Review: The Plimsoll, Finsbury Park
Is this the best burger in North London?
September 2025
Just a four-minute walk from Finsbury Park Station, you’ll find The Plimsoll – a classic London pub whose food is anything but ordinary. It’s everything I love about London: old-school pub decor (think wood panelling, battered rugs, and food served on your nan’s plates), tucked into a quiet residential street. You wouldn’t even know it was there. You just don’t get that anywhere else in the UK. Run by the team behind Four Legs (also owners of Tollington’s Fish Bar down the road), The Plimsoll has become a staple in North London’s food and drink scene. And for one particular menu item: the Dexter Cheeseburger. Could this be the best burger in North London?
Too hungry to read it all?
Here’s a quick snapshot of The Plimsoll, London – menu, decor, vibes and price.
- Venue: The Plimsoll, 52 St Thomas’s Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 2QQ
- Food: Modern pub food, elevated but unfussy, regularly changing menu
- Drinks: Draft beers, guest ales and a solid wine list
- Decor: Classic London pub with low and high stools, plenty of leaning space
- Vibe: Loud, lively, but cosy
- Price: ££–£££ (£25–£45pp depending on drinks)
- Opening hours: Monday – Wednesday 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Thursday – Saturday 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- My rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
What to order at The Pilmsoll, Finsbury Park, London
The Dexter Cheeseburger. End of review. I kid, I kid. There’s more to this review, promise. But if there’s one thing that should get you through the door of The Plimsoll (other than the sea of North London’s most gorgeous people standing outside sipping pints in their finest leather coats), it’s that burger. Toasted brioche bun, Dexter beef patty, cheese, pickles, diced onions, and a generous slather of burger sauce. Delightful. It’s juicy, messy, but not sloppy, and it holds its structure beautifully. I’m not into burgers overloaded with toppings that collapse on themselves; I just want a simple, high-quality burger, and this one nails it.
Yeah, it’s £14 for just a burger. No sides. And yeah, a part of me will die a bit inside when the price inevitably gets hiked up to over £15. But I’ll still pay it. Because once you’ve tried The Plimsoll’s famous Dexter Burger, you’ll be thinking about it every single day after. It never disappoints – even when they switched the bun supplier, it’s still survived the test of time. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: this is one of the best burgers ever. Hyped for a reason.
The Dexter Cheeseburger, The Plimsoll.
Potatoes and aioli, The Plimsoll.
More than the Burger: Side Dishes, Small Plates and Drinks at The Plimsoll
So, you’re gonna need a side for that burger. My top pick? The Fried Potatoes and Aioli. The Plimsoll rotates its menu a lot, but these crispy, moreish baby potatoes always seem to make the cut. And the best thing? They aren’t tight on the aioli. I’m a condiment girl to my core, so that’s big coming from me. Every bite has a slathering of that creamy, garlicky sauce with it. Not a dry potato in sight. Other highlights were the Baked Scallop with Basque Chorizo (love a bit of surf and turf), the Chipolatas with mustard (sounds super simple, but they’re some of the best) and the Beef Cheek Pappardelle (their pastas rotate a lot, so I can’t say for sure it’ll be on the menu on your visit).
As for drinks? The Plimsoll’s a pub after all, so I always check out what’s on draft when I visit (and I reckon you should too). Every now and then, they have my favourite IPA, Deya’s Steady Rolling Man, on draft. But if that isn’t on the menu, I’ll normally just go for The Plimsoll lager – a pretty solid choice. If I’m going all out, I’ll get a bottle of red, but at around £40 a bottle, it’s not something I’m doing unless it’s a special occasion. For me, the combo of the burger + potatoes + a pint is a tough one to beat.
Chipolatas, The Plimsoll.
Scallops and chorizo, The Plimsoll.
The menu at The Plimsoll (Aug ’25).
Atmosphere at The Plimsoll, Finsbury Park
Loud but cosy with mismatched chairs, tables and plates. If you’re after a fine dining experience, you’re not getting it here, and neither should you! As I’ve said, The Plimsoll is a pub at the end of the day, so you’re going to get that bustling London pub experience. And you’re going to absolutely bloody love it.
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So, is The Plimsoll worth it?
Absolutely. Yeah, it’s a little pricier than your average pub, but nothing about the food is pub food. I mean, scallops, lamb chops, and pappardelle? You’re not getting that at your local boozer, are you? (Well, unless you live round the corner from The Plimsoll in Finsbury Park, obviously.) And while it’s more expensive than a standard pub, you can make the experience as affordable or as fancy as you want. The cheapest you could do it would be around £25 a head: two Dexter Cheeseburgers, a portion of fried potatoes and aioli to share, plus a pint each. But with dishes ranging from £5 to £30, and bottles of wine around £40, things can add up quickly if you’re going all out. It’s totally up to you how you want to experience it.
My advice? If you want to get in at the weekend, you’ll need to book in advance. They open reservations a month ahead, so a little bit of planning will go a long way. Don’t mind a midweek meal? It’s usually easier to snag a spot, and you might even get lucky walking in.
The verdict: The hype is real, and The Plimsoll’s Dexter Cheeseburger might just be the best burger in North London. So get yourself there for the burger–potato–beer combo, ASAP.
The Plimsoll, Finsbury Park opening hours and information
All the practical things you need to know about The Plimsoll, London.
Address: 52 St Thomas’s Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 2QQ
Opening hours:
Monday: 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm (dinner 6:00 – 10:00 pm)
Tuesday: 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm (dinner 6:00 – 10:00 pm)
Wednesday: 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm (dinner 6:00 – 10:00 pm)
Thursday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm (lunch 12:00 – 5:00 pm, dinner 6:00 – 10:00 pm)
Friday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm (lunch 12:00 – 5:00 pm, dinner 6:00 – 10:00 pm)
Saturday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm (lunch 12:00 – 5:00 pm, dinner 6:00 – 10:00 pm)
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm (lunch 1:00 – 6:00 pm)
Pricing: around £25–£45pp (depending on drinks)
Follow The Plimsoll on Instagram @the.plimsoll
Book a table at The Plimsoll on OpenTable
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