Where to go out in London to party like a local?
What is the most pleasant when you stay in a foreign city? It’s being able to live there like a local . Who says live necessarily also says party like a Londoner !
For that, here is a selection of good addresses to have a good time in London fashion.
Eat a delicious burger, drink a good beer in a famous address at the Honest Burger which is in Brixton Market (Unit 12, Brixton Village). A beautiful card and good products you will love.
You also have Patty and Bun which offer delicious burgers. There are many including in Liverpool Street, Kingly Street, James Street, Brighton or for example Richmond Road. The atmosphere is friendly and really good-natured. I like !
Walk the rue de Maltby and discover all its delicious stalls. It’s a kind of food court on an entire street! There is something for everyone: beers, cocktails, cheeses, burgers, charcuterie, wines. A delight!
I also invite you to read my article on the different Passes in London to save as much as possible on your visits!
A bit of culture at the Nelly Duff Gallery , located at 156 Columbia Road. There are frequent exhibitions and vernissages. You also have the possibility to buy canvases on site. Another cultural address less known to tourists is the Sir John Soane’s Museum located at 13 Lincoln’s Inn Field. A collection of objects to observe a private collection but also to assist in the restoration work.
Live like a Londoner by taking time out in one of two bed and breakfasts, The Zetter Townhouse in Marylebone or Clerckenwell in either West or East London. These are little nuggets where you can have tea, sip a cocktail, sleep and, for the lucky ones, get married!
Get carried away to the Palomar at 34 Rupert Street. Ideal for drinking a cocktail and eating a tasty dish. It is an excellent address in a very pretty setting. The haunt of Londoners.
Against all odds, I’m going to give you an address to eat a good ice cream : Gelupo at 7 rue Archer. Good little ice creams or sorbets in a friendly setting for this little café with walls full of posters.
If you are a fan of Italian gastronomy , I recommend the small grocery store Burro y Salvia which also has a restaurant or take away. It’s simple and good under the slowfood sign. The address is located in Shoreditch.
And discover exotic Indian flavors by entering one of Dishoom ‘s addresses . There are many in London whether in Kensington, Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Carnaby or Covent Garden.
Finally, if you are nostalgic for French gastronomy , go to the Blanchette Kitchen at 9 rue d’Arblay in the Soho district. The principle of the restaurant is to share French tapas. The setting, although unusual, is very pleasant in the spirit of a French country house. Be careful, the addition can quickly be salty.
Where to go out in London: the best areas to party
Many areas of the city are renowned for their very dynamic nightlife. Follow me for a little party ride!
Camden town, the district for rock and jazz lovers
Le Tavern Lock, 35 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AJ. Métro : Chalk Farm (Northern line)
It’s a neighborhood institution! An eclectic place with free concerts, DJ nights and a roof terrace which is really very pleasant when the weather is nice (yes, it does happen).
You can also eat on site, there is everything you need for a good evening. My little advice is to arrive early to have room because it is a popular place. Don’t hesitate on your way there to make stops in the thrift stores in the neighborhood.
The Pub Lock Tavern is located directly across from the Tavern Lock. It is also a very nice pub to eat and listen to music. A good place to try!
Le Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, London NW1 7AN, métro Camden Town.
The pub is located in one of the coolest streets in Camden, Parkway Street . This pub is mythical in the city because it is where many very famous artists started like Amy Winehouse, Muse and Madness .
If you are a fan of beer, you can also go to La Camden Town Brewery which is a nice brewery. I’ll tell you about it a little later in my list of brasseries where it’s good to go during your stay in London.
Proud, Metro Chalk Farm
It’s a nightclub located in the Camden area. This is one of the places to go out in London during your stay.
Already, for the place because the box is in a listed historic building which was stables and a hospital for horses. As proof, the old horse boxes are still there! Then for the atmosphere with the people who frequent the place and are super neat, you will be able to see real London style !
And the music is nice and very varied with DJs and live bands.
Little trick, the entrance is free before 9 p.m. Afterwards, you have to plan £10 and queue.
Soho, the commercial heart of London
This district is full of good addresses. Right in the city center, it is super dynamic with an intense, even sulphurous, nightlife.
I advise you to walk around Picadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square . Soho is a neighborhood that moves and is really lively .
You will also be able to enjoy a break at the theater, in a bar or party in a nightclub.
I’m going to recommend a few fairly eclectic addresses for everyone to find what they’re looking for. Soho is the gay district of the city , you also have a lot of gay bar addresses everywhere, they are well indicated.
Lovers of pure , very typical British atmosphere, you will find what you are looking for at The Old Coffee House . Yes it is aptly named. It’s a good starting point to start the evening.
Another good address is the John Snow pub for its 4-pound beers.
