The Princess Louise

Superb interior very like the grand Edinburgh and Glasgow pubs or the Barton Arms in Birmingham . Classic . SamSmiths Brewery very decent price for bitter at £2.90 . Beer was well kept . No other beers on though .

I've been going here regularly for about 5 years now and have generally always enjoyed my evenings there. This was one of the last pubs (with the Sam Smiths chain in general) to raise it's drinks prices in recent times to go in line with London prices so the old £2.00 pints are a thing of the past but still worth a visit regardless. I tend to prefer it on Sunday evenings or Saturday day time as it can get really crowded in the evening Mon-Sat. The little booths in the Princess Louise make it unique in my opinion. Best Pub in Holborn.

Went there on 27th April and have to say the service was very poor (and it wasn't even that busy) one barmaid was surly if not rude and the 'fat pompous barmanager' didn't want to know, in fact he was equally as rude and told us 'if you don't like it go to witherspoons'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a pity because it's like an old gin palace lovely place pity about the staff

I’ve wanted to visit here for quite a while, hearing how nice it was inside. I was finally brought there by a new friend and boy am I glad I finally went! It’s a very odd layout, but it works. There are tons of different little sections, which could be a problem for larger groups (though there is an upstairs and I’m not sure what that is like), but it’s really nice if you’re meeting up with a few people and want a little more privacy.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find out it was a Samuel Smiths. It was a bit more expensive than other Smith’s, I think, but worth it for such a lovely interior in such a central location. We were very lucky to have gotten a good spot at the bar at 6 in the afternoon. But within a half hour it seemed to have been completely full. Decent drinks, average prices, lovely decor, I’m sold :)

Loved this place when the two of us stumbled upon it on a walkabout on a Sunday late afternoon/early evening. Found the atmosphere and partitioned snugs perfect for a chat. Sought it out again on Tuesday evening on a freezing cold walk back to our hotel when we had the brilliant idea of making what would have been a terribly cold walk into a pub crawl. The partitions mean that if the pub is quiet you dont get the ghost-town feel, and when its busy the noise of constant chatter is kept to the background. We loved the friendly staff, mouldings, stained etched and cut glass, period features and absolute uniqueness. Price-wise I guess it is cheaper but I didnt notice a great deal of difference from other London pubs we visited and their own-version diet cola isnt so bad for someone who only likes Diet Coke.

Gorgeous pub dedicated to a gorgeous woman
Louise,Duchess of Argyll & independent minded
daughter of Queen Victoria.
If you like history,then there are photos on the
walls here to sate your curiosity, showing this
lovely woman. But the pubs interior is very very
special, with etched glass,small booths,listed
tiles & stained glass. Good beer & nice meals.

An interesting pub that has many little alcoves surrounding the bar, which is quite good if you want to be social but only with your group of friends!
Quite nice decor being very traditional.
A Sam smiths pub which usually means very reasonably priced drinks and slightly more variety than normal.
Friendly staff, so worth a visit!

This place has a nice atmosphere, the Victorian interior of dark wood and etched glass is beautiful and the little acloves are nice to have a cosy drink in. As it's a Samuel Smiths pub the choice of drinks are slightly limited - if it's not Sam Smiths they don't serve it, but I am rather partial to their Alpine lager and at less than £2.50 a pint it makes for a cheap night out! It does get crowded in the evenings, especially towards the end of the week, so get there early if you want a table or an alcove.

A very interesting pub, located not far from Hoborn station.

This is a Samuel Smith’s pub, the beer is traditionally brewed in “Yorkshire squares” in Tadcaster North Yorkshire, but it seems to have travelled down South rather well.

The interior has an unusual design with many "rooms" made of dark wood and glass partitions, most of which lead onto the bar area.

The pub gets very busy, so if you want a seat you need to be patient or early.

A really gem this pub and the interior is really fascinating. If you are there it can even happen somebody will start talking to you also. Friendly staff and good selection of beer on tap even if it's only from Samuel Smith (the owners of the pub)

My absolute favourite pub in London. The kind of place that you don't even mind standing outside, such is the aura.

Of course, the best times to enjoy it are mid-afternoon, or after 7.30pm...as the office crowds will not be there and you'll probably get a snug to yourself.

Wonderful, wonderful place.

Fantastic pub, great beer (admittedly low choice) but at these prices who cares. The inside of the pub is nothing short of a work of art. It does get a bit busy but I have to confess the service was reasonably swift. I have never come across a pub with so many partitions, very quirky and well worth a visit.

I met friends at the Princess Louise on a Saturday evening, and had a great time! The pub is gorgeous, having been restored to its Victorian-era gin palace roots. There are beautiful glass partitions making little "rooms" along the bar. Bar service was prompt and pleasant. Our group even managed to find a place to sit together, although the pub was very crowded.

Absolutely beautiful pub - the kind of place tourists gawp at for being so wonderfully English and quaint and publike while the Brits drink beer and moan about the weather.

It's a Sam Smiths, so you know what you're getting drinkwise (although it's worth mentioning in case you're one of the gawping tourists - this means you can only get Sam Smiths beers as well as a couple of wines and spirits - and that it's very cheap) and crowdwise - stands a mile out from the regular Sam Smiths though by virtue of the carved wood and cut glass decor.

Gotta love a Sam Smith's pub - if not for the super-pub feel and ambience then for the exceptionally cheap beer prices (which doesn't necessarily mean bad tasting beer).

The Princess Louise is gorgeous and probably the best of the Smith's London pubs. The nooks are awesome for intimate convos. Of course, this pub gets insanely busy and can prove difficult when all ya want is a little elbow room. Still, I can't blame anybody for wanting to squeeze in here at typical pub-going times. It's central, gorgeous and cheap.

It used to be a Ward's pub so it was a home from home for expat Sheffielders. Spent many a boozy night there dreaming of the steel city in the early eighties.

Peer prediction: "You'll really enjoy it!"

That's right Qype, I did really enjoy it, although, you could have warned me about the popularity. This pub would probably be a lot better if it was slightly less busy. Not really an ideal venue on a balmy Friday evening, although the fantastic decor and bargain basement prices sweeten the bitter pill (geddit?) of having to stand outside. Well worth checking out at a quieter time, if indeed, there ever is one.

I've been really struggling to review this place, despite a couple of visits. I've finally decided to give it a go.

It didn't help that I'm not always sure what to think of Sam Smith's pubs. I like the odd visit to them and I particularly enjoy their prices, but I wouldn't want any of them as my locals as I like to have a bit more variety. I also don't think this is the best Sam Smith's by a long shot. I'd prefer Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and the Captain Kidd.

Originally built in 1872, named in honour of one of Queen Victoria's kiddies, it was recently restored to it's former glory. The décor here is pretty special but it does mean that it's harder to find a space in a larger group. There are lots of places for 4 or 5 people to hang out, but with more than that it is difficult. On one visit we found some room upstairs but then had to head downstairs when they closed the upstairs. We then annoyed another punter by invading his quiet area of the pub, he had had to himself previously.

So I haven't had the best experience here. I do think it's overrated somewhat. As I keep telling myself, looks aren't everything.

Great pub, gorgeous setting, but soooo busy at night! It’s lovely if you can get a table, so I recommend getting there early and setting up camp.

If you’re interested in pub history and architecture then this place is for you. Try to avoid during lunchtime Monday to Friday as the braying suits (I know, I was one of them) spill out on to the pavement, and getting served becomes less a challenge and more of an ordeal. Inside, marvel at the beautiful Victorian architecture and dream of days gone by. Handy for the British Museum and Sir John Soanes’ House.