The Railway Tavern (Lower Sydenham), darts in Lower Sydenham (Lewisham), SE26

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

The Railway Tavern (Lower Sydenham): Darts in London

FreeWalk-inLeague pubPool tableLive footballGroups

401 Southend Lane, Lower Sydenham, London · SE26 5BH · Mo-Su 12:00-23:30

The Railway Tavern is a traditional twin-room local on Southend Lane in Lower Sydenham, the kind of community pub where the darts are part of the furniture rather than a paid attraction. It plays host to a team in the Hither Green Darts League, the south-east London circuit that runs from Sydenham out to Eltham, so on match nights the board sees proper league action. The single most useful thing to know: there is no booking and no charge to throw, you just turn up and play around the regulars.

It suits anyone after a no-frills pub session: locals, darts players, and football crowds who come for the big screen (Celtic games are a fixture here). There is a pool table in the rear room too, plus bar snacks and outdoor seating. Lower Sydenham station sits about four minutes' walk away.

The darts setup

This is a pub board, not a bookable oche bank, so expect a single board in a working community local rather than a multi-lane darts bar. What makes it worth seeking out is the league pedigree: the Railway Tavern fields a team in the Hither Green Darts League, alongside venues like the Perry Hill in Catford and the Joiners Arms in Lewisham. League matches there run the standard format of twelve games, made up of two threes, three pairs (double start), six singles (double start, best of three) and a team game at the end. If you want a real game rather than a casual throw, turn up on a match night and you will find players who know what they are doing.

Good to know

It is a free-to-play pub board, so there is nothing to book and nothing to pay beyond your drinks. The Railway Tavern is a traditional twin-room community local, with a pool table in the rear room and a big screen that pulls in a football crowd, Celtic matches especially. There are bar snacks rather than a full kitchen, and some outdoor seating if the weather plays along. Cask ale is not currently on, so it is a keg, lager and spirits sort of place. Opening hours run from around midday until late, seven days a week.

Getting there

The pub stands on Southend Lane in Lower Sydenham, in the London Borough of Lewisham, postcode SE26 5BH. Lower Sydenham station is the nearest stop, roughly a four-minute walk (about a fifth of a mile), with Southeastern trains running towards London Bridge and out across south-east London. The pub was built around 1867 to serve the station and the surrounding streets, so it has always been a railway pub in the literal sense. Buses run along Southend Lane too, and there is street parking in the residential roads nearby.

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Common questions

What is the Railway Tavern in Lower Sydenham?
It is a traditional twin-room community local on Southend Lane in Lower Sydenham (SE26), built around 1867 to serve the nearby station. It has a dart board, a pool table in the rear room and a big screen for football, and it fields a team in the Hither Green Darts League.
Is darts free to play at the Railway Tavern?
Yes. It is a free-to-play pub board, so there is no charge to throw and nothing to book. You just buy your drinks at the bar and play.
Do you need to book to play darts there?
No. There are no timed sessions or bookable oches here. It is a pub board, so you simply walk in and play. On Hither Green Darts League match nights the board will be in use for league fixtures.
Is the Railway Tavern good for groups and beginners?
Yes. The league it plays in has no age or skill restrictions and welcomes new players, and as a community local it suits casual groups who want a relaxed game alongside pool and the football. There is one pub board, so larger groups may need to take turns.
What are the Railway Tavern's opening hours?
It opens daily from around midday until late evening (roughly noon to 11:30pm, seven days a week). Hours can vary, so it is worth checking before a late visit.
What is the nearest station to the Railway Tavern?
Lower Sydenham station is the closest, about a four-minute walk (around a fifth of a mile) from the pub on Southend Lane.

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