Suggestions for after dark in London
 

Other than theatre or dinner any suggestions for Sat. or Sun. evenings in the winter? Tourist sites and museums all seem to be closed by six. We have theatre tickets for Mon. and Tues. so looking for something else.

Ballet? Opera? Symphony? Jazz club? there have to be tons of choices if you check the local weekly entertaimnet mag: Time Out?

Try Londontown.com

Also, not sure if you enjoy clubs.
Try:
Blue Bar at the Berkley
Purple Bar and
Long Bar at The Sanderson
Akbar under The Red Fort restaurant on
Dean Street, Soho

Check for closing on Sundays and if its a holiday. We found out the hard way last week!

Bars don't get started until 10/11. After work crowd before.

Have fun.

How about checking ticketmasteruk? We just bought tickets to a concert in February.

Believe it or not, you can't go around a museum at two am, it simply wouldn't be profitable...just a load of tramps!

I'd advise going to see a late (9pm start) film at The Curzon (Curzon St. W1), that'll finish around 11pm. Then you have a choice of not getting into the (all nearby) Met Bar, a classic cocktail at the somewhat staid Dorchester, not getting into Annabel's, finding a cheaper bar in Dover St., a short walk to the clubs in Soho, or a leisurely drink and cigar at Claridge's bar.

Try as I might, I'd find it hard to enjoy having a drink in that cigar smoke laden Claridge's Bar. We stopped in (believe it or not at your suggestion m_kingdom), but we turned around when the smell hit us. I guess if I smoked cigars it would be one of the nicest places around to have a drink, but not for me.

I'm sorry to hear you couldnt stay in the bar, but I feel that smoke adds atmosphere, obviously not to American tastes!

The London Walks are a great thing to do at night (www.thewalks.com)

The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London is also an excellent event to attend (www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=622). Tickets are free, but you have to write ahead for them. And after the ceremony is over, walk down to the edge of the Thames for a fabulous view of Tower Bridge all lite up.

Another stunning evening walk - from Charring Cross tube, walk over the Hungerford Footbridge to the south bank of the Thames, walk along the Thames past the London Eye and back over Westminster Bridge, then past Westminster Abbey. Gorgeous views you'll never forget.

I mostly do concerts and/or theater at night. On Sundays concerts are good since there really isn't any Sunday night theatre (there are 4 or 5 theatres w/ Sunday afternoon performances).

But at night I just love being outsied walking seeing the sites, buying roasted chestnuts from street corner vendors, or maybe ice skating at Somerset House.

Kayb95's walk from Charing X, over the river, along the south bank and back to Westminster is a good one. Or Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly. Or The Tower across Tower Bridge past the HMS Belfast, the Globe and along the South Bank. Or wandering around Covent Garden with all the buskers.

These are all totally safe places to walk and all the major bldgs are illuminated - fantastic photo ops.

Thanks for the ideas. Can't stand smoke so something outside might be the best option. We've already done the Ceremony of the Keys and most of the same walk you suggested Kayb95 and enjoyed both. I just checked out the concert schedule for St. Martin-in-the-Fields.So,possibly there Sat. night and ice skating at Somerset House on Sun.

m_kingdom, your usual attempt to slam all things American by insinuating that American tastes are not liking cigar smoke filled bars is way off. There are many cigar bars in America too and they are very popular. This has nothing to do with being English or American. Some Americans and some Brits don't like cigar smoke. Some Americans and some Brits do.
So what is your point about American tastes? Or do you just like slamming anyone without YOUR perfect taste in anything?

No, she's just practising to be a Mitford gel.

How about a pub? For a meal or one where there's live music. Trivia night?

how about catching a movie at The Eletric in Notting Hill? Very cool theater--comfy armchairs, sofas, drinks (cocktails, beer, wine) and food available. I think it's the greatest place to see a movie.

www.electriccinema.co.uk

Thanks Victoria. The movie theater looks like it would be fun and Ray is a movie I do want to see. But,the price is a bit high for me. Especially, since I was lucky enough to see Ray Charles perform 2x for free. Once at a free concert and the other because a friend was unable to use a concert ticket and gave it to me.

The Original London Walks have an amazing selection to choose from on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. Ghost walks, pub walks, you name it. The website is www.walks.com

What a horrible dilemma - Claridge's or Connaught. We chose the former, and believe me, it was not easy. We'll check out the bar, for sure.

I've been watching this thread for two days and can no longer stay quiet. We went to Claridge's bar almost 5yrs. ago because I saw it was widely publicized as somewhere you HAD to go. I can only say that it was boring and the atmosphere was lacking. From what I remember it was an ugly Georgian green and just your typical bar against the wall.
However, I did use the restroom and the lobby and restroom were quite nice but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back again since I beleive 7 drinks and two appetizers cost us somewhere around 70 GBP or so.
I much prefer the Hard Rock. At least you get entertainment for your money.
But that's just me.
And m_kingdom before you say anything, yes, I am working class.

Georgian green?

Hard Rock Cafe?

