Welcome to the most comprehensive guide to the Bermondsey Beer Mile you'll find anywhere — written by a team that walks it for a living. Tucked beneath the railway arches of South East London is the highest concentration of independent breweries in the UK, and this guide covers everything: an interactive map of all 15 stops, a section on every brewery, the route and which direction to walk it, opening times, where to eat, how much to budget, and the insider tips that make the difference between a great day and a messy one.
In a hurry? Jump to the map, the stop-by-stop table, the breweries, opening times or top tips.
What is the Bermondsey Beer Mile?
The Bermondsey Beer Mile is an informal trail of independent breweries, taprooms and bottle shops housed in the Victorian railway arches of Bermondsey. There's no ticket, no official map and no single owner — it's simply a cluster of breweries that grew up next to one another and open their doors to the public, especially on Saturdays. The result is a uniquely London experience: beer served metres from the tanks it was brewed in, often by the person who brewed it, with communal benches, street food and a friendly, beer-obsessed crowd. For the back-story, see our history of the Bermondsey Beer Mile.
Where is it, and how do I get there?
The Mile runs through Bermondsey in the London Borough of Southwark (Zone 2), roughly from the London Bridge end down to South Bermondsey, threaded along the railway arches of Druid Street, Enid Street and the Spa Terminus, with Maltby Street Market in the middle. Despite the name it's nearer a mile and a half end to end — about 30–35 minutes of walking before you factor in the important business of stopping. The nearest stations are:
- London Bridge (Jubilee & Northern lines, National Rail) — best for the Druid Street end. Leave via the Tooley Street side and it's an 8–10 minute walk to the first arch.
- Bermondsey (Jubilee line) — close to the middle of the route; handy if you're only doing the Enid Street and Spa Terminus stretch.
- South Bermondsey (National Rail, one stop from London Bridge) — for the southern end, or for walking the Mile in reverse.
It's also a short walk from Tower Bridge and Borough Market, so it pairs perfectly with a wider day out — see things to do near London Bridge.
Bermondsey Beer Mile map
Every stop on the route, numbered north to south. Tap a pin for the street and typical opening days, or open the walking route in Google Maps to follow it on your phone.
Pins are placed on each venue's arch as of September 2026. Breweries open, expand and move, so treat the map as a guide and follow what's pouring on the day.
The stops, in order
Fifteen stops from Druid Street to South Bermondsey: fourteen places to drink and one place to eat. Distances are short at the top of the Mile and stretch out towards the end — pace accordingly. "Usually open" is the venue's published pattern where we know it; Saturday is the safe bet everywhere, and hours change seasonally, so check before a midweek trip.
| # | Stop | Where | Known for | Usually open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwark Brewing Co | 46 Druid Street | Big friendly taproom, London-style bitters and lager. Our tour meets here. | Tue, Thu–Sat |
| 2 | Fabal Beerhall | 88 Druid Street | Modern beer hall with a long rotating tap list | Thu–Sat |
| 3 | Hawkes Cidery & Taproom | 96 Druid Street | Proper modern craft cider — the change of pace | Sat, check others |
| 4 | Anspach & Hobday | 118 Druid Street | The Smoked Brown, cask specials, barrel-aged beers | Fri–Sun |
| 5 | Affinity Brew Co | Druid Street arches | Hop-forward pales and sharp kettle sours | Sat, check others |
| 6 | Maltby Street Market | Ropewalk | Street food — eat here, mid-route | Sat–Sun |
| 7 | Hiver Taproom | 56 Stanworth Street | Honey beers brewed with British honey | Fri–Sun |
| 8 | Moor Beer (London vaults) | 71 Enid Street | Unfined, naturally carbonated cask and keg | Sat, check others |
| 9 | Brew By Numbers (BBNo) | Enid Street | Numbered styles, saisons to pastry stouts | Sat, check others |
| 10 | Bianca Road Brew Co | 83–84 Enid Street | Juicy IPAs in a lively arch; café by day | Most days |
| 11 | Mash Paddle Brewery | 92 Enid Street | Brew-your-own sessions and a taproom bar | Sat, check others |
| 12 | The Kernel Brewery | Spa Terminus, off Dockley Road | Benchmark pale ales and revived London porters. Earlier Saturday hours. | Sat, earlier hours |
| 13 | Partizan Brewing | 34 Raymouth Road | Saisons, pales and porters with beautiful labels | Sat, check others |
| 14 | Spartan Brewery | Almond Road | Southern-end stop worth the extra walk | Sat, check others |
| 15 | Fourpure Brewing Co | Jarrow Road, near South Bermondsey | Big taproom — the finish line | Sat, check others |
Which direction should you walk it?
