Capital Arrows

If you are looking to play darts in a central London pub you've come to the right place. Within these pages are details of 100 pubs in and around Zone 1 London where a dart board can be found.

Locating a board does not, however, guarantee being able to play darts - many are obstructed by furniture, people or private functions, and some, thankfully, are already being used. Alternatively, a board may be well kept and well lit, but in a boozer that needs bulldozing. This guide therefore clusters available boards into geographical areas, giving an overview and recommended options for each, as well as a full list of known boards. If a board is busy (hooray), or has been taken down (boo), an alternative venue should therefore be within walking distance.

The information is aimed at residents and visitors alike, and details of adjacent areas are listed for those with a limited knowledge of London's geography. Likewise, each section contains a map, which can be zoomed and navigated as necessary.

London is a big place, so, with a couple of notable exceptions, this guide concentrates on the central London area, with the pubs listed generally within 2 or so miles of Charing Cross. All the information here was initially collected by visit during 2009, and much of it has been checked by phone in 2010. Things change quickly, however, so corrections, updates and additions are welcome - Capital Arrows is by no means complete, and there are whole areas in which we have yet to discover a pub with a board, for example Mayfair or Knightsbridge.

If you would like to suggest a pub in an area which already exists in the guide, please use the Suggest a Central London pub form on the relevant page. If you would like to add a new area, please email mail@justinirwin.com. Areas outside of the very centre of London will only be added when three or more suitable pubs are known.

I've also selected my favourite London dart pubs - see Lists - and given suggestions for the best boozers for different needs, including joining a league or holding an event.

It's nearly 85 years since the first ever official darts competition took place - at the Red Lion in Wandsworth, South West London. The dart boards of London seem to have been disappearing ever since. This guide hopes to play a small part in ensuring that dart boards (and pubs) retain a visible presence in our capital city.

Smallprint: every effort has been made to publish correct information, but no responsibility can be taken for mistakes and changes. The opinions about pubs are all my own, and shouldn't be taken too seriously.