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Exploring London's Neighbourhoods: The Nightlife

THE NIGHTLIFE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Nightlife and London have always been synonymous with each other. So if you’re looking for places to go in London’s thriving nightlife scene, it doesn’t really matter what neighbourhood you’re in… or does it?

Perhaps it may go without saying that some of London’s neighbourhoods are more popular than others when it comes to a fun night out in London. While tourists linger around Soho for its hip-and-happening nightclubs, locals often venture to London’s East End (or more specifically, Shoreditch) for more of London’s alternative bar and club scene.

But with such a variety of clubs, bars and pubs in London to choose from, missing out on any of the most popular neighbourhoods for a night out in London would be a true crime.

Here are some of the best London neighbourhoods known for their party and nightlife scenes:

Shoreditch

Photo credit: David Jones

From comic book bars, circus-themed pubs and even cabarets, there’s no guessing what kind of club or bar you’ll stumble upon during a night out in Shoreditch. As a matter of fact, Shoreditch has become known as a hub for the most unique, niche-y and cutting-edge bars you won’t find anywhere else in the world (let alone London). You can also consider joining a pub crawl in Shoreditch to explore this fun neighbourhood.

Party places to visit in Shoreditch: Trapeze, Queen of Hoxton, Village Underground, XOYO, Barrio Shoreditch

Soho

Bar Soho (Photo credit: Radio Saigón)

It may be a tad on the expensive side, but Soho is the be-all, end-all of party neighbourhoods for first-time visitors to London. Soho is also known for its risqué nightclub scene, as it has a ton of gay and lesbian-friendly clubs in the area as well. If you have already joined a free walking tour in Soho during the day, think about exploring the area by night with a pub crawl.

Party places to visit in Soho: Experimental Cocktail Club, Blind Pig, Swift Soho, Bar Soho

South Bank

Photo credit: Ewan Munro

No mention of South Bank’s nightlife scene would be complete without a shout-out to The Ministry of Sound (arguably the most famous nightclub in London), but the fun in South Bank doesn’t just stop there. The popular London neighbourhood also offers a ton of different wine bars, cocktail lounges and electro nightclubs which are known to host wild parties that last until the wee hours of the morning.

Party places to visit in South Bank: The Ministry of Sound, Skylon, OXO Tower Bar, All Bar One Waterloo

Clapham

The Whitehouse, Clapham (Photo credit: Simon Lesley)

In recent years Clapham has become known for its trendy dance floors, beer gardens, discos, DJs and club nights, and its lively population has helped transform it into one of the most popular party areas in London. While the clubs and bars in Clapham North and Clapham Junction tend to be cheaper and have more of a youthful vibe, the area surrounding High Street is also a popular hangout among expats and young professionals.

Party places to visit in Clapham Common: Clapham Grand, Venn Street Records, Infernos Nightclub, Tropix

Hoxton

Photo credit: Andrea Vail

In recent years, this western section of Shoreditch has morphed into a hip-and-happening party scene that is starting to take on a world of its own. Friday nights are especially popular in Hoxton for a night out, as the bars and clubs along Old Street are packed full of the fashionable, hip and local.

Party places to visit in Hoxton: Queen of Hoxton, Scala, The Macbeth, Ballie Ballerson London

Peckham

Photo credit: J Mark Dodds

Peckham may have more of a laid-back, bohemian vibe, but in the last decade it has become the new place to party in London and was even dubbed as “The New Dalston.” From cocktail joints to low-key cubs, you’ll find almost anything in this popular London neighbourhood (although Rye Lane and its adjoining streets are the most popular amongst locals).

Party places to visit in Peckham: Bussey Rooftop Bar, Prince of Peckham Pub, Frank's Cafe at Bold Tendencies

Islington

Photo credit: Ceren Bulut

From classy cocktail lounges, gastro pubs, late-night wine bars and so much more, Islington has some of the most popular drinking spots in London. In recent years celebrities, models, and musicians have been spotted on a fun night out in Islington, which isn’t surprising giving the area’s thriving theatre scenes.

Party places to visit in Islington: The Bar with No Name, Hoxley & Porter, Be At One Islington, The Ladybird Bar

Dalston

Photo credit: quitepeculiar

Offering some of the most diverse clubs and bars in London, Dalston has become a hub for university students who are looking for a fun night out, any day of the week. The majority of Dalston’s best nightclubs are located around Stoke Newington and Dalston Kingsland, and can range from jazzy clubs, live music venues with dance floors and much, much more.

