London Night Life and Where to Find Them

Notting Hill is one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in London. If you are looking for night things to do in London, then heading here would be a good first step. Famous across the world for its carnival (second largest after Mardi Gras in Brazil) and playing host to the famous Portobello Road Market, say hello to the quintessential London experience.

From brickmaking in the early 19^th century to the Victorian era, and then the 20^th-century slum housing, the town of Notting Hill has grown and evolved over the ages. Here are a few things you should not miss –

Notting Hill carnival is one of the largest carnivals in the world, and come second only to the Mardi Gras in Brazil. Every year, millions of partygoers and revelers congregate here to celebrate the culture of West Indies. Steelpan bands, soca, calypso, are just some of the things which will give you pure joy. Starting in the 1950s, today it is a huge celebration with floats, bands, parades, and dancers.

At night the pubs of Notting Hill come to life and serve up some delicious beer and food. Don’t forget to visit the gastropubs after attending the carnival. If you are interested in good Italian wines, then head to the Negozio Classica, which is a famous restaurant in these parts.

Flowing across southern England is the famous river Thames. With a year-round calendar of fun-filled things to do at night, head here if you are wondering some family-friendly night things to do in London. Near the Tower of London, and other magnificent historical buildings, pubs, and taverns, you won’t run out of night things to do in London.

However, if you do not have much time on your hands, here are a few things you can do if you visit during the night –

Don’t miss a ride on the London Eye.Contrary to popular belief, a ride on it during the night is even more fantastic than in the day, largely due to the lights. Not just that, you can also taste chocolates and wine miles high above the river Thames.

The views at night from Tower Bridge are something brilliant and you can see the numerous boats with their lights through the glass floor. Yes, the entire walkway is made from glass and makes for some marvelous pictures.

Another must-do during the night on the River Thames is to go on the many night tours available. If you like the fancier and more relaxing things in life, then you can book a table on a dinner cruise that lasts for 3 hours along with great food, friendly staff, and jazz.

With the launch of the underground that runs at night, all that Oxford Street nightlife has to offer is finally now open to people staying far away. From dancing to dining, the nocturnal activities that this street has to offer are endless.

If you like you can head out for some late night shopping, which stretches from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch. Almost all shops including Mango, Stradivarius, and Zara are open till 9 pm, and it is a great idea to avoid the daytime crowds. If you are searching for fitting rooms with no queues, then heading to Debenhams would a great idea as they stay open till 10 pm. With most of the people doing their shopping in the daytime, it’s a relief to not find queues.

However, if you want to pamper yourself, then you can head to Selfridges which offer service till 10 pm. Believe it or not, the feeling of walking through the uncrowded streets of Oxford is one of the most brilliant night things to do in London. If a tipple is what you’re after, then there are many taverns and pubs that are open till 1 am. Head to Long Bar at Sanderson for a few cocktails before heading to Artesian that has been quipped as the “World’s Best Bar”.

If you fancy a bit of dancing before calling it a night, then head to The Roxy located at 3-5 Rathbone Place. All cocktail pitchers are at half-price during this time till 3 am in the morning. If you still want to party the night away, then heading to The 100 Club would be a great idea. A legendary tavern located at 100 Oxford Street, this qualifies as one of the most fascinating night things to do in London as they stay open till 6 am!

Located in Central London, Charing Cross road lies north of St Martin-in-the-Fields to St Giles Circus and is known as Tottenham Court Road. Nightlife at Charing Cross is very eventful is definitely one of the best night things to do in London. Several pubs and bars are scattered across the street and are open till wee hours into the night. Here are a few that are absolute must-visits –

Fabric is a nightclub that is frequented by locals and tourists alike. Spread across three rooms the entire nightclub’s ambiance is relaxing and very conducive to a great night. Even their toilets have won awards based on cleanliness and quirkiness. However, it’s not a great place if you are just visiting and not on the guest list.

The Ministry of Sound is another club in Charing Cross Road that you absolutely must hit. With all entrances and lines marked clearly, it’s very simple to navigate. With a brilliant sound system, you can dance the night away with reasonably priced food and drinks.

If you are into sipping cocktails while dancing then you should visit Montezuma. From espresso patron shots to pornstar martinis this is arguably one of the best night things to do in London. Interiors are done in the Aztec style which makes the entire place quite quirky and unique.

Offering glamour and various occasions to party, Piccadilly Circus is located right in the middle of London. If you like disco balls and cocktails, then this would be one of the night things to do in London. The thing to remember here is that Picadilly Circus in itself doesn’t have any nightclubs, but around it, you will find more than a fair share. One of the most unique buildings here would be the club-bars. These are crosses between a club and a bar and is open from early evening.

As the hour grows late, these club-bars up the tempo and the rush starts. With a DJ hitting the decks, to dim lights and a dance floor, a night in Picadilly Circus street will be unforgettable. Another option to spend the night in Picadilly would be to visit the various comedy clubs. You can do away with the logistics of trying to get everyone to meet at one place with these clubs.

Some clubs in Picadilly Circus are quite strict with their dress code so remember to wear appropriate clothing in order to gain entry.

Theatre. An intrinsic cultural facet of the London scene, the West End Theatre District is one of the night things to do in London that will leave you with unforgettable memories. Known to the locals as Theatreland, this place is the place to head to if you appreciate the arts and talent.

