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London Nightlife

Late night London pulses with verve and diversity; bars and clubs suited to all tastes are open 24 hours a day and, on any given night of the week, you’ll find a party and new friends to fill it with.

Conversely, the city has tragically seen half of its live music venues shut their doors over the last decade. A feeling pervades that, slowly, the independent locations that remain the city’s creative heart are being razed in favour of faceless chains and apartments for the privileged few.

Regardless, the potential in the city is, quite literally, intoxicating. The West End’s Soho is the city’s de facto gay area, though it also has a rich history of hard drinking pubs. The hippest bars are now over in Peckham, though for a cocktail-in-a-jam-jar fix you could head to the formerly-mean streets of Dalston and Hackney. Angel or Clapham have a wealth of options, and though the streets of Camden and Brixton - traditionally the heartland of punk and reggae in the capital, respectively - aren’t as raw as they once were, there’s still a special energy on these rain-splattered pavements.

Even though in theory there are no longer any fixed closing times and a number of venues have applied for extended or 24-hour licences, in practice most pubs and bars still close at midnight. Concerts normally start at 2000, and clubs usually open at 2200, and stay open until 0200 during the week and around 0400 at weekends.

Bars in London

Bradley’s Spanish Bar

Tucked in a tiny, winding street off Tottenham Court Road is one of the few remaining bastions of classic London drinking culture. The velvet sofas may be faded and the toilets may be ropey, but the vinyl jukebox doesn’t stop until the beers do. A joy.

Address: Fitzrovia, 42-44 Hanway Street, London, W1T 1UT
Telephone: +44 20 7636 0359
Website: http://www.bradleysspanishbar.com

The Auld Shillelagh

London is blessed by a wealth of Irish bars, but The Auld Shillelagh might be the best. With its narrow bar, it's not one to visit if you don't like bumping elbows with strangers, but there's nowhere better when the Irish are playing rugby. Goes without saying that the Guinness is transcendental.

Address: , 105 Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 OUD
Telephone: +44 20 7249 5951
Website: http://theauldshillelagh.co.uk

The George

If a traditional English pub is what you are after, then the 17th-century George Inn is the perfect starting point. It’s been serving mead since medieval times, and is listed as a Grade 1 building. If you need to soak up the ale afterwards, Borough Market is just round the corner.

Address: Southwark, 75-77 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1NH
Telephone: +44 20 7407 2056.
Website: http://www.george-southwark.co.uk

Clubs in London

Bussey Building

Its status as Peckham’s hippest club is a hard one to challenge, nowhere has done more to put the area on the nightlife map as this multi level venue in Block A of the CLF Art Cafe. You’ll find all strands of dance music there, though it’s most famous for its legendary, twice-monthly South London Soul Train club night.

Address: Peckham, 133 Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST
Telephone: +44 207 7732 5275
Website: http://www.clfartcafe.org

Fabric

Fabric has long been the spiritual home of UK club culture and features sets from the world’s best DJs playing techno, house, drum n’ bass, electro and everything in between. It sells out its 2,500 nightly capacity most weekend nights and if you asked most seasoned UK clubbers for a recommendation, they’d send you here.

Address: Clerkenwell, 77A Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HJ
Telephone: +44 20 7336 8898.
Website: http://www.fabriclondon.com

G.A.Y.

It’s definitely at the cheesier end of the scale, but G.A.Y is an icon of London gay culture. Situated on Soho’s Old Compton - traditionally the home of the capital’s LGBT scene - the three floors offer a flamboyant array of entertainment, with theme nights, drinks promos and a video jukebox system drawing large, party-hard crowds.

Address: Soho, 30 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UR
Telephone: +44 20 7494 2756.
Website: http://www.g-a-y.co.uk

Ministry of Sound

Situated in the site of an old bus garage, Ministry of Sound was the UK’s first Nightclub dedicated to ‘house’ music. The music has become so popular that the Ministry of Sound also has its own record label, boasting to launch the careers of artists such as Example, Wretch 32 and Sigala.

