, cold 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.

The Tap on the Line, Kew Kew Gardens Station, Station Approach, Richmond TW9 3PZ FULLERS
The pub has incredible views (Picture: Fuller’s)

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 is used as the main dining space during peak times.

So when I rocked up just after 6pm on a Friday and said I wouldn’t be eating, I was swiftly directed elsewhere to save the space for those having food.

If you want a chance to sit in the best seats in the house, you’ll need to visit much earlier in the day.

Georgina Wald, the comms manager at Fuller’s (the pub’s owner), tells Metro: ‘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 7pm weekdays. For weekends or specific seating, we definitely recommend booking.’

The Tap on the Line, Kew Kew Gardens Station, Station Approach, Richmond TW9 3PZ FULLERS
There’s a wall of windows in the atrium (Picture: Fuller’s)

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.

The Tap on the Line, Kew Kew Gardens Station, Station Approach, Richmond TW9 3PZ FULLERS
There are some windows at the back of the main bar area (Picture: Fuller’s)

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, 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), given its history.

Instead it’s decked out in bright colours, tropical flowers and exotic birds.

The Tap on the Line, Kew Kew Gardens Station, Station Approach, Richmond TW9 3PZ FULLERS
The decor features a lot of brightly coloured flowers (Picture: Fuller’s)

This makes total sense, though, as the interior design is 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,’ Georgina explains.

But 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.

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.

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