Windmill (Waterloo): Darts in Waterloo

The Windmill is a Fuller's pub on The Cut in Waterloo, the kind of proper local that suits a relaxed evening over pints and a few legs of darts. It sits between the Old Vic and the Young Vic, so you get a mix of theatre crowds, after-work drinkers and people who have come specifically for the board. If you want a free pub oche rather than a booked-out darts bar, this is your spot.

There is a single dart board here, and the local darts scene rates it highly. The London darts guide Capital Arrows calls it "an almost perfect oche in a fabulous pub," which tells you the throw and the surroundings are sorted. It is a free-to-play board, so you just turn up, grab the area when it is open and chalk up. Bring your own arrows if you are fussy, though the pub is the type where you might end up throwing with a stranger and sharing a pizza after.

Practically, The Cut is one of the busier streets south of the river, and the pub fills up around theatre times and on weekend evenings. The board can get claimed quickly when it is busy, so come earlier if you want a clear run at it. Waterloo and Southwark stations are both a short walk away.