Pubs are such a fundamental part of British society, and their unique architecture is a defining feature of British cities. I won't be going back immediately, but in honor of their reopening, here's a thread of empty pubs during lockdown.

Half Moon Pub - Herne Hill

Most pubs are along busy streets, but some of the best are found in quiet neighborhoods.

The Effra Hall is close to central Brixton in a Victorian residential area.

The Crown & Greyhound - Dulwich Village was built in 1897 by a firm of architects who specialized in pubs. It's a delightfully ornate exterior with a classic interior of dark wood, mouldings, and stained glass.

The Prince of Wales - Pimlico was rebuilt in its present form in 1925, though it could pass for a medieval building just as well with its Dutch gables, small pane windows, and rustic details.

The Sun - Clapham occupies what was once a butcher's shop

The Fentiman Arms - Oval is another of those pubs on a relatively quiet street of Victorian terraces. They handily left the lights on throughout lockdown to make taking photos easier.

The Prince of Wales - Kennington is on Cleaver Square, a beautiful Georgian square (though the pub was rebuilt in 1901, far later than most of the houses).

The Roebuck - Borough, a popular pub in a late Victorian building and still independent!

The Thomas Cubitt - Belgravia, named after the famous builder who built much of Belgravia and Pimlico, is not quite your neighborhood local, but still a stunning building.

The Albert - Victoria, sadly hemmed in by subpar neighbours, was rebuilt in 1867 on the site of an earlier pub.

Ye Grapes - Mayfair, is in Shepherd Market and originally opened in 1882

The Rectory - Clapham. Such a simple building, yet it's still unmistakably a pub.

The Sugar Loaf - City of London. I suspect pubs in the City will have a harder time to get going again given that they mainly serve city workers on weekdays.

The Royal Standard - Wandsworth is a small gem of a pub just off Old York Road in Wandsworth Town, at the end of a Victorian terrace

To conclude my pub series, a few of my local pubs which I haven't yet had the chance to visit.

The Lighthouse - Battersea, a whimsical Victorian pub on busy Battersea Park Road

The Latchmere - Battersea is a favourite of my housemates, with apparently a nice garden out back.
What a mix of materials with those glazed tiles on the ground floor and the second story highlighted by white paint, all topped by an exuberant cornice.

Duke Of Cambridge - Battersea has an unusual glass canopy out front

Just across the river, The Chelsea Pig - Chelsea, one of those gastropubs which is more brasserie than pub (this being Chelsea), but clothed in typical rustic pub garb.

A few more pub photos that I just took off my memory card.

Duke's Head - Putney was built in 1864 just upstream from Putney Bridge on the site of a previous pub.

The Prince's Head - Richmond sits on a corner of Richmond Green and dates to the 1700s

The Railway Tavern - Richmond is a stunner of a building and was rebuilt in its present form in 1888. A few doors down from Richmond Station, it was once called The Railway Hotel when it offered rooms for the night.