North to south (Druid Street first) is the classic: you start near London Bridge, the early stops are close together while the group is fresh, and you finish at Fourpure near a station. One big exception: on Saturdays, some Spa Terminus traders — including The Kernel's taproom — run earlier hours than the arches further north. If The Kernel is a must (it should be), either start south and walk the Mile in reverse, or hit Dockley Road by mid-afternoon.
The breweries, stop by stop
Here's the heart of the guide — the breweries and taprooms that make the Mile, with what each is known for and what to order. Line-ups and opening days change, so check a brewery's own social media before a special trip. (Our guided tour visits four of these in the ideal order.)
Southwark Brewing Co
A Druid Street stalwart and one of the best places to start. The taproom is large, friendly and great for groups, with a range from easy-drinking bitters and lagers to bigger specials. Order: a classic London-style bitter or the flagship lager. It's also where our tour meets.
Fabal Beerhall
A newer arrival on Druid Street that leans into the beer-hall format: long benches, a big rotating tap list of contemporary craft styles and room for a group. Order: ask what's freshest on the rotating taps — the list changes weekly.
Hawkes Cidery & Taproom
Not a brewery but a brilliant change of pace — a Druid Street cidery making proper, modern craft cider. A great stop for anyone in the group who prefers cider to beer. Order: the Urban Orchard or a fruited cider.
Anspach & Hobday
One of the Mile's most respected names, famous for The Smoked Brown and a rotating cast of hop-forward and barrel-aged beers at their Arch House. Order: The Smoked Brown, or whatever cask special is freshest.
Affinity Brew Co
A Druid Street favourite specialising in hop-forward beers and sharp, refreshing sours — a great mid-route palate reset. Order: a kettle sour or a crisp pale.
Hiver Taproom
Hiver's honey beers, brewed with British honey, are a genuinely different stop — a blonde, a brown and seasonal specials that pair well with the cheese counters at nearby Maltby Street. Order: the Honey Blonde to see what the fuss is about.
Moor Beer (London vaults)
Bristol's Moor Beer pours its unfined, naturally-carbonated, vegan-friendly beers at its London home — superb cask and keg quality. Order: Nor'Hop or Hoppiness for hops, or Old Freddy Walker for something dark and strong.
Brew By Numbers (BBNo)
Known for its systematic, numbered approach to styles, BBNo has long been a Bermondsey favourite, brewing everything from delicate saisons to big pastry stouts. Order: a saison or a DIPA, depending on your mood.
Bianca Road Brew Co
Bold, modern and consistently excellent — juicy IPAs, pales and inventive specials in a lively arch that's a firm group favourite. Order: a hazy IPA or a fruited pale.
Mash Paddle Brewery
The Mile's brew-your-own brewery: book a session and make a batch under supervision, or just drink at the taproom bar and watch other people do the work. Order: the house pale, then ask what the last group brewed.
The Kernel Brewery
The brewery widely credited with starting the whole scene. The Kernel's Saturday operation around the Spa Terminus is a pilgrimage for beer lovers, renowned for its pale ales, IPAs and revived historical London porters and stouts. Note the earlier Saturday hours. Order: whatever Pale Ale or Table Beer is on — they're benchmarks.
Partizan Brewing
A much-loved Bermondsey independent with beautifully labelled bottles and a strong line in saisons, pales and porters, a ten-minute walk south of the Spa Terminus on Raymouth Road. Order: a saison or a single-hop pale.
