The Albany, darts in Fitzrovia / Great Portland Street

Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub

The Albany: Darts in Fitzrovia, London

FreeWalk-inLeague pubSunday quizSky Sports

The Albany is a proper Victorian corner pub on Great Portland Street in Fitzrovia, and it sits with a working dart board and a team that plays competitive league darts. It suits anyone who wants a casual game over a pint rather than a booked, automatic-scoring setup. The single most useful thing to know: it is a free walk-in, so you just turn up, no door charge and no booking for the board. The pub dates to the 1860s, was rebuilt at the end of the 1800s and had a refresh in 2023, so you get the old tilework and a lighter, tidied-up room. There is classic British pub food, Sky Sports for the big matches, and a Sunday quiz, which makes it an easy spot to fold darts into a normal night out.

Contact

Opening hours

  • Mon 12:00-23:30
  • Tue 12:00-23:30
  • Wed 12:00-23:30
  • Thu 12:00-23:30
  • Fri 12:00-01:00
  • Sat 11:00-01:00
  • Sun 12:00-22:30

Good to know

The darts setup

This is a traditional pub board, not a bookable oche with a screen and an app. The Albany fields its own team, simply listed as Albany, in the Trafalgar Dart League, so the board sees real competitive play through the season alongside casual games. League records even show standout nights, including a 180 and a 16-dart leg from the squad. For you that means a genuine pub board with regulars who know the game, rather than a tourist attraction. Expect to play 501 the old way, chalk or a scoreboard, and your own arrows if you have them. On league nights the board may be in use, so a quieter afternoon or early evening is your best bet for a free run at it.

Good to know

Entry is free and there is no door charge, so you can walk straight in and play; the board is not something you reserve. The kitchen does classic British pub food, including Sunday roasts, so you can make an evening of it. Sky Sports covers the big fixtures if you want the football or rugby on while you throw, and there is a quiz on Sunday evenings. The room had a 2023 refurbishment that kept the Victorian features but lightened the space. It opens from noon most days (later closes on Friday and Saturday), which gives you a long window to drop in for a few legs.

Getting there

The Albany is about as easy as central London gets. It stands at 240 Great Portland Street, W1W 5QU, almost directly opposite Great Portland Street station, which puts you on the Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines. Regent's Park (Bakerloo) and Warren Street (Victoria and Northern) are both a short walk, and Oxford Circus is within striking distance for the central, Bakerloo and Victoria lines. That makes it a convenient meeting point if your group is coming from different parts of the city, and an easy detour if you are already around Marylebone, Fitzrovia or the top of Regent Street.

Get directions

Common questions

What is The Albany in Fitzrovia?
It is a Victorian corner pub at 240 Great Portland Street, W1W 5QU, with a working dart board. The pub even has its own team, listed as Albany, playing in the Trafalgar Dart League, so it is a real darts pub rather than a one-off.
Is darts free to play at The Albany?
Yes. The Albany is free to walk into with no door charge, and the dart board is a standard pub board you play on for free rather than a paid, timed booking.
Do you need to book to play darts at The Albany?
No. There is no booking for the board; you just turn up and play. Bear in mind the board may be busy on Trafalgar Dart League nights, so an afternoon or early evening is a safer bet for a free game.
What else is there to do at The Albany?
Alongside darts you get classic British pub food and Sunday roasts, Sky Sports for the big matches, and a Sunday evening quiz, so it works for a full night out, not just a quick game.
What is the nearest station to The Albany?
Great Portland Street station is almost directly opposite, on the Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines. Regent's Park, Warren Street and Oxford Circus are also within walking distance.
What are The Albany's opening hours?
It generally opens from noon, Monday to Thursday until about 23:30, Friday until 01:00, Saturday from 11:00 until 01:00, and Sunday from noon until about 22:30.

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