Address: , 103 Gaunt Street, London, SE1 6DP
Telephone: +44 20 7740 8600.
Website: http://www.ministryofsound.com/

Live music in London

Brixton Academy

Legendary among London music venues and a favourite stop for big names and alternative acts alike, it has a particular penchant for rock, metal and indie. Previously a cinema, Brixton Academy – officially known as O2 Academy Brixton – has become one of the city’s most frequented music venues and tickets for popular names sell out fast. It is one of London’s most sizeable non-arena venues, with a capacity of around 5,000.

Address: Brixton, 211 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9SL
Telephone: +44 20 7771 3000
Website: http://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybrixton/brixtonacademy

O2 Arena

It’s a hanger but the vast multi-purpose arena at the heart of the O2 entertainment complex in Greenwich attracts the world’s biggest names and most flamboyant shows. Stars such as Paul McCartney, Madonna, The Rolling Stones and, uhm, Peter Andre, have all graced the stage of this ginormous, 20,000-capacity venue.

Address: North Greenwich, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX
Telephone: +44 20 8463 2000
Website: http://www.theo2.co.uk

The Roundhouse

From big name gigs to like the Apple Music Festival, Camden’s Roundhouse is a jewel of London’s live music scene. Previously a railway engine shed, this 1,700 capacity Grade II listed circular building is renowned as one of the capital’s foremost for sound and ambience.

Address: Chalk Farm, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH
Telephone: +44 300 678 9222
Website: http://www.roundhouse.org.uk

Classical music in London

Dance in London

Theatres in London

Music and Dance in London

Culture in London

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The Soho Hotel

Rooms at this trendy hotel are sumptuously appointed in a modern, eclectic style, not forgetting flatscreen TVs, huge, ultra-comfortable beds, and sleek bathrooms kitted out in grey granite, glass and oak. Befitting a hotel nestled in the heart of London’s entertainment district, there is a swish private event space and two private screening rooms. Onsite restaurant Refuel has an attractive dinner menu, as well as serving afternoon tea and an extensive selection of breakfast dishes. 

The Dorchester

Sat beside Hyde Park, the glamorous Dorchester is a stately cavern of old-school British class. Dining includes high-end Asian restaurant China Tang and purveyors of modern British cuisine The Grill at The Dorchester, while the extensive spa in the basement is an exceptional pampering space. For all-out luxury, there’s the baroque and rococo Oliver Messel Suite, perched a-top the hotel, with a terrace offering prime views across the London rooftops. 

Point A Hotel Westminster

This no-frills Asian hotel chain in the heart of Westminster is a fantastic option for those seeking value for money in the capital. The concept is simple: by stripping out costly extras, such as room service or windows, you can enjoy staying in a clean room with an ensuite bathroom for very little money. If you want extras, such as towels, toiletries, an in-room safe or a window, you simply pay for them. There are four hotels in the capital but this one in the centre is excellent if you want to be close to heart of the action.

Park Grand - London Lancaster Gate

The Park Grand is a boutique hotel located between Paddington and Lancaster Gate underground stations. Featuring modern guest rooms, a club lounge for executive visitors and a well-stocked bar. The hotel also offers links to Heathrow airport and major train stations.

 

Hoxton Hotel

In the heart of Hoxton, in the same premises as the popular Hoxton Grill, is this wallet savvy establishment. The Hoxton Hotel forgoes the money-making mini bar and instead has free milk and bottled water in the fridge, and sells the like of sweets and wine at reasonable prices in the lobby. Wi-Fi is also free, and guests receive a simple but tasty breakfast from coffee house chain Pret A Manger delivered to their room. 

The Zetter

This converted warehouse in the heart of Clerkenwell is pretty affordable considering its desirable location. Its 59 rooms are decked in sleek upholstery, cool mood lighting and in-room entertainment systems. Nice little touches, such as hot water bottles and old Penguin paperbacks, add a homely feel. The Zetter’s popular restaurant, which serves modern Mediterranean food, occupies most of the ground floor and looks onto St John's Square.