If you prefer cocktails more, you will be delighted because there are also good addresses such as Bar Soho or Club 49 , very chic but at affordable prices.
Unconditional of the spritz and craving for a cozy Italian atmosphere , the address you need is the Bar Termini . You can also go to Palomar to drink a cocktail and eat a delicious meal.
And, if you are looking for a burlesque and friendly atmosphere . There is the Molly Moggs , a traditional pub with shows and concerts often given by drag queens .
Another nugget in the Soho district where it is pleasant to go out is The Jazz Club, Ronnie’s Scott . You are going to have a great time there.
Shoreditch, the artistic and hipster district
I particularly like its alternative atmosphere and its nightlife . Easily accessible by tube, Shoreditch is full of cultural events like Brick Lane .
If you are looking for more festive places, you will also be served with the many pubs and discos . I selected a few addresses to test.
First, the neighborhood staple, the Queen of Hoxton . Right in the center of Shoreditch, the bar has a roof terrace for an incredible view! The cocktails are famous.
Another atmosphere, more basement at Happiness Forgets . An excellent place to go out in London, one of the oldest bars with a relaxed atmosphere. This bar is ranked among the top 10 cocktail bars in the world !
And after, a more heated evening that will take you to the Cargo in the early morning . Its dance floor is top notch, its live bands and its DJs. A famous address!
Brixton, music and Caribbean atmosphere
It’s an eclectic neighborhood with many clubs: funk, hip hop and drum and bass music to choose from. You won’t be bored there!
It is also the neighborhood where David Bowie was born .
A mixture of cultures that pulses on a rather pleasant Jamaican rhythm for your stay!
Another anecdote, in Brixton you can pay with the local currency: the Brixton Pound . These are tickets with the portraits of celebrities. You can pay for your cocktails with it!
In this district, there are plenty of nice places to have a good time: bars, clubs and concert halls.
Fan of jazz, rush quickly to the Ritzy , fan of house, go to the Prince of Wales .
And the must-see area for going out in London remains Brixton 02 Academy , one of the city’s most acclaimed clubs.
To eat good burgers go to the Honest Burger .
Brixton has several advantages. The first is that it is easily accessible by metro . The second is that it is a popular area, in addition to its typical atmosphere, it is cheap .
Where to go out in London to discover the lively student districts
In Shoreditch
Bar Kick in Shoreditch High Street, bar and cafe. It’s a welcoming place to go out in London that doesn’t look like much, in neighborhood bar mode. You will necessarily be able to have a coffee, a drink, a soda and also eat on the go.
Allow around £5 for mini pizzas, beers from £3.60. You have the possibility to book online.
The BFI Southbank at Belvedere Road in Lambeth is a non-English speaking independent cinema screening room where showings are from £3. The place is very large and invites you to stroll.
In Waterloo
Les Voûtes (The Vaughts) located metro Waterloo is a really interesting complex, oriented street art where you can do many activities: theater, exhibition. It is mainly about immersive theater.
Cost around £18 for entry and there are also £45 dinner options. However, I recommend option 1 instead and eat elsewhere.
The Fire Station or La Caserne des Pompiers , as its name does not indicate, it is a restaurant! It is located in a former barracks hence its name. You can eat pizzas, burgers and also have excellent breakfasts, even a brunch. There is even a children’s menu. Small downside, however, the place is a bit noisy.
Allow £5 for a beer, from £10 for a burger or pizza and £7 for breakfast.
The Miller is the perfect place if you need to bring people together! You can privatize the place from 35 people on weekdays, 40 on weekends, decorate and even book a DJ. It’s a pure good plan! On the menu side, it looks like a pub with burgers and simple dishes, from £8. There are also salads for a change.
Plates are from £14. Cocktails are £8. The Miller is located at Snowsfields Road.
Homeslice Pizza is the place for you to eat pizza! Also cooked over a wood fire. The setting is simple and charming. You can eat in, take out or have it delivered. And you can order, a pizza or take parts, it’s really nice! Above all, that the pizzas are original and tasty.
Rowans Bowling in Stroud Green Road, the perfect place to spend a fun evening and go bowling. You can also do karaoke and play billiards. Friday or Saturday, you can even dance until almost 3am.
It’s really the ideal place to spend a fun, fun evening without breaking the bank. I guarantee it!
Where to go out in London to spend an unusual evening
Here is a small selection of addresses to get off the beaten track. Yes, already to change country as well take advantage of it to also change atmosphere. And you’re in luck, London is full of unusual and festive places.
First, the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club in East London, one of London’s most daring venues. It’s simple, unfussy and very varied. You have everything to party in an unusual place in London, a former men’s club: dance music, cabaret, gaming.
The gay parties that are organized there are very popular and popular throughout London .
