Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Reviewing milestone with Strongers
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Old Boots
Submitted on Monday, 12th January 2026
With picture contributions to 3796 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (26 more images)
Detail Pages
The Magdala, NW3
NW3
NW3 2SB
Served areas
Reviews of The Magdala (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about The Magdala
Obviously famous for its connection to the Ruth Ellis case but not trading on it too much. It’s a deco exterior with a gently modernised interior. Inside are two bars, the left hand appears more for dining and had reserved signs on most tables. Seven pulls on the counter here, a selection from Kent Brewery plus Harveys, Five Points, and two ciders one from Seacider. The Kent beers were well up to GBG standard.
The other bar has fewer pulls and the clips are doubled up. Traditional pub furnishings and decor especially in the right hand - public - bar. It does seem to attract a few idiots but maybe fewer than some Hampstead pubs, definitely one of only two pubs in Hampstead I visited that I would return to.
On 12th January 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3859 recommendations about 3526 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Magdala
A two roomed pub that is quite heavily food led, with a wait to be seated sign at the entrance to the left hand room, which I ignored unchallenged, the food coming out of the semi open kitchen looked top notch. However the pub saves itself with a good beer ethos with eight handpumps in the left hand bar and a further three in the right hand, beers noted were Brockley Spring IPA, Gipsey Hill Bandit, Harveys Sussex Best and Kent Black Gold plus two Ciders, in addition there are twelve craft taps with top end beers.
The pub still trades fairly heavily on it's notorious past with abundant photos of Ruth Ellis dotted about the place. It's a good pub, I just found the food aspect a little off putting but not enough to make a return visit sometime.
On 13th April 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2257 recommendations about 2222 pubs]
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Magdala
Right next to the railway station and down the road from the heath, still has 2 bar areas and very good beer choice. Nice pub
On 5th April 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1587 recommendations about 1564 pubs]
View more reviews of The Magdala (13)
London Pubs of Crims and Crime by BobOs .
Emma's 50th by Old Boots
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The Magdala - www.themagdala.co.uk
- Twitter - Magdala Pub
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Magdala - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Gospel Oak, 0.8 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Finchley Road & Frognal, 1.06 miles, 20 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 08 November 2013 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes - Much reduced side 'micro patio'. - last updated 29 September 2024 by Pub SignMan
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10% - last updated 29 September 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Car Park : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes - Loud barking dogs welcome. - last updated 24 June 2023 by Blue Scrumpy
- Function Room : No last updated 29 September 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 24 June 2023 by Blue Scrumpy
- Jukebox : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 29 September 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 13 June 2015 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 29 September 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 21 June 2021 by Tris C
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 29 September 2024 by Pub SignMan
- Wheelchair Access : No - WCs downstairs. - last updated 28 August 2015 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 22 July 2013 by Tris C
