Tired of London, Tired of Life - A website about things to do in London

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12 April 2011

Drink in the Queen's Head at Downe

Whilst red TfL buses stop outside the Queen's Head, in the small Kentish village of Downe, and it is technically part of Greater London - sitting just inside the M25 - its atmosphere couldn't be further away from the hustle and bustle of central London.


The village which was once home to Charles Darwin has changed little over the last 100 years, and the Queens Head dates back much further, to 1565 when it was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth I, following her visit to the village in 1559.

The pub has three bars, all with local connections, and the inevitable Darwin Bar, where your author drank, is complemented by an Eagle Bar taking its name from a Second World War squadron based out of Biggin Hill, and the Suhaili Bar, named after the boat of local boy Robin Knox Johnston.

It's a bit of a trek from the nearest station, but it's a beautiful bike ride if you are so inclined, and there is plenty to see and do in the area.

For more information see http://www.queensheaddowne.co.uk

9 comments:

  1. erm....I just had a look on beerintheevening.com and it says this place has closed down? HAd decent reviews too so if its true seems like a great shame. Can anyone confirm if that is the case?

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  2. Hmm, I think it is still open. It certainly was when I was there on the 3rd April.

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  3. I love it when you force yourself to drink booze and to absorb the atmosphere of great pubs, all for the benefit of your readers :) You are a blogging hero in my eyes :)

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  4. It's a hard slog Hels, but someone has to do it!

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  5. Ok good...3rd of April is after the date of the review so seems that it is still open! Good news :)

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  6. This looks like a great place...

    Those TFL buses go a long way out into the Home Counties. If you choose the right connections you can get quite a distance on just two Oyster fares...

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  7. Queen's Head Downe changed hands last month, now serving lovely fresh home cooked food. Best it's been in years and the beer is ace as well. Lucky my family lives in Downe

    SK

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  8. Don't know when it changed hands but I'm glad it did. As well as the lovely home cooked food they now serve a good selection of cask ales - doom bar, adnams, westerham etc. and the wife said the wines were tasty. Keep it up

    DM

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