Believe it or not, the entire region is home to more than forty theatres that are world-class. So if you are looking for a show you won’t be disappointed as nearly a dozen are run every day. Most of the shows during theatre night that are excellent run in the evening and last up to three hours with a 20-minute interval. However, not everything to do here revolves around the theater. There are several places you can have a bite to eat and club. Offering a variety of cuisines, the restaurants and pubs around West End are fascinating. If you don’t want to eat, but prefer a drink before or after a show, there are many pubs strewn across the road that will gladly have your patronage.

If you are traveling with kids, it’s advisable to have dinner before a night show as they tend to go on for more than two hours. Some West End shows offer a lottery as well but only during the day.

The business really picks up in Chinatown after midnight, and if you are looking for night things to do in London, this is where you should head to. All kinds of Chinese dishes are served by several restaurants well into the night. Here are a few of the restaurants in London’s Chinatown that have made a name for themselves by serving scrumptious food until the wee hours in the morning.

Jen opened its doors in 1998 and specializes in the Hong Kong style of cooking. Since then it has been furbished and re-furbished to bring to you what it is today. It’s open till 3 am and you might still find strange dishes like a duck’s tongue.However, the specialty of this place would be the Hot Pot. From fresh prawn balls to sliced scallops, this place has everything to satisfy your Chinese food urges in the middle of the night.

HK Diner has opened only recently and is a modern style restaurant serving traditional Hong Kong dishes.From a Chinese milkshake machine to fruity concoctions with sago, a perfect place to have a new kind of experience.

If you can’t call a Chinese meal complete without a dim sum, then head over to the Royal Dragon. They are famous for their late-night dinners filled with traditional Cantonese cuisine.

London is easily one of the best cities in terms of places to visit and eat. However, when the hour grows late, the city comes alive in terms of activity. A plethora of clubs and bars in addition to budget hotels can be found in Soho Square that will fascinate you. Here are a few places you can head to if you are looking for night things to do in London –

The Gem Bar which is located at Shaftesbury is a brilliant place to sample food and drinks. A restaurant by day and a nightclub by night, this bar is always alive. If however, you want to share a quiet meal with your friends, then head to the ground floor that has opulent leather furniture all around. The music which accompanies the evening is always from the latest hits and old school garage anthems. From various types of cuisine to brilliant dance music you will find everything here.

A stunning spiral staircase and a ballroom-style room are what describes The Box, and excellent nightclub in the Soho area. The place isn’t for you if you prefer quiet evenings as there are multiple shows which are held here. You might not want to head here with family as most of the shows are quite explicit and adult-oriented.

Club 49 is the place to head to if you want to dance the night away. Easily one of the best night things to do in London, Club 49 is the pinnacle of Soho Square’s night scene. With various flavored cocktails and loud music, you can lounge in luxury and style.

Alfresco terraces, homely bars, and thumping nightclubs are what describe the nightlife in Canary Wharf. Earning its rightful place in London’s social map, Canary Wharf is one of the places to be if you are searching for night things to do in London. Only a few steps away from the loud clubbing scene of London Bridge, this area has made quite a name for itself in the last few years. Read on to know more about a clutch of places that are a must-visit if you are in the city –

Radio Alice Canary Wharf is located right in the heart of Jubilee Park and offers a plethora of beers, pizzas,and cocktails. All their bread is homemade sourdough, so be sure to order a round of that if visiting this restaurant. Closing at 10:30 pm, this club cum restaurant is definitely a place to head to.

Wahaca Canary Bar & terrace is another restaurant in Canary Wharf that stays open till late night and has a Latino theme attached to it. It has a restaurant-bar, rooftop bar, and event space.

If you are looking for a visual treat at night on the River Thames, then you should go for the nightly river cruise which starts at 6:30 pm. Iconic views of the London skyline are made even better by the atmosphere which is electric and a lot of fun. This is one of the places you must visit if you want to experience night things to do in London.

Canapes and a glass of bubbly is complimentary, and there is some live music to entertain you as you sail over the waters. The entire experience is fascinating as the entire skyline lights up which makes for a wonderful evening. There are various restaurants dotted along the way or you can have a full course dinner on the cruise itself.

Undoubtedly one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Watch Tower Bridge is a visual treat. Even more so during the night when all the lights are on and you can see the ethereal beauty of the place. The entire bridge can be lifted so you can wait for boats and cruises as that’s when the lifting occurs and makes for quite a sight. Try visiting in summer as that’s when it happens 3-4 times a day. Apart from that, London’s skyscrapers and the Big Ben make for some great pictures against the starry sky.

With 95 stories and many offices, residences, and restaurants, The Shard is one of the most iconic buildings in London. There are a 5 star Shangri-La hotel and a viewing platform that has been placed on the 72^nd floor. This affords you with a 360-degree view of the entire city and at night it’s like looking down on a sparkling diamond. Head to the viewing gallery that also has a bar called Skydeck bar and try spotting historic landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. Remember you are allowed in only within 30 minutes of the ticket purchase. Once in, you can stay as long as you like.

The city’s highest garden, offers views that are spectacular to behold. Set in the tallest building in London, there are various things you can do whilst here. The entire thing is under a huge glass dome through which you can see the starry night sky. With walkie-talkie restaurants, you won’t need to head out either. There are various places to sit, sip a drink, and enjoy the entire experience.

There you go! Some of the night things to do in London that you shouldn’t miss.