Spartan & Fourpure: the southern end
Towards South Bermondsey the arches keep coming, with Spartan Brewery on Almond Road and the larger Fourpure operation on Jarrow Road rewarding those who make it to the far end. Fourpure's big taproom is a proper finish line, close to South Bermondsey station (trains to London Bridge) or a bus back north. By this point you'll have earned a sit-down — pace yourself.
Opening times: when to go
Saturday is the classic day, when virtually every arch opens its taproom, roughly from late morning to early evening (some go later). Plenty of breweries now also open Thursday to Sunday, and a few midweek, but hours vary from arch to arch and change seasonally — always check each brewery's website or socials before a non-Saturday visit. Sundays are quieter, with many closing by late afternoon. The single biggest first-timer mistake is turning up on a Tuesday. Summer Saturdays and December get busy; arrive early, or book a private group tour if there are more than six of you.
Where to eat on the Beer Mile
You'll want to line your stomach. Maltby Street Market sits right on the route and is superb for weekend street food — everything from salt-beef bagels to wood-fired pizza and fresh oysters. There's no proper food south of the Spa Terminus, so eat mid-route. Several taprooms also have their own kitchens or visiting food traders, and nearby Bermondsey Street has plenty of restaurants for a sit-down meal. Build a proper lunch stop into your plan and the day will go much further — our what to eat on the Beer Mile guide has the full list.
How long, how much, how many?
Allow a relaxed four to six hours to do the Mile justice. Drinking in thirds, a full day typically costs around £40–£70 per person including lunch, depending on how many breweries you visit. Most people comfortably manage five to eight taprooms in an afternoon — quality over quantity is the key to enjoying (and remembering) it.
Top tips for doing the Bermondsey Beer Mile
- Start early. Mornings are calmer; Saturday afternoons get very busy.
- Drink in thirds. It's the only way to sample widely and last the distance. Our beer tasting guide explains how to taste more while drinking less.
- Go light to dark. Lager and pale first, sours to reset, stouts to finish.
- The arches all look the same. Navigate by street (Druid → Enid → Dockley) rather than by eye — that's how the locals do it.
- Don't try to do every stop. Five to eight taprooms is the sweet spot of a six-hour day.
- Eat and hydrate. Lunch at Maltby Street, water between stops.
- Card, not cash. Every taproom on the Mile is card-friendly; several are card-only.
- Wear comfy shoes and a layer — the arches can be cool.
- Pace yourself and drink responsibly — it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Is Bermondsey safe?
Yes. Bermondsey is a popular, well-visited part of central London and the Beer Mile is busy and sociable, particularly on Saturdays. Take the same sensible precautions you would anywhere in a city — keep an eye on your belongings, stick with your group, and plan your route home — and you'll have a brilliant, trouble-free day.
Doing it as a group — or with a guide
The Mile is fantastic for birthdays, stag dos and hen parties, but herding a big group between arches and keeping everyone together is hard work for whoever's organising. That's where we come in. A map gets you to the doors; it can't tell you what's pouring well, which brewer is behind the bar, or the story of each arch. Our guided Bermondsey Beer Tasting Tour (£49pp, 2–3.5 hours) visits four hand-picked taprooms in the right order, with an accredited Beer Sommelier hosting a tutored tasting at each. Prefer food with your beer? The Cheese, Meat & Beer Tour pairs British cheese and charcuterie across three taprooms on Saturdays, and our Hackney Wick Craft Beer Experience does the same job in east London. Any of them can be booked privately for your group, you can warm up beforehand with our free self-guided heritage walk, and if you know someone who'd love it, gift vouchers arrive instantly by email.
The verdict
Is the Bermondsey Beer Mile worth it? Yes — it's one of the great London days out: a walkable, year-round beer festival in the railway arches, with something for every taste and no entry fee. Plan a little, pace yourself, eat well and follow your curiosity from arch to arch. And if you'd rather leave the planning to someone else, we'd love to show you around.