The North Star, darts in Swiss Cottage (Camden), NW3

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

The North Star: Darts in Swiss Cottage, London

FreeWalk-in4 boardsLeague pubGroups

104 Finchley Road, South Hampstead, London · NW3 5JJ · Mo-Th 12:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 12:00-22:30

A Victorian corner pub on the Finchley Road with free darts and a league pedigree. The North Star is a proper local in Swiss Cottage, the kind where you can rock up, grab a pint and throw a few legs without paying a penny or booking ahead. There are three dartboards in the upstairs room and another tucked into the back corner of the main bar, so it suits a casual game with mates as easily as a serious arrows night. It plays in the Central London Darts league, so on match nights you will find regulars who take their throwing seriously. The pub itself dates to 1850, sits right by Swiss Cottage station, and does bar snacks and daily specials through the day. Come for the darts, stay for a Harvey's.

The darts setup

The throwing happens in two spots. Upstairs there is a dedicated room with three dartboards, which is where the league nights and bigger groups tend to land. Downstairs in the main bar there is a single board tucked into the back corner if you just want a quick game over a pint. These are traditional pub boards, so you are chalking your own scores rather than using automatic scoring screens. Nothing is bookable and nothing costs money to play, which is increasingly rare for darts in central London. Bring your own flights if you are fussy, though the bar will usually have a set behind the counter you can borrow.

The darts scene here

The North Star runs a team in the Central London Darts league (CoLDA), so this is a genuine darts pub rather than a bar that happens to own a board. That means league match nights when the upstairs room fills with regulars, and a steady crowd who actually know their way around a checkout. You do not need to be in the team to play. On quieter nights the boards are free for anyone, and beginners will not feel out of place during the day. If you want to watch league action or get a feel for proper local darts, this is one of the few Swiss Cottage pubs still keeping it going.

Good to know

It is free to play and you cannot book, so just turn up. The pub opens at noon every day and runs late, until 23:30 Monday to Thursday, midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 22:30 on Sunday. Food is bar snacks and daily specials, served through the day and popular with the local lunch crowd, though the kitchen shuts early on Sundays. Regular beers include Harvey's Sussex Best. The building dates from 1850 and sits on a slope, so the drinking spaces step up at different heights and there is a covered, heated patio at the back across three levels.

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Common questions

What is The North Star in Swiss Cottage?
It is a Victorian corner pub on the Finchley Road, near Swiss Cottage station, that doubles as a darts venue. It has three dartboards in the upstairs room and another in the back corner of the main bar, and it runs a team in the Central London Darts league.
Is it free to play darts at The North Star?
Yes. These are traditional free pub boards. You do not pay to play and you cannot pre-book, so you just turn up, grab a drink and use whichever board is free.
Do you need to book darts at The North Star?
No. There is no booking system. The boards are walk-in and first come first served, though the upstairs room can get busy on league match nights.
How many dartboards does The North Star have?
Four in total. Three are in the dedicated upstairs room and one is tucked into the back corner of the main bar downstairs.
What are The North Star's opening hours?
It opens at noon every day. It closes at 23:30 Monday to Thursday, midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 22:30 on Sunday. Food is served through the day, with the kitchen closing earlier on Sundays.
What is the nearest station to The North Star?
Swiss Cottage on the Jubilee line, which sits right by the pub on the corner of Finchley Road and College Crescent. The Jubilee line tunnel actually runs just below the cellar.

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