93 Best Nightlife in London, England

This striking building has had two former lives: the first, from 1893 to 1934, was as a power station that generated light for nearby Liverpool Street Station, while the second, from 2000 to 2014, was as an iconic venue that exemplified the rise of Shoreditch as a nightlife destination. Now it's back, saved from demolition and again providing one of the most stylish drinking and dining options in this part of town. The best views of this gorgeous space, resplendent with original architectural details, are from the mezzanine Copper Bar, but there's really not a bad seat in the house. 

Visitors to Ian Schrager's London EDITION hotel are spoiled for choice when it comes to bars. High ceilings, eclectic artwork, and innovative cocktails can be found at the all-day Berners Tavern and in the Lobby Bar, which opens in the evening. You'll need a reservation to get into the cozy wood-paneled and open-fire Punch Room, but the bar's reinventions of traditional punches (the type favored by pirates and privateers) and the exemplary service are well worth the extra effort.

Thankfully, by booking online, nonmembers can gain entry to this legendary West End open mic, musical theater, cabaret, and private members' club off Tottenham Court Road. Frequented by a colorful crew of West End thespians, writers, and critics, you might catch a raunchy burlesque or drag show, see a top theater star belt it out on the open mic, or be captivated by a fascinating monologue from an old movie legend. 

The beauty of this sublime old chapel and its impressive multicultural not-for-profit programming make this spot one of London's best musical venues, especially for acoustic shows. A variety of star names have played here in recent years (including Elton John, Björk, and Coldplay's Chris Martin) along with alternative country, world music, and jazz performers. There are also poetry and literary events, film screenings, and stand-up comedy gigs. Tickets are only available online.

Discretion is the word at this under-the-radar cocktail lounge on the first floor above Rules, London's oldest restaurant (established in 1798). In rooms where King Edward VII used to clandestinely dine with his socialite mistress Lillie Langtry, old-school bartenders serve traditional classic cocktails, from manhattans and Hemingways to sidecars and martinis (which are stirred, never shaken). The decor reflects a bygone era, with impressive royal portraits, mounted antlers, patterned carpets, and copious Edwardian hunting scenes.

Established in 1976, this Chelsea jazz club embraced speakeasy style long before it became a nightlife trend. Buzz the door near the far end of King's Road and you'll find a basement venue showcasing mainstream and contemporary jazz by well-known U.K.-based musicians. Alcohol can only be served if you order a "substantial meal" as well, so allow for an extra £30. Reservations are advisable. Lunchtime jazz takes place on select Sundays; call ahead.

This long-established live music venue off Carnaby Street hosts local blues musicians, as well as some notable names, that squeeze onto the tiny stage and jam around very happily. There's decent bar food of the chili-and-gumbo variety. Most weekday nights, there's no cover charge.

This sophisticated bar on Level 31 of The Shard is worth a visit for the phenomenal views alone. The cocktail list is pretty special, too—big on fruit purees and unusual bitters. No reservations are taken in the bar, so be prepared to wait during busy periods.

Located between the British Museum and the West End, this pretty Victorian-era pub with its stained-glass windows and varnished wooden floors and paneling is the perfect place for a pit stop. Legend says it was the final watering hole for condemned criminals en route to Tyburn gallows at Marble Arch. There's a good selection of pub fare and beers on tap.

Perfect for a midafternoon pick-me-up or late-night drinks, this quirky, friendly bar has a continental feel and a sporty vibe. Soccer memorabilia and bank notes from across the globe line the walls while formica furniture and not one, but two foosball tables fill out the space. World beers and cocktails are the drinks of choice (the caipirinhas are legendary), and simple but tasty pub fare is served all day.

On the ground floor of what was once the Reading Room of the Old Westminster Library, the book-lined Library Bar of this contemporary Indian restaurant (the curries are superb) has Indian-themed cocktails (mango mojitos, "Delhi mules"), delicious bar snacks, and a clientele that includes young politicos. The bar is sometimes used for private events, so it can be a good idea to call before you visit.

This elegant Mayfair meeting place remains unpretentious even when it brims with beautiful people. The bar has an art deco heritage made hip by the sophisticated touch of designer David Collins. A library of rare champagnes and brandies as well as a delicious choice of traditional and exotic cocktails—try the Flapper or the Royal Stag—will occupy your taste buds. Request a glass of vintage Cristal in the darkly moody, leather-walled, 36-seat Fumoir.

Enjoy canal-side craft beer and pizza at the busiest of a handful of grown-up bars in this ultra-trendy area of East London. Rub shoulders with the locals—the community still has its share of artists who made their way east following rent hikes in Shoreditch—as well as visitors who come for late-night raves in the area's many warehouses. There's a warm atmosphere inside, with quirky upcycled interior design and DJs playing on weekend evenings. The beer comes from the on-site brewery, while thin-crust pizzas emerge from the open kitchen.

A huge selection of bottled beers and quirky twists on classic cocktails are the big attractions at this bar and diner next to Notting Hill's famed Electric Cinema on Portobello Road. Run by the people behind the members-only Soho House, the place exudes the same effortless mixture of posh and cool, but it is open to anyone and everyone. Sit in the window and watch the world go by or opt for one of the luxury takes on classic diner fare at a booth in the moody, vaulted interior.