And, then, there is the Sketch , a truly incredible place with its decor: chic and mind-blowing. It’s gigantic, made up of several rooms with a crazy decor in terms of its colors, its atmospheres . Really crazy !
And what do we do at Sketch? The music is rather electro, the cocktails are good and served around a round bar. It’s intimate and chic like the people who frequent it.
And don’t leave the Sketch without taking a trip to the toilets which are just amazing! They are egg-shaped, all encapsulated.
Then, just as original, see more, there is The Glory in the London Borough, Kingsland Road. The quintessential queer place. What a way to spend a crazy evening! It’s a real show and performances that you can attend. A memorable and timeless evening in a necessarily baroque place.
You can of course quench your thirst on site, the bar advertises and is of course LGTB friendly .
In a somewhat similar style even if oriented more in cabaret mode, you have The Box . It’s really unusual and very erotic , located in Soho. From the outside, the place doesn’t look like much, but inside it’s luxury and debauchery in an Eyes Wide Shut way. Cocktails are £15, yes it’s quite expensive but less than getting a £3000 table facing the stage.
I recommend yet another place that has the same musical show, theater and performance. It’s more underground but just as nice, you’ll appreciate it. This is the CLF Art Cafe in Peckham. A café, a discotheque, all at the same time to spend an excellent evening. The programming is excellent, you will necessarily find something to entertain you.
More retro, more stuffy but also charming, you have Le Nightjar in the heart of London, right next to the British Museum. There, you can enjoy incredible retro-inspired cocktails, it’s really a timeless and cozy moment . You will also have the possibility to eat on site in an agreement with the cocktails. Famous!
There, I will advise you another place and you will inevitably tell yourself that I am not well but siiii!
It’s an unusual place where you’ll have a good time even if it’s sure to taste a pastis without the cicadas it’s already rather unusual in itself! So go to the Baranis in the Covent Garden area!
Cocktails, wines, petanque! You can also eat pissaladières or nibble.
Bounce Shoreditch goes in the extension of the Baranis at the level of unusual places. It is in a way its prelude, the ping-pong bar ! It is in Old Street in Farringdon.
You can eat and drink, there are even special menus for those with allergies. An unusual place where you can play ping pong on the graffiti tables . It’s unusual!
Where to go out in London by type of bar
In a London brasserie
You will be spoiled for choice in London as there are around 80! The production of craft beers of all varieties is booming in the city . You have something for everyone. There are even organized tours (most often in English) to discover certain breweries and taste beers on site.
Where the breweries are most concentrated is in the old industrial areas to the north, south or east of London, although the biggest brewery is Fuller’s Brewery which is to the west, a great place to go out in London.
Right next to Kentish station, just a few minutes’ walk from Camden Town, you have the very original name, Camden Town Brewery . It is both a pub and a brasserie. The place is quite nice with these large wooden tables and benches. You can listen to jazz, soul and nibble on the spot . Something to have a really good time.
In a cocktail bar
Who says capital, also often says cocktail bars. It swarms in big cities.
First, the Trailer Happiness ; super famous bar to go out in London on Portobello Road. You will easily recognize him with his yellow fish as a sign.
For me, this is one of the best cocktail bars in town . Once inside, you’ll feel like you’re somewhere else with its slightly kitsch Polynesian-inspired underground room.
Friendly atmosphere with Hawaiian shirt and festive with mix of funk and DJ until late at night. An excellent address I assure you!
Then there is also a very good cocktail bar address in Shoreditch. It’s the Book Club at 100 Leonard Street. The setting is really amazing with its whitewashed walls, its ping-pong table and its good playlist.
The atmosphere is gentle where it is good to take the time whether it is during the day with a coffee or in the evening in a more festive mode with one of its good cocktails with funny names. You can also dance in the basement.
In a Rooftop bar in the heart of London
Then, another good address for cocktail bars to go to in London is the Kensington Roof Gardens . A pure trendy bar with its superb veranda and incredible garden.
Please note that entry is rather selective. As its name suggests, it is located in Kensington High Street. When the weather is nice, it’s very simple you have the impression of spending a timeless moment strolling in the garden to the sound of DJ music or percussion . To do !
I also invite you to discover the 17 best restaurants to eat in London .
In a London nightclub
Oh yes ! Take advantage of your stay in London to go to a club and dance the night away! It’s almost a must on your trip!
I have selected several addresses that I would like to share with you.
First of all, Ministry of Sound the place for clubbers, metro Elephant & Castle. This is one of the most famous clubs in the British capital where the super famous DJs jostle.
The box includes 5 rooms, bars and even 2 VIP rooms. It’s amazing how big it is! In summer, there’s even an outdoor courtyard where you can dance to the music that comes from the 4×4 (yes), without fearing the neighbors who are more than used to it.
The place is truly amazing. Be careful, the clubers are relatively young. Allow £15 (€17) for entry.
