London Nightlife | Guide to London

Guide to London

1. Pre-departure advice for London: preparing for your trip
2. London Airports: How to get to the centre
3. Accommodation in London: the best options
4. What to see in London
5. Public transport in London
6. The English Gastronomy
7. London nightlife
8. The surroundings of London: cities not to be missed

"Oh rainy London, rainy mood

I can't go out with the charm of a hood

However that's all they talk about, your

Weather left me without options

I don't go out".

In this part of the series "Giulia's Guide to London" we will continue with the nightlife of the huge and varied city of London - of course, weather permitting, as you may have noticed in the little poem above, written by Giulia's own hand. :)

We have already covered pre-departure and your arrival, accommodation, what to visit, how to get around and what to eat. So you have somewhere to stay, you've spent all day sightseeing (possibly walking) and you have just finished dinner, you have a full stomach and you don't really feel like going dancing or staying out all night. So what should you do?

Options for a relaxed evening out

If you have already had dinner you have one less thing to think about. I like to eat out in London and then go to a pub or two, or maybe to the cinema. I walk around the centre or go to play at the Trocadero, get an ice cream or practice on my roller skates.

Here is a list of things that you can do for a chilled out evening.

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• Eat out : if you visit the markets you will find much cheaper options, and you can spend a lovely evening outside. There are intriguing bars at London Bridge, like the Spanish tapas bar José and the Brindisa



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• Beer : indoors or outdoors (weather permitting, obviously!). Brixton has plenty of open-air bars, as do Camden, Clapham Common, Clapham Junction, Battersea and Covent Garden. The centre has a bit of everything. One of my particular favourites is a pub in Lambeth North called Scooter Café where you can sip your wine on the terrace or inside the cosy bar.
• Cinema : there are plenty of options. Ritzy in Brixton, The Picture House in Clapham Common, BFI IMAX in Waterloo. Vue cinemas are spread all over London, for example in Fulham, Picadilly and at the big shopping centres such as Westfield in Shepherd's Bush or Stratford. Finally there are Odeon cinemas in Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Road and, for special occasions, Leicester Square, (Europe's premiere cinema).



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• An ice cream and a walk : There are so many places to buy a fresh ice cream and wander around London, and when the weather permits it's a wonderful thing to do. If the weather is bad you can chill out at a pub, tea room or coffee shop eating cake or pudding. Your ice cream options include the famous Häagen-Dazs, Caffé Concerto (an Italian bar/restaurant chain) or Amorino (also an Italian ice cream chain and my personal favourite!)
• Live music : London has a vibrant live music scene and many pubs host musicians throughout the week. Try Camden Town or Brixton but there are almost infinite pubs that play live music. There is a place on Edgware Road, on the right immediately outside the station exit where you can listen to live music with your beer every now and then.
• Casual dancing / music : There are various clubs where you don't have to go crazy dancing all night, instead sipping at a cool beer or cocktail with music playing in the background. One option is Revolution (there is one in Clapham Common and another in Clapham Junction), where, if you go relatively early you can relax with your drink. Later on it turns into a nightclub and you have to pay to go in. English pubs are a really good option - there are loads scattered around London, and the best way to find one is to just wander and choose one that looks good.
• Entertainment complex : The Trocadero in Picadilly was my top choice; its central location made for a lovely walk and options for ice creams and cinemas were plenty in nearby Leicester Square. Unfortunately it closed in 2014.



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Options for an active night out

• Skating : Try iceskating at Alexandra Palace or even Westfield if the temporary rink is set up. Alternatively head to Roller Disco in Vauxhall, where you can hire roller skates and dance to the music as you skate.
• Sport : If you love extreme sport I recommend you book yourself an evening Parkour lesson. It can be so exciting, and the adrenaline rush is worth a try! Look up Parkour Generation London to book a session.
• Dancing : There really is so much choice for dancing, and it depends on what kind of music you like. There are lots of clubs in the centre, for example in Leicester Square. Clapham Common, Clapham Junction, Camden Town and Charing Cross all have excellent options and choice.

Some of my favourite activities and places are:

• Pacha in Victoria
• Salsa in Charing Cross
• Roller Disco in Vauxhall



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• Guanabara in Covent Garden
• Inferno in Clapham Common
• Piccadilly Institute in Piccadilly
• Tiger Tiger in Piccadilly
• Zoo Bar in Leicester Square
• Revolution in Clapham Common/Clapham Junction
• Ministry of Sound in Elephant & Castle
• Fabric at Barbican
• Electric Brixton in Brixton
• KOKO in Camden Town
• Cable at London Bridge

Music in London pubs varies greatly, but in general you will find something to suit every taste; pop, R&B, hip hop, reggaeton, electro, drum & bass, dubstep. You definitely won't get bored!

For those who like to drink, it's advisable to drink before you go out. Alcohol is expensive and pub prices are exorbitant, especially when compared to Italy or Spain (except perhaps some places in Milan). Buy something from the supermarket and "pre-drink" (drink before you go out) so you don't get caught out. That said, drink in moderation and enjoy your evening without going crazy. Public transport at night is easy and safe, but if you decide to take a taxi instead, you can divide the cost between your group, getting home "safe and sound". There are often black cabs waiting in front of the night clubs, and you can search online for other taxi companies such as Addison Lee which are very efficient.

There's not a lot left to say. Get out there, enjoy your London evenings, have fun and, as always, Enjoy your trip! ;)

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