This sprawling subterranean club opposite Smithfield Meat Market is a firm fixture on the London scene and is regularly voted one of the top clubs in the world. The "fabriclive" series hosts drum and bass, dubstep, and hip-hop crews and live acts on Friday; international big-name DJs play slow, sexy bass lines and cutting-edge music on Saturday. The devastating sound system ensures that bass riffs vibrate through your entire body. Get there early to avoid a lengthy line, and don't wear a suit. Expect a mainly young crowd.

A deliciously camp vibe, toned bar staff, and a friendly atmosphere make this one of Soho's most popular gay bars. The crowd is mostly male, but women are very welcome. Head to the quieter upstairs lounge bar for a more laid-back mood, or dance the night away at Ku Klub in the basement. There's a second branch around the corner on Lisle Street, near Leicester Square.

A deliciously camp vibe, toned bar staff, and a friendly atmosphere make this one of Soho's most popular LGBTQ+ bars. The crowd is mostly male, but women are very welcome. Head to the quieter upstairs lounge bar for a more laid-back mood, or dance the night away at Ku Klub in the basement. There's a second branch around the corner on Lisle Street, near Chinatown and Leicester Square.

Across the street from the British Museum in Bloomsbury, this friendly and classy Victorian pub makes an ideal resting place after the rigors of the culture trail. Karl Marx unwound here after a hard day in the British Museum Library. If he visited today, he could spend his kapital on its excellent selection of craft beers and spirits.

The best up-and-coming and medium-to-big-name music acts from around the world consistently play at this 2,000-capacity club. It's a converted 1930s art deco movie theater, with a balcony (the only area with seats) overlooking the grungy dance floor.

The scuffed carpet and peeling paintwork only add to the atmosphere at this tiny basement jazz bar, one of London's leading music venues. There's live music every night of the week, with tickets for just £10. It's a phenomenal bargain given the level of talent that regularly performs, from international acts in town for the London Jazz Festival each November to the weekly free Beats in the Bar nights, where students from nearby Trinity Laban Conservatoire try out new material in a low-pressure environment. Walk-ins are always welcome, but if you're planning a weekend visit, it's a good idea to reserve a table a few days ahead of time.

This fine pub, popular with academics from the nearby British Museum and King's College London, is an exquisite museum piece of a Victorian interior, with glazed tiles and intricately engraved glass screens that divide the bar area into cozy little annexes. There's an excellent selection of real ales on tap, too.

Beneath an excellent Lebanese restaurant, you'll find this intimate nightclub space in the basement. Open only on weekends, it features a rotating program of live music, cabaret, nouveau burlesque, comedy, belly dancing, and karaoke. Beware a hefty service charge.

This 1840s former railway terminus, onetime gin warehouse, and legendary 1970s music venue in Chalk Farm now hosts a varied program of live music, circus, cabaret, spoken word, and even a bit of Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling). Usually there's a genre-busting assortment of new and familiar musical acts, most of them cult favorites ranging from world and rap to electronica and indie, along with big names like the Pixies, Death Cab for Cutie, and Guy Garvey. Standing tickets offer good value. There's a nice restaurant on the first floor, and in the summer, the terrace bar is transformed into a popular "urban beach," complete with sand, a retro bar, palm trees, and outdoor film screenings.

This former Victorian pub near the cricket grounds has been hosting drag acts since the days of World War II, with Princess Diana reportedly visiting in the late 1980s disguised as a man and accompanied by Freddy Mercury. LBGTQ+-oriented entertainment is still its mainstay, including performance art, Miley Cyrus tribute nights, and traditional drag performance extravaganzas, some featuring alums from RuPaul's Drag Race. The atmosphere is welcoming, inclusive, and fun.

There's not a lot of room to spare at this neighborhood wine bar a little way off the main drag in Shoreditch, but that's part of the charm. Squeezing past your fellow drinkers to find a spot at the bar tiled with sidewalk skylights or at a table against a bare brick wall feels like arriving at a friend's party. At over 300 bins long, the wine list can seem intimidating, but the staff is happy to steer you in the right direction, particularly with the extensive range of skins and orange wines.

This female-focused basement club, part of the popular Ku group of LGBTQ+ venues, is a standout on the Soho scene. It welcomes a mostly lesbian and non-binary LGBTQ+ crowd for informal cocktails early in the evening, followed by dancing—of the pop and house variety—later on. The vibe is fun, open, positive, and friendly, especially on the last Thursday of each month, when She hosts London's only drag-king open-mic night.

Specializing in low-intervention "natural wines" (organic, unfiltered, biodynamic, and sustainably produced with minimal added ingredients), Terroirs wine bar has an unusually large selection of 290 wines from small French and artisan winemakers. Red, white, sparkling and macerated orange and amber wines are served along with delicious, relatively simple wine-friendly dishes—charcuterie, tapas, cheese, and more substantial French-inspired dishes—at a bar and bare oak tables surrounded by whitewashed walls and wooden floors.

The front patio and wood-paneled bar of this traditional pub next door to Charles Dickens's former residence is invariably crowded, especially after work, but the restaurant to the rear is comfortable and more peaceful. Dishes range from elevated pub classics like burgers with bone marrow crumb or cider-battered fish-and-chips to more sophisticated offerings like venison ragù or celeriac steak. Standards, of both the cooking and the selection of beer and wines, are high. Service is friendly, if occasionally erratic.