There are a few pubs amid the rowing clubs, dog-walkers and welcome benches on the Upper Mall embankment west of Hammersmith Bridge; this one is certainly the best (and a prime spot from which to watch the Boat Race).
The Dove makes much of its history: a handbill details the comings and goings of Charles II and Nell Gwynn, while an 1897 photograph is one of the many visual nods to its prime location. But it’s too cosy and genuine to leave to the tourists.
As Mr Fuller was one of the gentlemen involved in a 1796 takeover of the enterprise, it’s no surprise to find the full range of Fuller’s ales at the bar; they’re always in excellent condition.
Inside, it’s basically a classic duck-your-head heritage pub experience, with a fire in the winter, but most drinkers come here to sit in the vine-entangled conservatory or the riverside terrace overlooking the houseboats.