I thought I could go without turkey.  I had stuffed myself with it every year for 30+ years before so what was one Thanksgiving without it? After all, I was lucky. Jim and I were flying to Vienna, Austria for the long weekend on Thanksgiving night, a trip guaranteed to be memorable.

But when Thanksgiving morning came around last year, I regretted missing out on the American tradition. There was clearly a big missing hole that would only be filled when I found some turkey…which is when Jim had the perfect idea. Why not have our Thanksgiving lunch at the pub where Christopher Jones, the captain of the Mayflower ship, left from in the year 1620 (before picking up the rest of the passengers in Plymouth) to set off for the new world?

Thanksgiving In London: My Top 2 Choices

THE MAYFLOWER – Rotherhithe, London

#1 Reason why you should go to the Mayflower: The Captain of the Mayflower ship is buried in the graveyard across the street. You can’t get a more authentic place for Thanksgiving in London than this place!

The Mayflower ranks high on my list of all time favorite pubs in London. They serve serve delicious homemade food and the quality’s excellent. An authentic old English pub, the interior is decorated with some historical maps, pictures, and quotes by Charles Dickens and other famous historical figures.

Last year, Jim and I had a table by the fireplace and we played a leisurely game of scrabble in between our 3 course lunch.

Where: Rotherhithe, London. See map. The easiest way to get there is to take the Overground to the Rotherhithe stop. You can first take the Jubilee Line to Canada Water and then transfer.

What’s the food like? See menu. Roast Turkey, Chowder, mashed potatoes made from sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Mmm!

Cost: £24.95 per head for 3 courses

Bodean’s BBQ – 4 locations in London

#1 Reason why you should go to Bodean’s: For the football and the food! For many Americans, Thanksgiving day also involves watching 10+ hours of American football. Bodean’s has a number of TVs throughout their restaurants and they always broadcast a number of American football games.

Where:  Four locations – Soho, Clapham, Fulham and Tower Hill – in and around central London. See map at the bottom of this post.  Tower Hill is the location I normally go to and the one pictured above.

What’s the food like? Glazed ham, turkey and a turkey drumstick, cornbread stuffing. Options of clam chowder or quesadilla to start & more. See menu.

Cost: £22.95 per person for 3 courses

Other Options

I can’t recommend any of the below restaurants personally, but through word of mouth, I’ve heard these restaurants are also serving a traditional turkey meal on Thanksgiving Day.

The Narrow – Limehouse, London

A beautiful location by the Thames & it’s one of Head Chef Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants, so you should be able to enjoy a memorable feast!

The Breakfast Club – 5 Locations in/around London

Known for comfort food like burgers & mac n cheese, this restaurant should serve up a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal.