Capital Arrows: the guide to central London's dart pubs

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, but these pages contain details of more than 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, of course, are already in use. Alternatively, a board may be well kept (and lit), but in a boozer that needs bulldozing. This guide therefore clusters available boards into geographical areas, so if a board is busy, blocked, or binned, alternative options should be within walking distance.

London is a big place, so, with a couple of notable exceptions, this guide concentrates on the central London area; the pubs listed are generally within 2 miles of Charing Cross. Whether resident or visitor, chances are you could do with a map. Each area contains a small one, or you can jump immediately to the larger version. There is also a page of Lists, giving suggestions for the best boozers for joining a league or holding an event, and a unique dart guide for tourists.

The information in this guide was initially collected by visit during 2009, with much of it checked by further visits or phone in 2010. Things change quickly, however, so corrections, updates and additions are welcome - Capital Arrows is by no means complete, and whole dart-less areas remain, such as 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.

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.