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Wed / Jan 27
Vibrant and diverse would be the best way to describe London’s expansive social scene, as the capital offers a never-ending array of hotspots and a plethora of distinct vibes for partiers of every stripe.
The city is famous for its wide range of nightlife choices, and venues include everything from quaint English pubs, restaurants, and hip lounges to theaters, live music venues, and clubs featuring world-famous DJs.
There are plenty of things to do by day as well, with a variety of parks, shopping, museums, neighborhoods, events, and architecture to explore and enjoy.
Truly one of the world’s greatest cities, this metropolis offers such a vast range of social scenes that it’s easy to find one to suit any mood, style, or interest. And while it’s obvious that the city provides entertainment for every hour of the day, the fact remains that London is also an expensive city and can sometimes make going out to the simplest bars a very costly venture.
But with the endless options of pubs, lounges, concerts, and clubs, there’s literally a party for every personality, style, and budget.
Sports? Pub crawls? Rowdy bars? Good beer? Then check out these suggestions from Lucas:
Exclusive hotspots? Chic crowds? Bottle service? Posh shopping? Then check out these suggestions from Adriana:
Eclectic crowds? Authentic bars? Live music? Nothing mainstream? Then check out these suggestions from Jonah:
Amazing drink deals? Unpretentious crowds? Karaoke with friends? Dancing all night? Then check out these suggestions from Emma:
Includes: Holborn.
Formerly the capital of beatnik counterculture, Soho has evolved into a multicultural tourist hotspot that offers visitors everything from swanky restaurants and cozy cafés to great live music and gritty sex shops.
During the day, the main thoroughfare of Old Compton Street doesn’t hide from the fact that it’s the center of London’s gay community, with tons of restaurants, bars, and live theaters pulsing with patrons ready to spend
... read full Covent Garden / Soho descriptionIncludes: Holborn.
Formerly the capital of beatnik counterculture, Soho has evolved into a multicultural tourist hotspot that offers visitors everything from swanky restaurants and cozy cafés to great live music and gritty sex shops.
During the day, the main thoroughfare of Old Compton Street doesn’t hide from the fact that it’s the center of London’s gay community, with tons of restaurants, bars, and live theaters pulsing with patrons ready to spend
... read full Covent Garden / Soho descriptionIncludes: Kings Cross and Farringdon.
Named in honor of the Earl of Camden and home to such notables as Charles Dickens, George Orwell, and Dylan Thomas – and more recently Orlando Bloom – Camden Town is known for its outdoor markets, alternative sensibilities, and a large student population that rarely goes to bed early.
A favorite gathering spot for left-of-center partiers and live performers of all types, Camden is also “home” to many of the city’s
... read full Camden Town / Islington descriptionCentral London is a bit of an anachronism, as its boundaries are ill-defined and often blend with Covent Garden to the east and Mayfair to the west. At its core, however, Central London contains some of the city’s most popular tourist districts, as well as a large number of commercial and industrial firms. That means the area is continually swarming with a cross-section of city workers and international tourists either dashing to their offices or
... read full Central London descriptionIncludes: Earl's Court, Hammersmith, and Shepherd's Bush.
In the 60s and 70s, Chelsea was a global capital of bohemian art and culture, home to a thriving punk scene and preeminent bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, while Kensington was an affluent district lined with expensive retailers. However, the intervening years saw Chelsea’s rock roots obscured by rows of expensive flats and high-end shops, leaving modern-day Chelsea much like
... read full Kensington / Chelsea descriptionIncludes: Barbican.
Historically a magnet for impoverished immigrants, Shoreditch/Brick Lane has become synonymous with the hipster class in recent years, given its assortment of edgy bars, trendy cafés, and “do-it-yourself” late-night spots. In fact, the area’s prevalence of art and design students and new media professionals led to the creation of the outwardly disparaging term “Shoreditch twat” to describe what some see as an over-abundance of
... read full Shoreditch / Brick Lane description