Party places to visit in Dalston: The Railway Tavern N16, The Scolt Head, Dalston Superstore, Dalston Jazz Bar, Ridley Road Market Bar


Nightlife in London: Where to party

Each and every neighbourhood in London offers a little something when it comes to London’s thriving nightlife scene. Whether it be a circus-themed bar in Camden, the world-famous Ministry of Sound in South Bank, or even a classy cocktail bar in Soho, there’s no telling what kind of experience you’ll get during a night out in London.

However, some areas are more popular than others when it comes to choosing a place to party in London: While tourists and celebrities tend to stick to Soho’s world-famous bars and clubs, locals usually flock to London’s East End for a more alternative bar and nightclub scene.

Although some touristy areas may be more expensive, it’s well worth the money if you only have one night out in London. There are a ton of popular bars in the streets surrounding Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden, and Soho is always a guaranteed fun night out thanks to the variety of gay and lesbian-friendly clubs in the area.

But if you want to avoid the touristy areas and party it up like the London locals do, or even if you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path kind of night at a cutting-edge bar you won’t find anywhere else in the world, you certainly can’t go wrong with a fun night out in Shoreditch; (which has become the alternative epicentre of London’s nightlife scene over the past decade or so).

Other neighbourhoods like Clapham (especially around High Street) offer a ton of bars and clubs that are popular among young professionals and expats, while Peckham has more laid-back, bohemian-style clubs (especially along Rye Lane), with a ton of different cocktail bars and low-key clubs to choose from.

If you happen to be in London on a Friday night, then Hoxton is certainly the place to be (especially in any of the bars or clubs located along Old Street), and Islington has everything from gastro pubs, late-night wine bars and classy cocktail lounges.

In recent years, Dalston has become a party hub for university students partying it up on any night of the week, especially around Stoke Newington and Dalston Kingsland. The area also offers some of the most unique and diverse clubs and bars in London, with everything from jazzy clubs, live music venues with dance floors, and much, much more.


Nightlife in London: When to party

Much like New York City, London is a city that never sleeps; so you can expect a night out in London to last well into the wee hours of the morning. Usually, party-goers start trickling into the streets as early as 6 p.m. on the weekends, although pubs tend to be at their busiest between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. any day of the week.

Generally speaking, bars, clubs and pubs in London tend to stay open much later on the weekends (normally until around 3:30 a.m.), but during the week venues usually close around 1 a.m. You can also count on the majority of bars opening as early as 4 p.m. during the week, or perhaps even as early as 12 p.m. on weekends, but don’t expect any place to be buzzing until later into the night.

And perhaps it may go without saying, but if you have a specific bar, club or pub in mind, it may be a good idea to check their opening and closing times on their official website before your visit, especially if you plan on going out on a weekday.


How to save money during a night out in London

We all know that a fun night out in London can put a huge dent in your wallet, but there are certain steps and precautions you can take in order to save some of your hard-earned cash during a fun night out in London.

First of all, the weekends tend to be the most expensive, while Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest (even in expensive areas like Soho). However, if you’re truly desperate to spend a night out in Soho on a weekend, you could try to enter a club or bar before 10 p.m., or even before 9 p.m. in order to avoid expensive cover charges.

You could also try to hit up some bars during Happy Hour (which is usually between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.), and take advantage of cheap jugs of cocktails or two-for-one drinks on any night of the week. Some bars may have a small entry charge between 8:30 p.m. and 12 a.m. which could cost anywhere from £2 to £5; while other clubs and bars offer great Happy Hour deals like two-for-one drinks or cocktails for under £5.

On the whole, pubs tend to be much cheaper than bars and clubs; so if you’re desperate to save some money you could always head to a Sam Smith pub (which has over 40 different locations around London), or even have a pre-drink at a Wetherspoons before you head out to a club or bar.


How to get to the best bars and clubs in London

Luckily with the recent addition of the night tube, getting to and from some of the best bars and nightclubs in London has never been easier. So if you’re really worried about getting home after a fun night out at a bar, or even if you don’t feel like dishing out money on an expensive cab ride, you could organize your night so you end up at a bar or club along London’s night tube line, or any of London’s night bus routes.

Partying it up in Soho tends to be the most convenient, as many of the neighbourhood’s most popular bars and clubs are within walking distance to some of the many hotel districts in London (or at the very least, a cheap taxi ride away).

Buses tend to be the easier option when it comes to getting in and out of Shoreditch, but the Old Street Underground Station as well as the Barbican Underground Station have excellent services along the Northern, Circle, Hammersmith and Metropolitan lines.

Camden also has convenient transportation links thanks to the nearby King’s Cross St. Pancras station, the two branches of the Northern Line at Camden Town station as well as Camden Road’s Overground, and there’s also a ton of different bus routes to choose from as well.

Are you ready to party? Then consider joining one of the many pub crawls and free tours in London departing every day.

Free Tours in Your Language

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