London Nightlife
London's nightlife is one of the most vibrant and varied in the world, with everything from mega clubs to live music. And from trendy bars to traditional British pubs. Spots in central London like Soho and Leicester Square attract visitors most nights of the week, but if it's the more trendy venues you're interested in why not try neighborhoods like Hoxton and Shoreditch in East London, or Brixton and Clapham in South London. Here's just a taster of what London has to offer on a night out, including quality pubs and bars, world-renowned clubs, live music venues and much more.
glazok90/Shutterstock.comMinistry of Sound
Converted from an old bus station in the 90s, the Ministry of Sound is a legendary spot in London's clubbing scene, and it's an international brand, too. Located close to Elephant and Castle, south of Waterloo, the club boasts five rooms, four bars, a VIP lounge, a courtyard area and what's said to be the world’s best sound system.
Anthony Mooney/Shutterstock.comVaulty Towers
Run by the creative minds behind The Vaults, Vaulty Towers is a bar that perfectly captures the whimsical essence of the experimental art space beneath. It's packed with curios like an exaggeratedly tall bar stool, or a table disguised as a secret tree house. Whimsy runs through the drink menu, too: negronis are served on tap, and there is a genuine creative touch to everything they do, down to a makeshift spinning wheel to determine your pick of drink if you're so inclined.
astarot/Shutterstock.comMarksman Public House
Marksman Public House is an award-winning establishment in London's flourishing East End features a revamped 150-year-old pub, unmistakably modern yet layered with history, and an upstairs dining room where you can fully expect to be served one of the city's finest Sunday roasts.
Picnote/Shutterstock.comMayor of Scaredy Cat Town
Sure, the concept of "insider-only" speakeasy is far from new, but we think this little place is worth seeking out. It's not just the satisfaction of being somewhere secret — Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town takes itself with a refreshingly healthy dose of irony, which shines through its "rules of engagement" (as point 2 reads, "The town is Scaredy Cat Town, not Cool Cats Town, the Mayor demands the highest standards of self deprecation"), all the while serving a great selection of inventive cocktails and finger foods; there's also a weekend brunch at 39£ a piece. To get here, enter through The Breakfast Club (Spitalfields) and head straight for the Smeg fridge. Don't even think of leaving the same way you came in lest you blow their cover: there is a separate exit through the toilet.
Maksym Fesenko/Shutterstock.comThe Four Quarters
The Four Quarters is a no-frills bar in Peckham with major nostalgia-factor packed full of retro arcade games. Each game is only 25 pence to play, so you can have them all, plus great vegetarian and vegan grub.
Atmosphere1/Shutterstock.comLadies & Gents
What could easily have been a gimmick actually became one of Kentish Town's favorite watering holes: a former public toilet transformed into a below-ground bar. There is another one in Camden now — walk up or down Kentish Town Road if either is full.
Paul Adrian Emery/shutterstockThe Vaults
Housed deep below the ground (underneath London's Waterloo station) are The Vaults: a one-of-a-kind venue for experimental art in all its forms. Their calendar is updated regularly, and since anyone can rent a space to host an event (all rooms are for hire), the selection is expectedly both quirky and robust.
Artiom Vallat/unsplashSoho
The energetic streets of Soho are the most popular nightlife destination. The neighborhood still retains a somewhat risqué vibe with bars, cafes and restaurants that cater to hip crowds of international creatives. Soho is also known as the center of LGBTQA+ community, so don't miss out on all the gay and lesbian party spots in the area. Soho is an absolute must-see, since it's so multifaceted. Dean, Frith, Beak, and Old Compton streets are lively around the clock, and long-running Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club can be found here. Shaftesbury Avenue attracts theater-goers, while Carnaby, Oxford and Regent streets and the iconic Liberty's department store are there for your shopping needs. Music shops, small cafes and quaint bakeries are on every corner!
Mikel Parera/unsplash.comThe Argyll Arms
Known for its real ales, traditional pub grub and beautiful Victorian decor with mahogany paneling, The Argyll Arms is a slice of old London in the bustling shopping district of Oxford Street. Completed in 1742, the Grade II listed pub is named after the second Duke of Argyll and there is a rumor that a secret tunnel once connected the pub to the duke's mansion.
Syda Productions/Shutterstock.comThe Top Secret Comedy Club
In keeping with its name, the Top Secret Comedy Club is perhaps London's best kept secret when it comes to comedy entertainment. But watch out — it's unlikely to stay this way for long! Dishing out the jests, the quips and the witticisms every night of the week are a range of both well-established and up-and-coming comedians. At prices accessible beyond belief, you can find yourself spending the evening (and only a pound or two) at one of the city's most interesting comedy venues.
aerogondo2 / Shutterstock.comRonnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is perhaps the capital's most iconic jazz venue. Up and running since 1959, Ronnie Scott's has had the pleasure of hosting some of the world's most renowned musicians. Whether it's the weekly jam sessions in the upstairs cocktail bar or any of the top notch live bands playing in the main club, it is guaranteed you will enjoy the evening in style in one of the coolest and classiest places in London.
Freedom Studio/ShutterstockThe King's Head Theatre Pub
A cheaper and more authentic alternative to the glamor of London's West End can be found hidden away upstairs or downstairs in many pubs across the capital. The King's Head in Islington was the first theatre pub to open since Shakespearean times. And if you're willing to leave the city centre for an evening, The King's Head offers theatre, musicals and stand-up comedy. This is where a handful of world-renowned actors started off before being propelled to fame and where many a successful West End production was born. Make sure to have a look at the shows on their website and see if anything catches your eye before booking tickets.
Shymanska Yunnona / Shutterstock.comThe Atlas Pub
The Atlas Pub is a warm and relaxing venue, where you'll find stylish wood panelling, fresh flowers and a brick fireplace. It also has a fine selection of wines and ales, a menu full of delicious and diverse dishes, and is the location of The London Wine Academy’s popular wine workshops.
marino bocelli/Shutterstock.comGordon’s Wine Bar
Thought to be London’s oldest wine bar — established in 1890 — Gordon's is a wonderfully atmospheric venue that feels like something from another era. This candlelit cellar-bar serves a wide range of wines, sherries and ports from the barrel, as well as big hearty meals. Always busy, you're advised to arrive around 4pm if you want to bag a table.
Igor Normann/shutterstockThe Roxy
Below the busy streets of London's West End lies informal basement bar The Roxy. Popular with everyone from students to the after-work crowd, The Roxy has six weekly club nights pumping out popular, electronic and alternative music. Happy hour kicks off at 5pm and ends at 8.30pm.
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.comThe Prince Alfred
Established in 1863, The Prince Alfred has retained much of its period features, including the original Victorian snugs — each with its own door onto the street and separated from each other by a wooden partition with a small access door. The PA, as it is known locally, also serves food in the adjoining Formosa dining room, and is located close to the picturesque waterside of Little Venice.
Shebeko/Shutterstock.comThe Hippodrome Casino
Just like Leicester Square, where it is located, the five-floor Hippodrome Casino is glitzy and vibrant. Aside from the gaming areas, there are live shows, six bars, a restaurant, two lounges and an outdoor smoking and cigar bar. The heart of it all is the Heliot bar on the first floor balcony, serving classic cocktails with a Hippodrome twist.
AS Inc/Shutterstock.com