Nestled in one corner of the beautiful Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, the Black Dog is a pub with a lot going for it. Of all the reasons why you have to check out this idyllic boozer, perhaps the most important is that this is arguably the home of the finest scotch egg in London.

This is utterly unverified but who cares, because based on anecdotal evidence alone this rendition of the classic British culinary stalwart is unmatched — everyone who tries the Black Dog’s scotch egg comes out saying the same thing. The Dog’s got a lot more to it than that though, its central London location sitting remarkably at odds with its peaceful setting in the Pleasure Garden.

With streams of reviews, shortlistings, and accreditations all telling you how great this place is, what visitors should keep in mind this is an astonishingly local spot just a walk away from Westminster. After work, Londoners sit on the outside tables, the clink of glasses and rumble of laughter audible as you approach through the gorgeous park.

A cosy (and admitted rather smokey) little covered garden sits out the back, while inside a light and airy bar room serves upmarket pub fare in a glorious exposed wood, green-tiled, stained glass, fairy-light-filled food, and drink hall.