Oh dear, it's a fabulously minimalist bar, with the red leather and grey walls setting the scene. As you said you like Hard Rock, which isn't so much working class, just common and lacking in taste.

i did some research about this before my london trip.

the londonwalks idea is excellant fun.

on thursday some museums open till9-10.

you could have dinner late.

souvenir shopping in the main shopping streets can also be done late.

in the end we were so beat after each day we would be in by 9 or 10.

m_kingdom, thanks for the clarification on the bar. I remembered it as green. We sat at a table close to the bar so I don't remember red leather seats. Is it possible it's changed since 2000?
I just thought it a typical bar, however I will say the appetizers were very good.
mileaday- how about Vertigo42 for a glass of champagne and beautiful views? It's on my list as well as Milk and Honey as suggested by m_kingdom.

Vertigo is in The City though, which is too businessy, and lacks class, and at times is a little brash. The views are good, but how long can you spend gazing out of windows?

Milk and Honey is cheap (a twenty per cent mark up on Krug is a bargain!), unique, and classy.

Two art venues--Tate Modern and the Saatchi Gallery--are open late on Saturdays.

Also, after Feb. 9, the London Eye last boarding time is 8p.m. (Eye is closed until then).

BTW: "dark" in mid-winter arrives by 5 p.m. in London.

M_Kingdom2, given you knowledge of London, what's your take on Claridge's vs. Connaught? Also, have a contract with Ray Skinner for transfer to Southampton for embarkation - I've heard good things. Any experiences? And sugegstions for restauranst in SoHo and Chelsea, especially asian. Many thanks for your help.

Firstly, I don't do Asian in Soho. If you want asian/fusion cuisine with a fine lineage, then try Mr Chow, it's classic, classy, and not full of nouveaus.

The Connaught is too small for my liking, its position isn't as convenient as Claridge's, the service is generally good as would be expected. However, it should've been left alone with its outdated menus, and not trendied up by Gordon and Angela. Claridge's needed something new, The Connaught has been spoilt and lost its character.

Thanks very much, we've decdied to settle on Claridge's and nix Connaught, and will take your advice and give Gordon's place a wide swarth.

What then is the best area for indian restaurants, away from the nouveaus?

Many thanks for your aid.

OK, travellaughter - I think the jig is finally up. Is it Southampton, or Holyhead, Paris or Edinburgh, or was it Cardiff, Swansea and Dublin, and now Claridges or the Connaught???

Just exactly where was it you were going?

Well, janis, regrets if you became confused, lol, but if you'd kept better notes you'd know my itinerary is Thames Valley, Wales, Edinburgh, London (Claridge's of course), and Southamption, that being where the QM2 embarks. No Ireland this time, although I'm a Joycean. And Paris was a briefy, visitng friends, recently. Holyrood is in Edinburgh and will of course be seen. Russia and Vietnam are next, but I see I'm confusing you once more, so shall cease. So, now you may feel clarified and in tune, and thus turn your attention to healthier matters. Do have a good day, and in the fodors spirit, thanks for keeping your enquiry travel-releated and positive, and if you've some information of value to the trip, I'd ever so glad to receive it. Thanks.

... oops, you said Holyhead, not rood, and now you've confused me, lol. But don't explain ... my head is a whirl with enough as it is ... I've not had enough time to plan this one, and I'm doing my best to make it swell for a special one, for it would be a waste to to see all I've planned alone, don't you agree.

Indians - well, The Cinnammon Club, SW1 is haute cuisine of an Indian nature.

My favourite place, and it's suburban, unexciting area, unexciting decor, very very cheap (11GBP for a buffet), vegetarian, and totally unsophisticated...Rani in Finchley, Long Lane. It serves really classic, home cooked, well made food which tastes delicious and is really satisfying.

Many thanks, and I've made notes on your ideas, and we'll probably try the indian vegetarian, since we are 99% vegetarian now. Good fit for us. Have a good day.

janis, re: the person who pretends to travel- we forgot the annual Paris trip squeezed in among the jaunts to Hawaii and California! Wait! what about Ohio and Florida??

Well, Scarlett, my dear, when I return, I shall pen the most amazing journal of all times, something on par with Degas (perhaps he'll agree to be my consultant). You'll be delighted and of course wish to drop everything and scoot off to the UK yourself. It has been a few years since I've been there, and never before to Wales, so this is a bit new to me. Now, being an old UK hand yourself, give up those closely held secrets and post them for all to see. I'm certain they'll add immeasurably. Great to communicate on a travel-related topic. And yep, Paris was fab indeed ... brief but boffo. If you visit, it will be fab for you too.

HUH? Degas hasn't posted here in quite a while, I think. And remember you're a new poster, TravelLaughter, who only registered two days ago. So how in the world could you possibly know about Degas? Or is this Pariswasfab, Leone, Blacktie, Blackattire or one of those other imaginary people talking through you like a medium?

Come on, people, don't you get the joke? "TravelLaughter" making fun of travel by laughing at all the posters giving information to this imaginary traveler.

He does make me miss Degas though..Now he is clever!
I will be in Paris in March, and I do give out freely any information that I can on Paris and London.
You know that, MrLaughing , since the last time you were in Paris, in Dec 2000- I was the one who told you about staying at the Lutece.