Covent Garden & WC2

They may be hidden away, but there's a handful of perfectly good places to play bang in the middle of London's tourist centre. Nearby areas: Soho.

Recommended pubs

Angel 6 St Giles High Street
WC2H 8LE

In the left hand bar, in front of the toilets, which is not a disaster as the oche can never be blocked by furniture or people. The landlord plays a bit, and there's a fair chance of a game of winner-stays-on with a bunch of locals on a Friday night.
Chandos 29 St Martin's Lane
WC2N 4ER

Well would you believe it? This love-it-or-hate-it venue has a board tucked away on the ground floor in the furthest corner from Trafalgar Square. Nothing else can be done with the space, and it's too small for a team, so is perfect for two people wanting to throw darts bang in the middle of town.
Cheshire Cheese 5 Little Essex Street
WC2R 3LD

Tiny boozer with board downstairs in the games room with excellent throw, scoreboard and lights. You will have to ask the landlord to let you play, however, and trust that they will trust you not to nick the booze from the downstairs bar! A proper pub. Pub suggested by Steve Holmes. Visited October 2011.

Lyceum 354 Strand
WC2R 0HS

Board is out of the way at the rear of the downstairs bar in this Sam Smiths' pub - which usually contains a handful of tourists and theatre-goers only too happy to watch me gamely thrown single 1's! Suggestion and review from James Allison.
Savoy Tup 2 Savoy Street
WC2R 0BA

The board is in the function room upstairs, so therefore you can't guarantee being able to play on it - which is precisely why this guide exists. Board confirmed by James Allison. Visited October 2011.
Ship & Shovell 1-3 Craven Passage
WC2N 5PH

Surprisingly situated between Northumberland Avenue and Villiers Street, this pub is split in two with a passageway underground for staff only. The board is upstairs in the half which is not always open, and usually has chairs and table in the way - which are cleared, of course, for the team that plays there.
Sun 21 Drury Lane
WC2B 5RH

Absolutely not the sort of bar where you expect to see a board, but one is hiding upstairs in a small bar. Not much room, so a night of competitive darts is unlikely.