If you like to wiggle your hips to hot Brazilian music, go to Guanabara . Located in the Holborn district, you will spend a crazy night dancing there! The music is played by live musicians on the track like in Brazil . No search for no madness, everyone can express their talent at their level. Well you can still try to improve your level by attending a course on Tuesday evening.
Before 7 p.m., admission is free and there are even happy hours. You can also snack.
Then, if your thing is to go wild on the dance floors to the sound of great DJs, there is Fabric in the Farringdon district. Go there on Friday or Sunday. There are several rooms including one equipped with a bodysonic with all the bass vibrations quite intriguing as a feeling .
Allow £15 (€17) for entry.
Then, if you are more attached to the older spirit of London, there is the Koko in the Camden district. It’s a place for rockers in a preserved old theater with its stage, balconies and red curtain . The rendering is quite unusual, I agree. In the club there are DJ’s evenings and concerts.
The price of entry varies depending on the evening’s entertainment, often between £5 and £30.
And, if you’re more into having fun in super trendy places, there’s Corsica Studios . This is THE trendy place to go out in London, located at Elephant & Castle.
This club is smaller than other London clubs so there is sometimes a bit of a wait. In terms of music, it’s more underground and new talent .
You can make pretty discoveries without breaking the bank because the entrance is £5.
Another address, another atmosphere with the Academy Islington in the Angel district. Here it’s rather crazy, laughter guaranteed between wizards, superheroes, etc. An unusual place where it is good to spend the evening.
Every Saturday, the Cheese Club meets and rewards the craziest costumes. Sometimes there is a theme but most often it is up to each individual. And, the disguise also serves as a line cut which can be really appreciable.
The other good plan is to book your entry on the net which allows you to save at least £1.50.
Where to go out in London without breaking the bank
London has the reputation, which is far from being usurped, of being an overpriced capital. Also, I have selected addresses for you to go out without emptying your entire wallet.
Bearcat Comedy, a great club for entertainment
Located in south-west London, Bearcat Comedy has had its effect on Londoners for many years. It ranges from clown to comic. There are now two establishments in London, one of which is more cinema-oriented. Find out well in advance about the opening days and hours.
Hootananny, a concert hall
Located in Brixton, Hootananny has an authentic and friendly atmosphere. You can even dance quietly there until dawn.
Dogstar, the pearl for a cheap party
Dogstar is in Brixton and has a stage that has seen many great artists like Prodigy or Massive Attack. The musical atmosphere is therefore guaranteed and the bar is not to be outdone with its wide variety of drinks. And you also have quiz or FIFA nights organized.
Gaz’s Rockin Blues Club, the best music for a wild party
Gaz ‘s Rockin Blues owes its name to Gaz, the manager who is a figure of Soho. All night the best pieces of retro music play, whether rock, ska, soul or R’n’B.
Star of Kings, an authentic and friendly pub
Star of Kings is the ideal pub in Kings Cross where to go out in London for good friendly evenings with “cometics”, music. It has everything and it’s just perfect. Even Disney music fans will be delighted.
In a concert hall for a slightly more unusual evening
London is famous for its music, whether for its amateur groups in pubs or for its small concert halls. I have selected a few addresses for you to spend a good evening in terms of music and atmosphere.
First, the one that is surely the most atypical: the Union Chapel in the district of Islington which is therefore, as its name suggests, an old chapel. The place is relatively preserved and you will be seated on a wooden bench. Music level is concerts of rock, folk, soul or jazz . Sometimes there is classical music. For your information, the church is still active. There is therefore no alcohol served, a bar next door offers it.
There is also London’s smallest concert hall, the Green Note , also located in Camden Town. It’s really tiny with a bar and a few chairs and tables. The ideal way to attend an intimate concert in communion with the artists! In terms of music, here we play blues, roots, country or jazz. You can also snack on the spot. I advise you to book on the Internet before going there, you will be sure to have a place and to choose the right concert.
Afterwards, you can also go to the Vortex jazz club , a concert hall located in the Dalston district in the North East of the city. This is a super active association that is around thirty years old. Many jazz concerts are scheduled at the Vortex each year, enough to spend a good evening with talented artists and at low prices.
Then, if you prefer more traditional music , there is the Cecil Sharphouse in Camden Town. The room owes its name to Cecil James Sharp, an actor in the revival of English folk music. In this concert hall, there are also dance lessons whether English, Scottish or Irish . Quite original! The atmosphere is frankly nice and the prices are relatively cheap for the city of London.
Last but not least is a venue that is both a historic building and a concert hall, Wilton’s Music Hall . Located in east London, it dates back to 1743. It was a brewery, then a center for the destitute, a warehouse and now a concert hall. All this can be seen on its more than faded walls and gives a very special aura to the room
